Panama Canal Lockscanal, Central America Spanish Canal de Panamá

The canal locks operate by gravity flow of water from Gatún, Alajuela, and Miraflores lakes, which are fed by the Chagres and other rivers. The locks themselves are of uniform length, width, and depth. Each set of locks is built in pairs, to permit the simultaneous transit of vessels in either direction. Each lock gate has two leaves, 20 metres (65 feet) wide and 2 metres (6.5 feet) thick, set on hinges. The gates range in height from 14 to 25 metres (46 to 82 feet); their movement is powered by electric motors recessed in the lock walls. They are operated from a control tower, which is located on the wall that separates each pair of locks and from which the flooding or emptying of the lock chambers is also controlled. The lock chambers are 300 metres (1,000 feet) long, 33 metres (110 feet) wide, and 12 metres (40 feet) deep.

Because of the delicate nature of the lock mechanisms, only small craft are allowed to pass through the locks under their own power. Larger craft are taken through by electric towing locomotives, which operate on cog tracks on the lock walls. Before a lock can be entered, a fender chain, stretched between the walls of the approach, must be passed. If all is proceeding properly, this chain will be dropped into its groove at the bottom of the channel. If by any chance the ship is moving too rapidly for safety, the chain will remain stretched and the vessel will run against it. The chain, which is operated by hydraulic machinery in the walls, then will pay out slowly by automatic release until the vessel is brought to a stop. If the vessel should get away from the towing locomotive and, breaking through the chain, ram the first gate, a second gate 15 metres (50 feet) away will protect the lock and arrest further advance.