Book Description

The Panama Canal is one of the great human engineering feats of the world. Now operating in its second century, it still never ceases to amaze people when they stand on the deck of a ship and watch as the vessel is slowly raised upward through three locks to an elevation of 85 feet or 26 meters above sea level then sails through an artificial channel and lake, crossing the continental divide to be finally lowered back to sea level. And this journey of around six to seven hours takes the vessel from one ocean to the other with ease. It is nothing less than thrilling. Cruises through the Panama Canal generally begin or end in either Florida or California depending upon the direction of travel. The majority of the ports of call are found along the Pacific Coast, but some cruise lines stop in Cartagena, Colombia or Limon, Costa Rica on the Caribbean Coast. This book provides very detailed information regarding the operation of the canal, the experience of making the transit along with a descriptive chapter on each of the major ports of call that comprise a Panama Canal cruise. And the book is filled with a great many pictures. However, the volume is done in black and white because of the high per page cost of printing even if it only contains text. But there will be a companion volume of new colour photographs without text to compensate. So come along for the journey through the Panama Canal.