Without a doubt the Panama Canal is one of the great engineering and technical masterpieces in history. When you think of the technology available when the canal was dug and how it has operated the last hundred years just as it did when it opened in 1914 is absolutely amazing. As you pass through the locks and realized that when it was built the Panama Canal was the largest concrete structure in the world you begin the appreciate the fact that 26,000 people lost their lives in the construction of this passageway. Most of those who died were killed by disease...malaria and yellow fever...before anyone discovered that these deadly diseases were transmitted by the simple mosquito. Today about 40 vessels a day pass through the six locks and 50 miles of waterways from one ocean to the other. Crossing the Panama Canal is roughly like shooting TV show or movie...brief moments of action and excitement followed by lengthy periods of tedious boredom. However...I would not trade the experience. It is like watching an elephant dance...never criticize the technique, just marvel that they can do it.
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