Miraflores, Navigation lock at Panama Canal, Panama
Miraflores is a lock system on the Panama Canal that raises and lowers vessels through two chambers by approximately 54 feet, connecting the Pacific coast with Balboa port. The site includes observation terraces, an IMAX theater, and viewing platforms where visitors can watch large cargo ships make their passage.
The locks were completed in 1914 and revolutionized global shipping by creating the first practical waterway between the Pacific and Atlantic oceans. This connection transformed world trade and eliminated the need for long, dangerous voyages around South America.
The name Miraflores comes from the flowers that once grew here, and the visitor center shows how this place connects Panama to global shipping. The way people gather to watch ships pass reflects how central this engineering feat remains to local and national identity.
Visitors can watch ships from multiple levels between 6 AM and 6 PM, with the upper terraces offering the best views of large vessels passing through. Wear sturdy shoes and bring water, as you will spend considerable time walking and the sun exposure can be intense.
Each lock chamber fills with about 26 million gallons of water in just minutes without external pumps, using only gravity and underground channels for water distribution. This ingenious system has operated reliably for over a century, allowing roughly 35 to 40 ships to transit daily.
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