Panama Canal

The Panama Canal links the Atlantic and Pacific across the Isthmus of Panama using a lock system that lifts ships to Gatun Lake about 26 metres above sea level. Opened in 1914 and under Panama Canal Authority control since 1999, it was expanded in 2016 with the larger Neopanamax locks. Transit dimensions define the Panamax and Neopanamax ship classes by length, beam, and draft. The canal depends on freshwater from its watershed, so drought has forced draft restrictions and reduced daily transit slots, redirecting some traffic to the Suez route or US land bridges.