Panama Canal Engineering
The Panama Canal is a marvel of engineering. Even though it lifts huge ships 85 feet in the air, it requires very little power to do so. This is because the canal uses what is called a water elevator. The ship enters the canal lock and gates shut behind it. Water from the next lock that the ship will enter then flows through a valve filling the lock that contains the ship. Since water seeks its own level, the water level of the ship lock and the water level of the next lock equalize and ship rises with the water. The front gate is then opened and the ship moves on.
The process is reversed when a ship is leaving Gatun Lake and moving into one of the oceans. The ship pulls into the lock and the water from the ship lock is emptied into the next lock. The water levels equalize and the ship is lowered to a new level. There are two large railroad engines that are used to make small adjustments to the ship position.
This paper presents a great history of elevators from the ancient Egyptians to present day.
Then watch the video on the right for a great explanation of how the locks work in the Panama canal.
