Panama Canal: Crossing a Continent

This grouping of photographs takes us from the Pacific side, through the Gaillard Cut and Lake Gatun, to the Atlantic side. The Canal is, essentially, a bridge of water over a continent.

Leaving the Pedro Miguel lock, the Zaandam follows a container ship ...

... into the Gaillard Cut. The Bridge is the new "Centennial Bridge."

Many passengers relaxed in the Crows Nest to watch the passage.

Views from the Crows Nest were great, if not a bit obstructed by window frames.

the Gaillard Cut chopped through the mountain range of ...

... Continental Divide. Yes, that's a cut-back mountainside.

Thousands died digging this "ditch."

They keep dredging the canal to keep it from filling with silt.

It's a 24-hour-a-day operation.

Eventually, the Gaillard Cut opens up into the marvelous expanse ...

... of lake Gatun, which once was the largest lake in the world.

Large ships of all kinds cruise across this lake, making the transit ...

... from ocean to ocean.

It was a glorious day to cruise the Panama Canal.

The Zaandam has turned on the last leg of the transit through Gatun ...

... and is approaching the Gatun Lock on the Atlantic side!

Here's a zoomed-in close-up of the Atlantic side spill-way and dam.

The Zaandam has arrived at the Gatun locks, on the Atlantic side!