巴拿马运河(Panama Canal)
巴拿马的船舶用运河。切过狭窄的巴拿马地峡连通大西洋与太平洋。长度从大西洋深水处至太平洋深水处约有82公里，最宽处约91公里，最深处为12公尺。1879年一家法国公司开始挖凿运河，但在1889年公司瓦解。巴拿马根据1903年签订的一项条约，授予美国开凿运河的权利，以及对运河区的单独经营控制权。1904年工程开始运作，但障碍重重，1907年起戈瑟尔斯指导了建造工程，运河终於在1914年8月15日开放。在主权争议过後，1977年签订一项条约，决定在2000年由巴拿马政府控制运河；1999年12月正式移交。除小型船只外，其他船只皆不能凭本身动力通过巴拿马运河船闸。船只由在闸壁的嵌齿轨道上运行的电力曳引机车拖入，拖一艘船通常用六个机车。船闸是成对的，因此船只可同时双向通行。加上等待时间，船只通过运河需15～20小时。巴拿马运河可使船只航行於美国东西岸，缩短约8,000里的航程。
English version：
Panama Canal
Ship canal, Panama. Extending across the Isthmus of Panama, it connects the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. It is about 51 mi (82 km) long from deepwater to deepwater, with a minimum width of 300 ft (91 m) and a minimum depth of 41 ft (12 m). In 1879 a French company began constructing the canal, but the enterprise collapsed in 1889. Under a 1903 treaty Panama granted the U.S. the Panama Canal Zone and the rights to build and operate a canal. Work began in 1904; facing enormous obstacles, George Goethals directed the construction from 1907 and the canal opened on August 15, 1914. After disputes over sovereignty, a 1977 treaty provided for Panama to take control of the canal in 2000; it did so in 1999. Except for small craft, no vessel can pass through the canal under its own power. Ships are towed by electric locomotives, and it takes 15-20 hours to complete the passage. Duplicate locks enable ships to pass in opposite directions simultaneously. It allows ships sailing between the eastern and western coasts of the U.S. to shorten their voyage by about 8,000 nautical miles.