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The statue of Balboa on the shores of the Pacific in Panama City.

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This site, now known as Old Panama, was attacked by the English pirate, Henry Morgan.  This picture shows all that is left of one of the churches.

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It was this bridge that the Spanish trail across the isthmus, sometimes called the Treasure Trail, had started.

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The Panama Canal Railroad, now operated by the U.S. government.

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It was Ferdinand de Lesseps who conceived the idea of an inter-ocean canal across the isthmus of Panama between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans.

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De Lesseps' undertaking failed completely and today this little stretch of waterway is all that is left of "De Lesseps' Ditch."

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This monument to Colonel Goethals, builder of the canal, symbolizes the American approach to the problem.

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A shop is seen here entering Gatun Locks from the Caribbean side.

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This ship is about to enter the middle locks on the Caribbean side.

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Some millions of gallons of water change places while a ship is "locked through" from one side to another.

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In this photograph the details of the lock are clearly visible.

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In this close-up view water entering the lock chamber from the sides can be seen whirling around.

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Once through the locks on the Caribbean side, this ship has entered Gatun Lake.

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Overflow from Gatun Lake during a rainy period is being released on its way to the Caribbean.

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After completing its trip through Gatun Lake and the gaillard cut, a ship is about to enter the locks on the Pacific side, called the Miraflores Locks.

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The bypass shown in this photograph is part of the auxiliary locks of the canal system.

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A ship in the upper dock of the Miraflores entrance about to be lowered to the middle lock on its way to the Pacific Ocean.

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The ship is now ready to pass from the middle to the lower locks and the gates are just swinging open to admit it.

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A large freighter and a small army of engineers launch waiting to enter the lower locks to the part of the canal leading to the Pacific Ocean.

Panama21

Seen from the highway, bridge that spans Miraflores Lock on their Pacific side-the Pacific entrance to the canal is shown.