The Panama Canal

<p>The <strong>Panama Canal</strong> (<a title= "Spanish language" href= "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spanish_language">Spanish</a>: <em lang="es" xml:lang="es">Canal de Panamá</em>) is an artificial 82 km (51 mi) waterway in <a title="Panama" href= "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Panama">Panama</a> that connects the <a title="Atlantic Ocean" href= "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atlantic_Ocean">Atlantic Ocean</a> with the <a title="Pacific Ocean" href= "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pacific_Ocean">Pacific Ocean</a>. The <a title="Canal" href= "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canal">canal</a> cuts across the <a title="Isthmus of Panama" href= "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isthmus_of_Panama">Isthmus of Panama</a> and is a <a title="Channel (geography)" href= "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Channel_(geography)">conduit</a> for maritime trade. <a class="mw-redirect" title="Canal lock" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canal_lock">Canal locks</a> are at each end to lift <a title="Ship" href= "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ship">ships</a> up to <a title="Gatun Lake" href= "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gatun_Lake">Gatun Lake</a>, an <a title="Reservoir" href= "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reservoir">artificial lake</a> created to reduce the amount of <a title= "Digging" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Digging">excavation work</a> required for the canal, 26 m (85 ft) <a class="mw-redirect" title= "Above mean sea level" href= "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Above_mean_sea_level">above sea level</a>, and then lower the ships at the other end. The original locks are 32.5 m (110 ft) wide. A <a title= "Panama Canal expansion project" href= "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Panama_Canal_expansion_project">third, wider lane of locks</a> was <a title="Construction" href= "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Construction">constructed</a> between September 2007 and May 2016. The expanded canal began commercial operation on June 26, 2016. The new locks allow transit of larger, <a class="mw-redirect" title="New Panamax" href= "https://