Gatún Lake

Colón

The great artificial lake of the Panama Canal: a freshwater sea full of islands, wildlife, and ships in transit.

Gatún Lake is a huge freshwater reservoir south of Colón and a key part of the Panama Canal. It was created in 1913 with the construction of the Gatún Dam, and for decades it was the largest artificial lake in the world.

A marvel of engineering

The lake lifts ships about 26 meters above sea level and carries them along some 33 kilometers of their transit between the two oceans. Its waters feed the canal's locks.

Nature and wildlife

Surrounded by jungle, the lake is home to monkeys, crocodiles, manatees, and hundreds of birds. You can explore it by boat, visit its islands, and watch the enormous vessels pass up close.