Panama Canal
The history surrounding the construction of the Panama Canal is extremely fascinating. Already in the first colony times there were trade connections with packed donkeys through the rainforest from the Caribbean to the Pacific side. Several decades passed from the first construction phase in 1881 until the first freighter passed through the canal in 1914.
This miracle of engineering changed world trade. Today, over 100 years after its opening, new locks have been added to the canal. This has modernized the transit of the Panama Canal and larger ships are able to travel between Panama City on the Pacific and Colon on the Atlantic side.
A visit to the canal bridges Puente de las Americas and Puente Centenario, the operation of the Miraflores lock and the towing locomotives are a must for any visitor to Panama.