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The crossway of all roads (4)
Since its emergence from the sea for the purpose of uniting the Americas, Panama defined its destiny as the crossway of roads. Its privileged geographical position determined the construction of the Panama Canal, the greatest work of engineering carried out in the twentieth century, concluded in 1914. Since then, the Panama Canal has functioned without interruption, allowing the transit of thousands of ships coming from all over the world. Since the Panama Canal started operations, the persons visiting our country from all over the world have expressed their wish to see how it functions, this monumental water stairway. Today, it continues to be the destiny most visited by tourists since, apart from being a work of art, it is also surrounded by a diversity of interesting places to visit, becoming a multi-destiny.
The splendid Chagres river
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It is possible to say that the Chagres River originated the idea of building a Canal. In the time of the Hispanic conquest their fairways were part of the Way of Crossings that crossed the isthmus connecting the Caribbean with the Pacific. This powerful river discovered by Cristopher Columbus runs throug a thick tropical forest and in its waters the fish, otters and lizards abound. In the average course of the river, in the neighborhood of the Alajuela Lake, indigenous communities of Emberá exist and offer to the visitor the opportunity to be in contact with the life of the native ones, while the amazing landscape can be enjoyed. This landscape covers the shore with the river. In these places the fauna characteristic of the jungle abounds, mainly birds, monkeys, jaguars tapires and serpents.
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From the depths of the Canal
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A visit to the Miraflores Locks, the first set of locks located on the Pacific side, is a revealing experience. It features a visitors’ center from which, aside from observing the process of elevating gigantic ships in water chambers, visitors may tour the halls of a museum that keeps the history of the Canal and of its functioning, with a number of samples of the machinery and tools utilized for its construction. It also features a number of biodiversity samples of the tropical jungle surrounding the Canal. This experience is complimented by a miniature model of this marvelous work of engineering, a exhibitions hall showing video samples and a restaurant at the terrace of the center from which visitors may observe the Canal operations meanwhile they enjoy an excellent meal.
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Nature is an active part of the Canal
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All the operations of the Panama Canal are based on the fluvial basins which keep its water reserves. For this purpose, the aquatic way is located within a territory comprising 16 kilometers of protected jungle surrounding the 80 kilometers comprising the whole area of the Canal. There are sites in that territory dedicated to the observation of the abundant biodiversity of the tropical rainforest. Some of them are: the Metropolitan Park, the Oil Pipeline Way, the Summit Botanical Garden, the Barro Colorado Island, the Plantation Way, the Charco Way, the Cruces Way Trail, the Lake Trail and the Chagres National Park which is the habitat of Indian communities that may be visited.
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Cruises through the Canal
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Another unique opportunity offered to visitors by the Panama Canal is to enjoy the experience of a field trip in one of the many mini cruisers that operate for this purpose. There are different options, from choosing crossing one or two sets of locks to the complete journey from one ocean to the other. During this field trip explanations and descriptions are offered in connection with the history and functioning of the Canal and in the meantime the visitors get close contact with the gigantic structures, admiring the ancient concrete walls and the monumental steel floodgates that are opened and closed to control the great volumes of water utilized to ascend or descend the ships
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