The Panama Canal is a great source of income and good paying jobs for  this country. The canal also brings great a national pride and especially so since the canal was turned over to  Panamas government back in the year 2000 (Panama Canal Treaty).

When you travel to Panama one of first places tourist go to see is the Panama Canal and once arriving there you should go to the  Miraflores Visitor’s Center where they have tons of literature on the Panama Canal, great exhibits and tours plus a first rate restaurant that overlooks  Miraflores Locks. 

At the Visitors Center you'll quickly appreciate the fascinating history behind the Panama Canal and how it relates to the history of Panama. You'll learn about how it was  constructed and the importance of its watershed to the nation. Key facts will also be shared indicating just how invaluable the Panama Canal is to global commerce and international trade. And of course no visit to the canal is complete without observing and learning how the ships enter and leave the locks. 

At the Panama Canal visitor’s center you will get to know the following exhibition halls:  The hall of the History of the Panama Canal; The Water: Source of Life; The Panama Canal in Action; The Panama Canal in the World; here you will receive detailed information about the Panama Canal from each one of the different exhibition halls, these are open from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and the ticket stand opens 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. form Monday to Sunday, including holidays, which allows you to get to know the Panama Canal on your visit without any problems.

On December 31^st 1999, the Panama Canal is handed over to the Panamanians and it has been demonstrated both national and internationally that The Panama Canal can be managed efficiently.  Currently, they are working on the project to expand the Panama Canal, with a third set of Locks, which will permit better flow within the Panama Canal and will create long term sustainability and growth from the contributions to society through the payments that the Panama Canal makes to the National Treasury.

The Panama Canal is comprised of the Gatun Locks, on the Atlantic side, Pedro Miguel and Miraflores, on the Pacific, and these take the name of the town where they were constructed.  Between 13 and 14 thousand vessels worldwide go by the Panama Canal on daily basis each year.  The maximum dimension for the vessels that would like to transit the Panama Canal is: 32.3 meters wide.