The Panama Canal, opened in 1914, links the Atlantic Ocean with the Pacific Ocean across Panama.
The canal uses a system of locks to raise ships to Gatun Lake, which lies about 26 metres above sea level, and then lower them again. Its route crosses the Isthmus of Panama, greatly shortening voyages between the eastern and western coasts of the Americas.
France began an unsuccessful construction attempt in the 1880s, led by Ferdinand de Lesseps. The United States resumed the project in 1904 and completed it a decade later. The canal was transferred fully to Panama on 31 December 1999.
A common mix-up is calling it a sea-level canal: the original canal is a lock canal. The 2016 expansion added larger Neopanamax locks, allowing much bigger vessels to pass.