Ships from all over the world transit the Panama Canal each day, with 13,000 to 14,000 ships passing through the Canal each year. That's over 35 ships a day! Over 922,000 ships have used the Panama Canal since its opening on August 15, 1914. It takes most ships 8 to 10 hours to do the entire transit. The fastest transit was by the U.S. Marine Corps hydrofoil Pegasus in 1979, which passed from the Miraflores Locks on the Pacific side through the Gatun Locks on the Caribbean in 2 hours and 41 minutes.
Entering the Miraflores Locks of the Panama Canal from the Pacific Ocean
From Linda Garrison, About.com
As the Seven Seas Navigator cruise ship approaches the Miraflores Locks of the Panama Canal, it will begin its climb up to the continental divide.
The Seven Seas Navigator enters the Miraflores Locks of the Panama Canal
Panama Canal Picture (c) Linda Garrison©2009 About.com, a part of The New York Times Company.
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