Isn’t one end higher than the other?
Isn’t that why they have locks?
Why doesn’t the higher ocean fill it? There’s lots of water in the ocean, no?
That was my thought. Isn’t it filled with Ocean water?
that is the craziness of it all
ocean on both sides but the canal is filled (or not) by a fresh water lake
I learned something new;
“But dwindling water levels in the Gatun Lake, which feeds into the waterway”
I asked ChatGPT:
The Panama Canal does use ocean water, but it uses it in a controlled and strategic manner. The canal relies on a system of locks to raise and lower ships as they pass through the canal, and freshwater from Gatun Lake is used in these locks.
Using ocean water directly in the locks could lead to several problems:
1. Corrosion: Ocean water is saltwater, which is highly corrosive. Using it directly in the locks could damage the infrastructure and equipment over time.
2. Environmental Impact: The use of ocean water directly in the locks could have a negative impact on the surrounding ecosystem. The introduction of saltwater could harm local flora and fauna.
3. Efficiency: Freshwater from Gatun Lake is a renewable resource, and it’s readily available for use in the locks. Using ocean water would require additional desalination processes and infrastructure, which could be less efficient and more costly.
By using freshwater from Gatun Lake in the locks, the Panama Canal can operate more efficiently and minimize environmental impact while still allowing ships to transit between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans.
Either side has to raise about 85 feet up to Gatun Lake. If the lake is low there isn’t enough draft for the larger tankers.
The 20 cm difference between the pacific and the Atlantic is insignificant compared to the lake level.
Not only is there “lots” of water in the oceans, as the water spills out of the canal (whether into the Pacific or the Gulf), it replenishes the supply. The canal flows down from its apex at Gatun Lake in both directions. There is, however, the problem of pumping the water to the apex of the canal. Possibly also the problem of mixing fresh water and salt water in the various lakes that are part of the canal.