PANAMA CANAL
Ships move through
the Miraflores locks
on the Panama Canal.
In all toil there is profit. (Proverbs 14:23)
Steam shovels clear rock along the
route of the Panama Canal in 1913.
A worker walks across
the doors of a lock.
The Panama Canal is an engineering
marvel. But it took thousands of
workers many years to finish.
Be thankful for the great ideas and
hard work of those who have gone before us.
Welders
repair the
wall of a lock.
A container ship glides
along the Panama Canal
at sunset.
What makes "The World's Greatest Shortcut" work? Gravity and flotation—God's ideas and God's work!
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How are ships lifted and lowered the 85 feet that it takes to cross the Isthmus
of Panama? Locks! Learn how they work. At each step, read the instructions.
Then click on the blinking button.
Think of locks as water elevators. God's laws of gravity and flotation
do the work. A green button is blinking. Start by opening the valve to
release water from the first lock.
Lock doors are pointed inward. The pressure of water pushing against the
doors actually helps them shut tighter. Gravity was also at work when you
released water from the lock. Close the valve before going to the next step.
The river water and the lock water are now at the same level. So there is
no longer pressure on the heavy watertight doors. They will open with
the click of a button.
The "move" arrow is blinking. Electric locomotives called "mules" pull
ships into locks. It is not safe for the engine and propellor of a ship to
be running in such close quarters.
Close the doors. It is a tight fit. Some ships have only inches to spare.
What happens when you open the middle valve? Be patient. In real life
it takes about 10 minutes to fill or empty a lock.
Water from the full box fills the box where the ship is waiting.
The ship floats on the rising water. The blinking button reminds
you to close the middle valve.
The water in both locks is now level. Pressure is off the doors,
so you can click the lighted button to open them.
It is time to use the "move" button again. The ship glides easily
into the second lock.
Like your mother says, "Close the door behind you."
It's time to fill the last lock with water. It will take 27 million gallons.
But don't worry. There's plenty of water in the river above the lock.
Close the valve.
Your ship is now at the upper river level. Open the doors.
You know the drill. Use the "move"
button to bring your ship out onto
the river. Then you can start your
engines and steam along to the
next set of locks.
Please close the doors behind you. Another ship will be coming along soon.
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