The Panama Canal is a man-made waterway that connects the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean and is considered one of the greatest engineering feats of the 20th century. It was built to provide a more efficient route for ships traveling between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, bypassing the lengthy and dangerous trip around the southern tip of South America.

Construction of the Panama Canal began in 1904 and was completed in 1914. The canal is approximately 50 miles long and includes a system of locks that raise and lower ships to navigate the changes in elevation between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans.

The Panama Canal has had a profound impact on world trade and commerce, providing a quicker and more reliable route for ships to travel between the two oceans. Today, the canal is one of the busiest shipping routes in the world, and is a major source of revenue for Panama.

Visitors to Panama can take a tour of the canal, including a ride through one of the locks and a visit to the Miraflores Locks Visitor Center, where they can learn about the history and engineering of the canal, as well as see how it operates today.