travel central america panama panama canal gatun locks

We arrived at the Gatun Locks at about 7:00am on Thanksgiving Day,2011.
We followed a tanker (in the adjacent locks) so we got to watch all the workings from a good perspective.
In relation to the ships, the scale of the locks was not over-impressisve.
However, the details of the operation was much more interresting than I expected.

TRAVEL: November 2011 -



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unless noted otherwise all images copyright d. holmes chamberlin jr architect llc

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Approaching the Canal, we could see the old narrow French canal on the right, and the construction on the new wider locks
on the left, Gatun Locks, Panama Canal, Panama, 2011.



Resident crocodiles along the banks near the Gatun Locks, Panama Canal, Panama, 2011.



Approaching the Gatun Locks from the Caribbean, Panama Canal, Panama, 2011.



The ship in the locks ahead of us is pushed toward the third step,Gatun Locks, Panama Canal, Panama, 2011.



The mechanical "mule" climbs the ramp next to our ship, Gatun Locks, Panama Canal, Panama, 2011.



Bus crossing the swing-out vehicle bridge behind the locks, Gatun Locks, Panama Canal, Panama, 2011.



Gatun Locks, Panama Canal, Panama, 2011.




copyright d. holmes chamberlin jr architect llc

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page last revised february 2020