Why is there a difference in the level of water between the atlantic & pacific oceans thru the panama canal?

Answer 1

Because the two oceans have different levels of high tide. The Pacific Ocean can rise as much as 20 feet. The difference between high tide and low tide in the Atlantic is just 3 feet.

Answer 2

Other than the Suez canal the Panama canal is not at sea level - it uses a system of locks and lakes to make ships sail from one ocean to the other.
Lake Gatun (highest point) is approx. 30 meters above sea level.
The level difference between Atlantic and Pacific is approx. 24 cm only.

Answer 3

The when traveling throught the canal, boats will go up some locks, then go back down to sea level.


The canal consists of seventeen artificial lakes, several improved and artificial channels, and two sets of locks. An additional artificial lake, Alajuela Lake, acts as a reservoir for the canal. The layout of the canal as seen by a ship transiting from the Pacific end to the Atlantic is as follows:

From the beginning of the buoyed entrance channel in the Gulf of Panama, ships travel 13.2 kilometres (8.2 mi) up the channel to the Miraflores locks, passing under the Bridge of the Americas
The two-stage Miraflores lock system, including the approach wall, is 1.7 kilometres (1.1 mi) long, with a total lift of 16.5 meters (54 ft) at mid-tide
The artificial Miraflores Lake is the next stage, 1.7 kilometers (1.0 mi) long, and 16.5 metres (54 ft) above sea level
The single-stage Pedro Miguel lock, which is 1.4 kilometres (0.8 mi) long, is the last part of the ascent with a lift of 9.5 meters (31 ft) up to the main level of the canal
The Gaillard (Culebra) Cut slices 12.6 kilometres (7.8 mi) through the continental divide at an altitude of 26 metres (85 ft), and passes under the Centennial Bridge
The Chagres River (Río Chagres), a natural waterway enhanced by the damming of Lake Gatún, runs west about 8.5 kilometres (5.3 mi), merging into Lake Gatun
Gatun Lake, an artificial lake formed by the building of the Gatun Dam, carries vessels 24.2 kilometers (15.0 mi) across the isthmus
The Gatún locks, a three-stage flight of locks 1.9 kilometres (1.2 mi) long, drop ships back down to sea level
A 3.2 kilometer (2.0 mi) channel forms the approach to the locks from the Atlantic side
Limón Bay (Bahía Limón), a huge natural harbour, provides an anchorage for some ships awaiting transit, and runs 8.7 kilometers (5.4 mi) to the outer breakwater

Answer 4

The question is not that it is different, but why? Is it the rotational effect or is there more net rainfall in the Pacific that must be equalized at the poles? The question is WHY?