Giant ships
Three steps.
Mariordo (Mario Roberto Durán Ortiz) — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Mariordo (Mario Roberto Durán Ortiz) — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Mariordo (Mario Roberto Durán Ortiz) — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Mariordo (Mario Roberto Durán Ortiz) — CC BY-SA 4.0
The Panama Canal's new locks on the Caribbean side, part of the canal expansion that opened on 26 June 2016, allowing passage for giant Neopanamax ships carrying several times the load of older vessels, too big for the original locks. From the visitor centre on a hill above the locks, visitors watch huge ships rise or drop through three steps, pulled by small tugboats instead of the old electric locomotives, while enormous steel gates slide sideways rather than swinging open. Side basins reuse much of the water in each transit. The centre has a small exhibition and film on the expansion and its technology, and a restaurant with a view. The terrace looks out over the modern Atlantic suspension bridge across the canal and Gatún Lake in the distance. It is usually combined with the old Gatún Locks and Fort San Lorenzo in one day. Colón city itself has street crime, so do not wander there; go straight to the sites by car or tour.
Three steps.
Over the canal.
The expansion story.
Atlantic side of the canal near Colón, Agua Clara visitor centre
Agua Clara is the modern 2016 expansion for giant ships; Gatún is the original 1914 lock flight next to it.
