Panama marked the 20-year anniversary of the turnover of the Panama Canal on 01 Jan, now amid a water crisis that threatens the viability of the waterway, reports Valley Press.
Reason for reduced levels
The level of freshwater lakes have reduced due to
- Declining rainfall and
- rising temperatures.
These freshwater lakes fill the locks of the Panama Canal and allow boats to transit between the Pacific and the Atlantic.
Anniversary amid challenge
The new challenge
While Panama has been successful at running and expanding the canal after the U.S. handed over control, it now must face a new challenge: to find a new source of water for the locks.
Water-depth restriction
The anniversary of the Dec. 31, 1999, handover comes amid months of water-depth restrictions that limit what the cargo ships using the waterway can carry.
Artificial Gatun Lake
Changes in climate and a recent expansion to allow bigger ships to pass may have finally caught up with the canal’s 105-year-old design.
In this, the artificial Gatun Lake functions as part of the ship passage and also provides drinking water for about half the country.
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Source: Valley Press
