Gatun Dam, Embankment dam near Gatun, Panama
The Gatun Dam is a large earth barrier stretching across the Chagres River valley, with its base reaching 640 meters wide while its crest runs about 30 meters above the water level. A concrete spillway fitted with 14 electronically controlled gates manages water flow and keeps the water level steady for ships passing through the canal system.
Built between 1907 and 1913, the dam created an artificial lake that supplied water to the Panama Canal system. This construction allowed ships to transit between two oceans while the lake handled the differences in water levels.
The artificial lake created here changed how local people fish and spend time on the water, bringing new species and recreational opportunities to the region. This shift shaped the daily rhythm of communities living nearby.
Viewpoints along the structure offer chances to watch ships passing through the locks below. Plan your visit in the morning when light is best and canal traffic is typically busier.
Barro Colorado Island, created when the lake filled behind the dam, hosts a research station that has produced decades of scientific discoveries about tropical forests. Scientists there study how the forest changes and what lives in it.
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