As seen on Buzzfeed :http://www.buzzfeed.com/ayao2/photos-that-reveal-the-timelessness-of-the-100-yea-qxb7
PHOTOS REVEALING THE TIMELESSNESS OF THE 100-YEAR-OLD PANAMA CANAL
On August 15, the Panama Canal will welcome its Centennial celebration. Here are photos that show that after 100 years, little has changed at the Panama Canal and it remains as ageless as Joan Rivers.
Gatun Locks – THEN
Roscoe G. Searle, National Geographic; US Library of Congress / nationalgeographic.com; canalmuseum.com
We start on the Caribbean side, where the Gatun Locks connect the Atlantic Ocean to the Panama Canal. These gigantic metallic gates “lock” and fill up with water, to lift (or lower) boats from sea level, to dry land – and connect inland with a natural freshwater lake, The Gatun Lake.
US Library of Congress / Via canalmuseum.com ; historycentral.com ; wikimedia.org; wikipedia.org
The Culebra Cut are the man-made dredges that connect the Gatun Lake (a natural fresh water lake) to the Pedro Miguel Locks (which eventually connect to the Pacific!). It took 32 years (of combined French & American effort) to excavate the dirt from the mountain ridge.
Culebra Cut – NOW
Ships pass through Gatun Lake to traverse over to the Pacific side. The path has become a popular route for cruise ships.
small boats mingle with large container ships.
Pedro Miguel Locks – THEN
US Library of Congress / Via canalmuseum.com; sheppardsoftware.com;
The Gatun Lake eventually make way to the Pedro Miguel Locks, which lead the way to the Miraflores Locks, the gatekeeper to the Pacific Ocean!
Pedro Miguel Locks – NOW
Miraflores Locks – THEN
US Library of Congress; Ernest Hallen, National Geographic / Via canalmuseum.com; panamascanal.com; wxxi.org; nationalgeographic.com
Finally – the Miraflores Locks connect the Panama Canal to the Pacific Ocean! The gates lock and fill with water, and raise (or lower) boats 43-64 feet to sea level, where they carry their journey to the Pacific!
