Virginia-class Submarine Spotted Transiting the Panama Canal – Every year approximately 13,000 to 14,000 ships transit the Panama Canal. Unlike the longer Suez Canal, which was built at sea level, the Panama Canal consists of artificial lakes, several improved and artificial channels, and three sets of locks – with a dozen locks in total. The artificial Alajuela Lake (known during the American era as Madden Lake) also acts as a reservoir for the canal. In the interwar era, the canal proved vital to the United States Navy’s two-ocean policy, and the Panama Canal remained under U.S. control until the 1977 Torrijos-Carter Treaties provided for a handover to Panama. In fact, the Navy’s Iowa-class of fast battleships – which included BB-62 and BB-63 – was the largest U.S. military warships designed to utilize the canal.

Source: Forbes May 18, 2022 14:48 UTC