My Google Map Blog

We recently had a look at water transfer canals in Brazil. Today we are looking at the Panama Canal and in a future post we will have a look at the Suez Canal, both of which have recently been expanded.

The Panama Canal rises 26 metres above sea level and has locks at each end to raise the ships. The original locks were 33.5 metres wide, which limits the size of ship that can pass through the canal. This is such an important restriction that ships are often built specifically to meet that restriction – a size known as Panamax. The expansion project was aimed at allowing for larger ships to pass through the canal, as well as faster transit times and more efficient use of water.

The new locks have large reutilization basins which allow 60% of the water used in each transit to be reused.

Pacific Ocean Locks. 1: Miraflores Locks (original). 2. Pedro Miguel Locks (original) 3. Cocoli Locks (new).

Speed in milliseconds per image:
Construction of the Pacific Locks.
 

Atlantic Ocean Locks. 1: Gatun Locks (original). 2. Agua Clara Locks (new).

Speed in milliseconds per image:
Construction of the Atlantic Locks.
 

The post The Panama Canal expansion project appeared first on Google Earth Blog.

The Marum Lava Lake in the tiny nation Vanuatu is one of the largest boiling lava lakes on earth. Google Maps explain how they got the images: To get inside the active volcano, we partnered with explorers Geoff Mackley and Chris Horsly, who repelled 400 meters into the Marum crater with a Street View Trekker [...]

Larger (thanks culttv)