What is it like to pass through the Panama Canal? The 50-mile trip takes about eight hours.
During that time, a ship passes through three sets of locks, across one of the largest man-made lakes in the world, and through a deep cut in the Continental Divide. (The Continental Divide is the place where mountains separate rivers flowing east from those flowing west.)
Ships from all over the world use the Panama Canal. Many are container ships traveling between the East Coast of the United States and East Asia. Around 14,000 ships pass through the canal every year, making it the busiest canal in the world. Ships are charged a toll based on their type and weight. On average, the toll is $150,000.
Come take a trip through what some call the “Gateway to the World.”