The Panama Canal

The Panama Canal
The Panama CanalVisited the Panama Canal today. Yup. It was a canal. Felt as if I was checking something off of a list as I stood on the observation tower looking down upon the ships in the locks.I took the public bus out of Panama City and made Miraflores within twenty minutes. From there it was a short walk to the canal. Watched a big ship move by through the locks as I walked towards it. When I arrived at the canal it became apparent that it was havily guarded and gated in. The romantic taste of the canal quickly escaped from my mouth as I was scolded by a security guard for looking at the canal from an uncommon vantage point. Or maybe he thought that I was considering thieving it and did not want to take any chances. Either way, I then realized that I would have to meet the throng of tourists that were huddled together below the base of the large observation tower that jutted out over the waterway if I was to really look at the canal.I debated if it was worth it.
Azamara Cruises Brings the Journey to the Panama Canal
Azamara Cruises is switchings gears with the Azamara Journey from a soft South America market to a much stronger Panama Canal, and then Asia market that is beginning to catch on with new cruisers. Veteran cruisers have long known of the beauty and history in the Asian market, but it was previously monopolized by the retired cruisers. This is an area of the world not to be missed from a perspective of pure natural beauty, romantic getaways, and steeped with ancient history of some of the world’s oldest civilizations. What could be better. And don’t forget, with Azamara, every room comes with a butler.

U.S. Navy Official Exaggerated Terrorist Threat to Arctic & Panama Canal Sh
An article in the January 23, 2008 issue of Jane's Defence Weekly (subscription only) caught my attention, because it included a public statement from a senior Navy civilian official about the potential terrorist threat to shipping lanes through the Arctic Circle and Panama Canal. The theme of the article is that, "The disappearance of Arctic sea ice raises serious sovereignty and security issues for the five nations that claim parts of the Arctic Circle's outer ring - Canada,

Panama Canal Trip Journal
This journal covers a cruise to Panama on Holland America through Insight / Geek Cruises. The cruise was a Shakespeare cruise done in conjunction with the Oregon Shakespeare Festival and a Mac cruise done in conjunction with MacWorld. Friday November 2, San Jose to Florida The alarm goes off very early when you are trying to ...

Four consortiums compete to build new Panama Canal ship locks

Panama will take bids from four international consortiums seeking to build new, larger ship locks for the Panama Canal, government officials said Friday. The locks are a key part of the 5.25 billion-dollar canal expansion project begun in September, aimed at doubling the capacity of the 50-mile (80-kilometer) canal connecting two oceans. Panamanian officials hope the project ...

Panama Canal...What If?
If all the lock gates were opened...what would be the global impact ??? That would be one big wave to ride??? How big a hole would it rip through Central America...what would happen to sea levels? Discus in not more than 500 worms. Del

Panama Canal: A Cruise Over Oceans
Photo: cruises.about.com The might of the Panama Canal locks, fails to eclipse the beauty of the different sights. After an effort for 400 years to build the Panama Canal, it has served its purpose as a viable trade route and a promising tourist route for cruises. During a typical cruise, you will not only be marvelled with ...

Invasive Crab Species Identified In Panama Canal Expansion Area
Science Daily ? A Smithsonian scientist and colleague report that a potentially harmful, invasive crab species that has spread to several countries is now established and reproducing in Panama. The researchers report that Harris mud crabs are reproducing in the small, man-made lake designated to become the third set of locks in Panama's new $5 billion canal expansion project.Harris mud crab (Rhithropanopeus harrisii) is an invasive species in Panama. (Credit: Arthur Anker)Mark Torchin, a staff scientist at the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute in Panama, and Dominique Roche, a McGill University pre-doctoral student, report their research in the September issue of Aquatic Invasions.The Harris mud crab, Rhithropanopeus harrisii, native to estuarine environments along the East coast of North America, has spread to at least 21 countries, causing varying degrees of both environmental and economic damage. This mud crab has the potential to disrupt local ecosystems, invade inland fr...

