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Future of Panama Canal - and how it works - by Patrick Dixon
September 9th, 2009
Future of Panama canal - how it works. Panama economy and regional role in Latin America / North America, Panama canal, Colon free zone, banking, service industries, travel, tourism and retirement homes. Panama is rapidly growing and has a significant role to play in the regional economy as a hub for trade and financial services. Potential to become a ” Dubai ” with growth driven by huge container port, enormous free zone (90% of exports), tourism and retired people buying first or second homes. Comment by Dr Patrick Dixon, speaker at HSBC VIP lunch time conference event. (more)
Duration : 0:4:54
September 9th, 2009
that’s not correct …
that’s not correct . Both Pacific and Atlantic ( actually Carribean sea ) are at same level . Panam canal was built so that a way could be found through the mountains . Gatun lake is at 85 feet . That’s why ships are raised and lowered to this height .
September 9th, 2009
†…………… …
†……………Thanks!!!!!!!!!!!†
September 9th, 2009
I just came back …
I just came back from Panama and did a tour of the Canal. It is quite the sight. One comment I would like to add, when the rail cars are talked about in your video, they were referenced as “pulling” the ships. While on my tour, they had a live audio commentary as the ships were using the lock. They explained that the ships move forward under their own power and the rail cars provide only lateral and stopping force. I also thought that the cars pulled the ships through the locks.
September 9th, 2009
no, not really, it …
no, not really, it is exacly how this guy is telling you, a ship is going in that 2 doors, then they fill it up with water so the ship raises to the same level as the water on the otherside of the door, than the doors are going open, ship is leaving, othership is going in than they pump the level away doors open ship out ship in and so on, maybe a bit easy but it is going like that.
(sorry for bad english i am from holland…)
September 9th, 2009
A Panama Canal lock …
A Panama Canal lock chamber fills up in 8 minutes. 101,000 cubic meters of water are needed to fill a Panama Canal lock chamber. An average of 52 million gallons of fresh water are used in each transit. All water used in any lock chamber comes from Gatun Lake. This lake covers 163.38 square miles and was created when Madden Dam was built. At one time, Gatun Lake was the largest artificial lake in the world. Ships are raised 85 feet over sea level. This is the level of Gatun Lake.
September 9th, 2009
You are probably …
You are probably refering to how it lowers and raises in some parts
September 9th, 2009
i have a question i …
i have a question i do not know much of the Panama Canal but is it like an elevator ?
September 9th, 2009
thanks for the …
thanks for the video,my friend who work on N.C.L told me about the panama canal an the operations,so i decided to check it out,very interesting
September 9th, 2009
Panamá, con dos …
Panamá, con dos Torrijos en el poder y una historia de sublimación a los americanos pretende establecer una monarquía de pendejos y no saben ni como establecer el linaje.
September 9th, 2009
i heard the …
i heard the russians were going tot visit ther.
September 9th, 2009
The Canal Actually …
The Canal Actually connect Atlantic ocean and Pacific Ocean but the water levels are different on both sides thats why there are many locks they raise or lower the ships to one side to the other side by opening and closing these locks. Water always comes from the higher side by gravity any more questions call me 7734071139
September 9th, 2009
A sea-level canal …
A sea-level canal would be an ecological disaster: species of Atlantic and Pacific fish, warm and cold water varieties, would mix for the first time and destroy the food chain on either side.
September 9th, 2009
They had to build …
They had to build locks so that ships could steam up the river and down the other side right across the country in navigable waters.
September 9th, 2009
Thanks - yes indeed …
Thanks - yes indeed building Panama Canal was a dangerous and had process - many died.
September 9th, 2009
everytime they …
everytime they tryed to dig deeper, storms would wash earth back into canal.. so they had to build locks…
watch “7 Wonders Of The Industrial World”
will tell you everything…great dvd
September 9th, 2009
Life not that …
Life not that simple as some rivers turned into canals…. Parts of Panama canal are in fact an existint river. OK technically you can say it is not a canal but a section of river made navigable with locks. Patrick
September 9th, 2009
The canal is never …
The canal is never made on the river but next to it. So the river is just a source of water for a deeper but narrow canal. Canals are just easier to maintain and you can run them up the hill or through a tunnel in a hill. It is a great fun to drive a narrow boat through a picturesque England.
September 9th, 2009
Locks enable boats …
Locks enable boats to climb big hills up and down the other side, the “lift” for the boat happens as each lock floods, bringing the boat up to the level of the next stretch of water. But only works so long as small river somewhere feeding water into the highest point.
September 9th, 2009
Rivers flow …
Rivers flow downhill…. and are usually too shallow for boats. Answer: dam them up to make them deaper. You then create stretches of river which are relatively deep, slow moving, like long thin lakes, but at different heights. You have to create gates to allow boats to enter one stretch and leave another without emptying the upper stretch and flooding the lower one. By using two sets of gates (locks) you can create a small section between them which can fill and empty with water.
September 9th, 2009
I’d imagine it’s …
I’d imagine it’s because the lake has to be deep enough for the ships to travel through it and this means being higher than the ocean.
September 9th, 2009
bit of a stupid …
bit of a stupid question but I’ve never known why locks are needed, I know its to get boats higher up, does that mean one side of the canals is shallower? Why cant the ships just keep going along wiping out the need of the canals?
September 9th, 2009
Fascinating video, …
Fascinating video, but with it being titled “Future of Panama Canal”, I thought you were going to explain about the expansion and the “Third Set of Locks Project”. Still, very interesting, thankyou.
September 9th, 2009
americans?? come …
americans?? come back??……..i hope not.=(
September 9th, 2009
As far as I …
As far as I rememember it is a rack and pinion - in other words the track has a third rail with teeth and this fits into a cog under the train for extra grip. Patrick Dixon
September 9th, 2009
do the tug trains …
do the tug trains run on steel rails? and if they do how do they manage to climb the gradients? i would have thouht the wheels wouldn;t grip