We arranged for a day-trip to the Atlantic side of the canal to visit the Gatun Locks, Portebelo, and Colon. The Gatun Locks are much better for viewing the activities of a ship's transit as the viewing stands are more conveniently placed. This is a magnificent testimony to human engineering prowess and construction. They were completed in 1913, and still function today, though certainly some of the technology has been upgraded along the way. This is the main lock and the control building. As you can see, the lock 'upstream' to the left is at 'lake level', and the one to the right is still at 'sea level'. A ship will be coming through from the Pacific side to the Atlantic soon.