Rotterdam 2024, Transiting the Agua Clara Locks in the Panama Canal...

I was up and out on deck this morning for our second transit of the new Panama Canal Lock system.  Leaving the Caribbean Sea, we passed under the Atlantic Bridge before entering the Agua Clara Locks. Agua Clara Locks & Visitor Center is part of the Panama Canal expansion that opened in 2016 is one of two new sets of locks. Three consecutive chambers, with water-saving basins, move vessels from sea level to Gatun Lake and back down again. The large tugboats used in the new locks replaced the mule trains that are still used in the original locks. Once we entered the Gatun Lake, we could see the Gatun Dam. The dam, constructed in 1908, spans the Chagres River and drives all of the electricity operating the canal. Gatun Lake formed in 1912, with the damming of the Chagres River, this artificial lake is 85 feet above sea level. We spent about 2.5 hours in the Gatun Lake while offloading 1000 passengers for shore excursions before retracing our steps returning to through the Agua Clara locks to Colon. The shore excursion passengers will return to the ship during our 4-hour stop in Colon, Panama. I won’t see them reboard because we will focus on the Superbowl…   There is not as much activity going through the new locks, but the Panama Canal remains an unforgettable experience, marked with the marvels of human achievement. I was very proud of myself today, took a record low number of photos for the Canal.  It’s normally 700-1000, today, a measly 200…