The Panama Canal officially opened in 1914 and connects the Atlantic and Pacific oceans.
The canal crosses the Isthmus of Panama, allowing ships to avoid the long voyage around Cape Horn at the southern tip of South America. It uses locks to raise vessels to Gatun Lake and then lower them back to sea level. The canal’s Atlantic entrance is on the Caribbean Sea, which is part of the Atlantic system.
The United States completed the canal after France’s earlier construction effort failed because of disease, difficult terrain, and financial problems. The first official transit took place on 15 August 1914, when the cargo and passenger ship SS Ancon passed through.
The United States controlled the canal for decades. Under the Torrijos–Carter Treaties, Panama received full control on 31 December 1999. A major expansion opened in 2016, adding larger locks for New Panamax ships.