Panama Canal Closure Makes Headline

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PANAMA CITY, PANAMA (GaeaTimes.com)- In a latest development the Panama canal which connects the Atlantic ocean and Pacific ocean has been closed for some time because of heavy rainfall and the flood caused by it. The canal authority said in its statement that the rain caused the water level in a lake linked the canal swell unexpectedly which also led to flooding in the adjacent regions. This can affect shipping in an adverse way. The authorities further said that it is the first time the canal had to be closed after the USA invaded Panama in 1989. However, the ship operation in the canal can be resumed shortly as it is being assumed. The flood gates of the canal would have to be opened in order to reduce the water level in a lake connected to it. Close to 14000 ships travel through this passage a year which comprises 5 percent of trade worldwide. The heavy rain which has caused the closure of the canal according to the water experts is an effect of the La Nina phenomenon.

In the previous years some segments of the Panama canal had to be closed but not the entire passage, says the canal authorities. The canal was made by the USA before the First World War started. It plays vital role in water based trade of the world. The famous water passage is now under a massive overhaul which will extend its capacity. Once this is done the large ships and cruise liners will be able to use it. The expansion is likely to be complete by 2014.

The Panama Canal is not on the same level as the sea. The ships that pass through it are either lowered or raised suing a couple of giant locks and then they have to cruise through a freshwater channel that is connected with rivers coming down from hills surrounding the passage.