Ships climbing through the locks between two oceans
The Panama Canal, opened in 1914, carries ships between the Atlantic and Pacific through a series of locks and across the artificial Gatún Lake. At the Miraflores Locks, close to Panama City, viewing platforms and a museum let visitors watch huge vessels being raised and lowered just metres away. The newer Agua Clara locks on the Caribbean side handle the largest ships. Partial transit cruises travel through the locks themselves, and boat trips on Gatún Lake visit islands where monkeys live.