Question

Explain why fresh water is used to run the Panama Canal

Answer 1

Panama canal connects Atlantic ocean and Pacific ocean. Panama Canal is an artificial waterway built by damming Chargers river and Gutan lake. The soil mass of panama canal is above the mean sea level. Which means both Pacific and Atlantic oceans are at lower level than that of panama canal and it uses locks for the movement of ships through the drops created due to change in elevations of the canal and the oceans on both sides. This indicates there is no flow of water from oceans into the canal. Since the source of recharge for panama canal is lakes and fresh water supplied by rivers, Panama canal runs fresh water.