Prelims
The Panama Canal, a critical global trade route, is under threat due to declining water levels in Lake Gatun, an artificial reservoir essential for its functioning.
About Lake Gatun
- Formation: Created by damming the Chagres River and its tributaries at Gatun.
- Function: Stores water for the Gaillard Cut, enabling smooth canal operations and supplying water to the locks during dry periods.
- Geographical Feature: Guacha Island is located at the center of the lake.
Significance of the Panama Canal
- A key shipping corridor linking the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans.
- Located in Central America, it traverses the Isthmus of Panama.
- Plays a crucial role in global maritime trade, reducing transit time between oceans.