Amazing to see, the Panama Canal was completed in 1914. It cut 8,000 miles off the route, avoiding the treacherous trip around Tierra Del Fuego in South America. The Canal is 50 miles long with 3 locks, a feat of American engineering. Tolls for the canal are based on type of vessel, cargo, etc. The most expensive? $490,000 USD for a cruise ship. The cheapest? 39 cents for a guy who swam the canal.

The locks are almost @ capacity, running 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. It takes 8 to 10 hours for a ship to go through, not counting waiting time.

Expansion is in the works, newer wider parallel canals are set to open in 2015. The new ships that will be able to go through the canal will carry as much cargo on one ship as 570 Boeing 747s. Whoa….

Posted by Picasa