Panama Canal
The Panama Canal is a giant water highway that cuts across the whole country to join the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. Big ships ride up and down inside huge water elevators called locks.
It is one of the greatest engineering wonders in the world, and people come from everywhere to watch giant ships pass right in front of them. Kids love seeing the huge gates open and close while the water rises and falls.
How the Locks Work
The locks are like a set of water stairs that lift ships up over the land and lower them back to the sea. Water flows in and out to raise or drop each ship gently.
Ships From Around the World
Thousands of ships pass through every year carrying cars, fruit, toys, and goods to faraway countries. From the visitor deck you can try to guess what each ship is carrying.
Rainforest All Around
Green rainforest hugs both sides of the canal, and monkeys, toucans, and crocodiles live nearby. A boat tour on Gatun Lake lets you spot wild animals along the shore.