The water level of Gatun Lake, one of the reservoirs supplying water to the Panama Canal’s locks, is decreasing and is expected to reach a historic low in July.
The Panama Canal Authority (ACP) reported that an unprecedented drought is impacting the canal’s water supply, forcing authorities to impose surcharges and weight limits on passing vessels, according to a report by CNN on June 13.
The Panama Canal is a vital transportation route between the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans. (Photo: Gonzalo Azumendi/Stone RF/Getty).
Vessels travel through the Panama Canal using a lock system. The locks utilize water from several freshwater lakes to lift massive cargo ships. However, Panama is experiencing drought conditions, and the water level in Gatun Lake, one of these reservoirs, is declining. As of June 13, the water level was at 24.3 meters, compared to the average level of 25.6 meters for June over the past five years.
Gatun Lake’s water is projected to drop to a historic low in July, prompting authorities to implement various water conservation measures and impose strict draft limits (the distance between the waterline and the lowest point of the ship’s hull) in recent months.
Gatun Lake’s depletion also supplies water to nearby areas, including Panama City. Many regions in Central America, including Panama, have been facing severe drought conditions in recent months. The emergence of El Niño may exacerbate the situation, the ACP warns.
El Niño, a natural phenomenon occurring in the tropical Pacific, typically brings warmer-than-average temperatures. This year, El Niño is expected to increase global temperatures and may make 2023 or 2024 the hottest year on record.
The Panama Canal is a crucial shipping route between the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans, allowing vessels to avoid the perilous journey around Cape Horn, South America.
The canal was constructed by the United States from 1904 to 1914, and the U.S. maintained sole control over the canal until 1979. The Panamanian government took control of the canal at the end of 1999.
