Lake Gatun


Lake Gatun is a large artificial lake situated in the Republic of Panama; it forms a major part of the Panama Canal, carrying ships for 33 kilometers of their transit across the Isthmus of Panama. The lake was created between 1907 and 1913 by the building of the Gatun Dam across the Chagres River. When it was created, Lake Gatun was the largest man-made lake in the world. The lake is essential to the canal's functionality, providing the millions of liters of water necessary to operate the Panama Canal locks each time a ship passes through. Additionally, the lake acts as a reservoir of water in times of drought to ensure the canal can continue to operate. The lake also serves as a significant resource for hydroelectric power generation and is a crucial component of the regional water supply system.


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