h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

I'm not sure of your sources, but there are no dams associated with the locks. There are three major dams built by the Americans as part of the Panama Canal. The first was Gatun dam, an earthen dame which blocked the Chagres River and impounded the water that forms the actual canal. A dam adjacent to Miraflores Locks on the Pacific side is used to control the level of Miraflores Lake, which is a small body of water between Pedro Miguel Locks and Miraflores Locks. Some years after the Canal was constructed, Madden Dam was built, which blocks the Chagres River near the town of Gamboa and impounds Madden Lake. The main purpose of this last dam was to provide a reservoir for operation of the Canal. Gatun dam and Madden dam have hydroelectric stations which generate electricity, but relatively little. Most of the power needs are met by steam plants at Miraflores, Mount Hope and in the Republic of Panama.

A great deal of money is being spent to upgrade the antiquated machinery of the Canal. Ideas that the Americans should have put into place more than twenty years ago are just now being applied by progressive and forward thinking Panamanians. (The old American attitude was 'It has worked for over sixty years, why change now?')

Panama is a beautiful place and the people are warm and generous. I miss my life there a great deal and hope that the transition from American to Panamanian control continues to go well.

I am amazed by the Canal's resilience. It has been considered obsolete for a long time due to changes in the size of ships, but there is always a long line of vessels waiting to transit.

Those who have never been there should take a cheap cruise and see one of the modern wonders of the world. It is particularly amazing in view of the fact that it is unlikely that we currently have the ability to build it now.