Opening of the Panama Canal

The Panama Canal shortened voyages between the US East and West Coasts by roughly 8,000 miles, and it remains a key route for Asian goods bound for US East and Gulf Coast ports. Ships are lifted by locks to Gatun Lake, crossing the isthmus above sea level, and lowered again on the other side. The canal opened just as World War I began, so the planned celebration was cancelled. Because the locks run on lake water, droughts can force draft and transit limits, so importers routing Asian freight to the East Coast weigh the canal against West Coast ports and rail.

• Port of EntryWhere imports clear US customs
• Intermodal FreightFreight moved by rail and truck in one box
• Lead TimeTime from purchase order to sellable stock

• Ferdinand de Lesseps1805–1894 · Developer of the Suez Canal

• Opening of the Suez Canal1869 · A canal joins the Mediterranean and the Red Sea
• First Transcontinental Railroad1869 · Rails from east and west meet at Promontory Summit
• St. Lawrence Seaway1959 · Oceangoing ships can reach the Great Lakes

1. Panama Canal britannica.com
2. Panama Canal Turns 90 pancanal.com
3. Panama Canal summary britannica.com