Panama Canal
Canal de Panamá
Panama Canal Map EN.png
A schematic of the Panama Canal, illustrating the sequence of locks and passages
Specifications
Length82 km (51 miles)
Maximum boat length366 m (1,200 ft 9 in)
Maximum boat beam49 m (160 ft 9 in)
(originally 28.5 m or 93 ft 6 in)
Maximum boat draft15.2 m (50 ft)
Locks3 locks up, 3 down per transit; all three lanes
(3 lanes of locks)
StatusOpen, expansion opened June 26, 2016
Navigation authorityPanama Canal Authority
History
Original ownerSociété internationale du Canal
Principal engineerJohn Findley Wallace (1904–1905), John Frank Stevens (1905–1907), George Washington Goethals (1907–1914)
Construction beganMay 4, 1904; 117 years ago (1904-05-04)
Date completedAugust 15, 1914; 107 years ago (1914-08-15)
Date extendedJune 26, 2016; 5 years ago (2016-06-26)
Geography
Start pointAtlantic Ocean
End pointPacific Ocean
Connects toPacific Ocean from Atlantic Ocean and vice versa