Panama Canal locks lift the ships 85 feet up to enter the Panama canal and Gatun Lake. Why we need to lift the ships when both the sides of canal is having sea? The reason is the Panama canal and the Gatun Lakes are made on ground hundreds feet above the sea level.. Digging the canal to sea level is very costly and lots of environmental issues would be there due to sea water flowing inside country. Hence using the locks to lift the ships to Canal level is the best option. These locks have been a great engineering creation when it was opened in 1915..

Amazing engineering wonder !! Sailing through the Panama canal on Viking cruise ship. The amount of work and unfortunately the large numbers of lives lost building the canal in 1903 is hard to imagine. Creating a man made lake for boats to float over mountains and a lock system to get there is incredible. So much hard work by so many Panamanians each day to keep commerce flowing from the Pacific to the Atlantic Ocean and vice versa.

Gatun Locks, located on the Caribbean side of the Panama Canal offers a close up look of Gatun Lake and the ships that transit the canal. On the west side the beauty of nature captures the attention of visitors.

Panama Canal and its locks should be considered as one of the most important engineering marvels of the human race. It's a fantastic experience to get up close and somehow personal to its amazing operation. Watching from a ship and see another large ship gets lifted and released at the other side is really something. "Amazing" wouldn't do justice. And NO, contrary to G-classification, it's not a "tourist attraction". Has to be seen at least once. Don't miss it.

This is the last set of locks going eastbound to the Atlantic Ocean. The design and engineering of these locks is just amazing. The ships are raised to 85 feet above sea level to navigate the man-made freshwater lake. This is the largest man-made lake in the world. If you ever have the experience of traverse and the locks it will be when you’ll never forget.

The Panama canal transit is amazing. Had the chance to transit from Cristobal to Balboa. The views, gatun locks were mesmerizing. A true engineering marvel

Sure, I've done a bit of locking through over the years. But it became clear to me that you've never really locked through until you've locked through the Gatun Locks. Okay, maybe you have. But Gatun has got to be just about the niftiest locks on the planet. And that whole east/west thing is pretty nifty as well.

I would give this place 6 stars but the water was not level, so it was very inconvenient having to go into these metal water traps and wait for the ship to go up or down.

Wow what an Engeneering Marvel! I'm in awe of the Panama canal!

To learn about the Panama Canal is one thing. To experience going through them is another. What a great experience it was.

Incredible! I knew that this was an engineering masterpiece but I had no idea that it was going to be incredibly beautiful too. Everyone needs to do a full transit at least once in their lifetime

The 12-deck 2,124-passenger Carnival Pride (right) enters the Gatun Locks for a quickie Panama Canal cruise. After reaching Gatun Lake the ship turned around and waited to come back.

It was very fun and interesting going through these canals. Interacting with the piolots and canal workers is also a pleasant experience, just as long as you don't put yourself in danger and always remain alert.

There is not a visitors center here, however over at the new locks, the Agua Clara locks there is a very nice visitors center with an observation deck overlooking the locks and you can see the large Panamax ships.

Sailed though these locks with no problem. Professional crew who knew every step like the back of their hands. Highly recommend versus sailing around South America. Such a nice shortcut.

Visiting the Panama Canal and Gaton Locks Lakes is witnessing an engineering and construction masterpiece. Witnessing the size of the ships passing through the locks is truly amazing!

Old but well manned.

Wow this was a slow moving wonder. On a cruise ship

It was a nice experience going through here on a cruise ship

it was very interesting going through the locks. we were on a Viking ship and they had an expert who told us all about that mechanics and how the locks work. it was definitely worthwhile.

Miss driving over these locks when heading to and from Ft Sherman! It is still amazing to watch!

Fun shopping or just browsing.

Amazing views.

almost end of canal if you are travelling from balboa to colon.