The Panama Canal is both a truly great engineering feats of all time and one of the most significant waterways on earth. Stretching 80km (50mi) from Panama City on the Pacific coast to Colón on the Atlantic side, it provides passage for over 12,000 ocean-going vessels per year, from huge tankers to the Queen Elizabeth II.

The French started a canal in 1880 under De Lesseps, builder of the Suez Canal, but after 20 years of struggle with the jungle, disease, financial problems and the sheer enormity of the project, they were forced to give up. In 1903 a Frenchman, acting as ambassador of Panama signed a treaty giving perpetual rights to USA. The French canal company's property was sold for $40M and the digging began.

On August 15th, 1914 the US cargo ship "Ancon" made the first transit. Seeing a huge ship nudge its way through the narrow canal, with vast tracks of virgin jungle on both sides, is an unforgettable sight. The easiest and best way to visit the Canal is to go to the Miraflores Locks, on the northeastern fringe of Panama City, where a platform offers visitors a good view of the locks in operation. A museum exhibit a model scale of the canal, and shows an informative film.

The Panama canal has 3 sets of locks that take care of raising and lowering the ships 54 feet to the next stage of their journey. These locks are Miraflores and Pedro Miguel on the Pacific side and Gatun Locks on the Atlantic side. Before visiting the Miraflores Locks, check the transit times of ships by calling the Miraflores Guide Service at 252-5463. In Miraflores and Gatun locks there are spectator stands with bilingual commentators describing the operation of the canal while the ship goes through the locks.