Panama Canal Expansion Under Way!
Source: Panama First AlertBOOM! That's the sound that signaled to the world that the Panama Canal expansion mega-project has begun . The day: Monday, September 3, 2007?the 30th anniversary of the signing of the U.S.-Panama treaty better known as the Torrijos-Carter treaty. Panama President Martin Torrijos "pressed the button," causing a powerful explosion to rip apart Cerro Paraiso (Paradise Hill), where excavation for the $5.25 billion expansion has already begun.Learn more on the Panama Canal Expansion ProjectSome 30,000 people were present for the symbolic act, including VIPs such as Colombia President Alvaro Uribe; El Salvador President Antonio Saca; Nicaragua President Daniel Ortega; and Honduras President Manuel Zelaya. A guest of honor, former U.S. President Jimmy Carter arrived on Torrijos' presidential plane. Carter co-signed the Torrijos-Carter treaty (along with Martin Torrijos' father and then-dictator of Panama, Omar Torrijos) in which the U.S. agreed to hand over th...

Panama Canal travel
This incredible piece of human engineering, dreamt up by the ambitious King Charles V of Spain, took around 75,000 workers over 10 long years to complete and throughout the construction was beleaguered by a range of problems, from financial bankruptcy, very poor project management and serious outbreaks of malaria that killed many of the workers. It was eventually finished however, to worldwide applause and with the enormous gratitude of the thousands of ships that still pass through in huge quantities - some paying up to 30,000 dollars for the privilege. The incredible network of dams and locks spans 50 miles at the shortest point between the Atlantic and Pacific oceans, allowing ships to cut out an enormous and treacherous stretch of coastline around South America. The canal is located just 80kms north west of Panama City on the Pacific side and Colon on the Atlantic side. You could have the unique and once-in-a-lifetime chance to jump aboard one of the many fantastic cruise ships ...

Panama Canal Should Favor the Panamanian Economy
Expansion of the Panama Canal will benefit Panama's economy, if it favors all its sectors. The expansion of the Panama Canal will benefit Panama's economy only if, through its investments, it nourishes all sectors, commmented Juan Carlos Mastellari, president elect of the Panamamanian Association of Business Executives. All activities related to the Canal's expansion must be done with the utmost transparency and offer equal opportunities to all businesses to participate, he added. "One of the things that we must guarantee is that the purchasing of the supplies for the Canal project's contracts is done in Panama and not abroad," Mastellari said. The contracts to expand the Panama Canal, costing from 5 thousand to 250 million dollars, should commencce in the last trimester of 2007, after appropriating the first bidding for its excavation.Photos courtesy of the Panama Canal Authority

Tax Gap - Larger Than The Panama Canal?
With April 15th behind us, you would think that tax season stories would dissipate. Not so. Treasury Secretary, Henry M. Paulson yesterday said to the Washington Post that the IRS would have a hard time closing the tax gap (i.e., catching the ?tax cheats.?). Is this good news for the bad guys? ....

The Panama Canal II

Many engineers consider the Panama Canal to be the world's eighth wonder. But almost a century after its construction, the canal is simply too narrow...

Here’s a mesmerizing little time-lapsed video I found on YouTube. It condenses 12 hours of activity at a Panama Canal lock to one minute. The Benny Hill theme music adds a nice touch: (I’m just reposting a video from Digg, so if you like it please give the original video credit by Digging here instead of digging my post)

citizens of Panama have approved the addition of a 3rd lane of traffic for the Panama Canal. I'm sure that many shipping companies w...

The Story of The Panama Canal
The Panama Canal is a vital place for ships to pass through Panama. It connects the Atlantic with the Pacific Oceans and turned down the long and risky route via Drake Passage and Cape Horn and gave birth to new shipping route. Moreover, it made traveling easy between Spain and Peru. In 1880, French took ...

The Story of The Panama Canal
Discover one of the wonders of the world.
The Panama Canal is a vital place for ships to pass through Panama. It connects the Atlantic with the Pacific Oceans and turned down the long and risky route via Drake Passage and Cape Horn and gave birth to new shipping route. Moreover, it made traveling easy between Spain and Peru. In 1880, French took ...