The Canal is 50 miles in length from the deep water in the Atlantic Ocean to the deep water in the Pacific Ocean. It was cut through one of the narrowest and lowest sections of the long, mountainous Isthmus that joins North and South America. The erage ship requires nine hours to transit the Canal.
The Panama Canal's principle physical features are the two terminal ports, short sections of the channel at either end at sea level, three sets of twin locks, Gatun and Miraflores Lakes and Gaillard or Culebra Cut. Culebra Cut, the part where the heiest excation was required, slices through the Continental Divide, it is about eight miles long and was carved through rock and shale.
The American (U.S.) construction occurred between 1904 and 1914.