The Panama Canal is a crucial waterway that connects the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, allowing ships to bypass the lengthy and dangerous route around the southern tip of South America. To enable this connection, the canal uses a system of locks—essentially massive water-filled chambers that raise and lower ships—to lift them 26 meters above sea level. This system relies on Lake Gatún, an artificial lake created by damming the Chagres River. At the time of its construction, Lake Gatún was the largest man-made lake in the world. The idea of building a canal through Panama was not new. The French had first attempted to construct a sea-level canal—meaning ships would pass through without the need for locks—under the leadership of Ferdinand de Lesseps, who had previously overseen the Suez Canal. However, the French effort, which began in 1881, faced immense challenges. The region’s rugged terrain, frequent landslides, torrential rains, and tropical diseases like malaria and yellow fever led to over 5,600 deaths and ultimately financial collapse. The project was abandoned in 1889. The United States took over the project in the early 20th century and decided on a different approach. Rather than a sea-level canal, they opted for a lock-based system, which required the creation of Lake Gatún. This involved excavating nearly 150 million cubic meters of earth and constructing a stable environment to support the locks. The completed canal is about 80 kilometers long, with a minimum depth of 12 meters and a minimum width of 91 meters. The locks, which still operate today, lift ships to Lake Gatún and then lower them on the Pacific side. The original system has remained largely unchanged since the canal opened on August 15, 1914, though modern upgrades like the Neopanamax locks, completed in 2016, have expanded its capacity. Today, the canal faces new challenges, particularly related to water supply. Lake Gatún’s water levels are vulnerable to droughts, which can disrupt the canal’s operations. Meanwhile, Barro Colorado Island, a natural high point that remained above water when Lake Gatún was formed, now hosts the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute. Scientists there study the biodiversity of the surrounding tropical rainforest, which has become a unique ecosystem isolated by the lake’s waters.