Miraflores (Panama)

One of the Panama Canal Locks

Main article: Panama Canal locks

* v
* t
* e

Panama Canal

Legend

|  |  |

| km

|  |

|  | Atlantic Ocean

(Caribbean Sea)

|  |

| Atlantic Entrance,

Manzanillo Bay Breakwater

|  |  |  |

| 8.7

5.4

| Port of Colón, Cristóbal (city) |

|

|  |  |  |

| 8.7

5.4

| Port of Colón, Cristóbal (city) |

|

|  |

|  |

Cruise terminal, Manzanillo (MIT), Free Trade Zone, E.A. Jiménez Airport,

|  |

|  |

Atlantic railway station; freight terminal

|  |

|  |
|  |

|  | Atlantic Bridge

(2019)

|  |

|  |
|  |

|  |
|  |

| 1.9

1.2

Gatún Locks

3 chambers, +26 m (85 ft)

|  |

|  | Agua Clara Locks

(2016) 3 chambers, 3 water saving basins each

|  |

|  |
|  |

|  |
|  |

|  |
|  |

|  | Gatún Dam,

Chagres River,  hydroelectric power (22.5 MW),[1] spillway

|  |

| 24.2

15.0

Gatún Lake
|  |

|  |

Gatún River, causeway, Monte Lirio railway bridge

|  |

|  |
|  |

|  |
|  |

| 8.5

5.3

Gamboa
|  |

|  | Chagres River,

Madden Dam, Alajuela Lake

|  |

|  |

hydroelectric power (36 MW)[1]

|  |

| 12.6

7.8

Culebra Cut

(Gaillard Cut)

|  |

|  |

Continental watershed, summit

|  |

|  |

Centennial Bridge (Pan-American Highway, via Panama City)

|  |

|  |
|  |

| 1.4

0.9

Pedro Miguel Locks

1 chamber, +9.5 m (31 ft)

|  |

|  | Cocolí Locks

(2016) 3 chambers, 3 water saving basins each

|  |

| 1.7

1.1

Miraflores Lake
|  |

|  |
|  |

| 1.7

1.1

Miraflores Locks

2 chambers, +16.5 m (54 ft); spillway

|  |

|  |
|  |  |  |

| 13.2

8.2

| Port of Balboa, Balboa (city) |

|

|  |  |  |

| 13.2

8.2

| Port of Balboa, Balboa (city) |

|

|  |

|  |

Diablo (hamlet), M.A. Gelabert Airport,

|  |

|  |

Corozal railway station; freight terminal

|  |

total

Bridge of the Americas (Arraiján–Panama City)

|  |

| 77.1

47.9

Pacific Entrance
|  |

|  | Pacific Ocean

(Gulf of Panama)

|  |  |  |  |  |

Legend

|  |  |

|  | Navigable canal

(maximum draft: 39.5 feet (12.0 m))

|
|
|
|

|  |

|  | Non-navigable water
|  |

|  | Dock, industrial or logistical area
|  |

|  | Water flow direction
|  |

|  | Panama Canal Railway (passenger station, freight station)
|  |

|  | City, village or town
|  |  |  |  |  |

Miraflores is the name of one of the three locks that form part of the Panama Canal, and the name of the small lake that separates these locks from the Pedro Miguel Locks upstream. In the Miraflores locks, vessels are lifted (or lowered) 54 feet (16.5 m) in two stages, allowing them to transit to or from the Pacific Ocean port of Balboa in Panama City. Ships cross below the Bridge of the Americas, which connects North and South America.

As of 2005, the following schedule was in effect for ship transit through the locks: From 06:00 to 15:15, ships travel from the Pacific toward the Atlantic. From 15:45 to 23:00, ships travel from the Atlantic toward the Pacific. At any other time, travel is permitted in both directions.

A visitors center allows tourists to have a full view of the Miraflores locks operation. Binoculars are recommended to view the Pedro Miguel locks in the distance. As of 2024, admittance for adults to the visitors center costs US$17.22 (observation terrace and IMAX theater) with a lower rate for children. Panamanian residents are admitted at US$3 per person.[2] Viewing a transit operation at the centre can take more than 30 minutes. A souvenir shop on the ground level sells related merchandise. The centre closes at 18:00.

## Gallery

[edit]

* The locks in operation

* USS Missouri passing through the Miraflores locks in 1945

* Main building of the Miraflores locks

* The Hanjin Wilmington in transit through the Miraflores locks toward the Pacific Ocean

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b "Hydroelectric Plants in Panama". 2015-07-05. Retrieved 2016-06-26.
2. ^ "Miraflores Visitor Center - Panama Canal".

## External links

[edit]

* Miraflores visitors center

8°59′49.474″N 79°35′30.73″W﻿ / ﻿8.99707611°N 79.5918694°W﻿ / 8.99707611; -79.5918694

View from visitors center

* v
* t
* e

Panama Canal

Management|

* Panama Canal Authority

Structures|

* Locks
* Panamax
* Gatun Dam
* Gatun Lake
* Chagres River
* Culebra Cut
* Centennial Bridge
* Bridge of the Americas
* Panama Canal Railway
* Atlantic Bridge

Locations|

| Atlantic side|

* Colón
* Arco Iris
* Cristóbal port
* Enrique Adolfo Jiménez Airport
* Limon Bay
* Gatún

|

Passage|

* Gatun Lake
* Culebra Cut

Pacific side|

* Balboa
* Albrook Airport
* Gamboa
* Panama City

Expansion|

* 2006 referendum
* Atlantic Bridge
* New Panamax / Post-Panamax

History|

| People|

* Philippe Bunau-Varilla
* Ephraim S. Claybourn
* John G. Claybourn
* William Nelson Cromwell
* David du Bose Gaillard
* George Washington Goethals
* William Crawford Gorgas
* Ferdinand de Lesseps
* John Frank Stevens

|

Construction|

* 1903 Hay–Bunau-Varilla Treaty
* 1921 Thomson–Urrutia Treaty
* Isthmian Canal Commission (1904–1906)
* Health measures
* Panama Canal Museum
* Box 25

US Canal Zone
(1904–1979/99)

* List of governors
* Canal Zone Police
* United States District Court for the Canal Zone
* 1977 Torrijos–Carter Treaties

Former
US military
installations

| Airfields|

* Albrook AFB
* France Field
* Howard AFB

|

Forts|

* Amador
* Clayton
* Davis
* De Lesseps
* Grant
* Gulick
* Kobbe
* Randolph
* Sherman

Ports|

* Coco Solo
* PSA Panama International Terminal

Radio|

* Galeta Island
* Balboa Naval Station

Education|

* Balboa High School

Authority control databases: National |

* United States
* Israel

|

*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template