How Ships Ride Elevators Across The Panama Canal

Added: 2026-05-22

[00:00:00]Ships don't just sail through the Panama Canal, they're lifted over land. That sounds impossible, but it's exactly how it works.

[00:00:07]Instead of a flat channel, the canal uses a system of locks that act like giant water elevators. A ship enters a chamber, [music] the gates close, and water flows in, lifting it higher and higher. Once it reaches [music] the top, it travels across a large artificial lake. Then the process reverses, lowering the ship back down to sea level on the other side. All of [music] this is powered by gravity and water. No engines lifting the [music] ship, just a carefully designed system that moves massive vessels across a continent. If you want to learn more, watch the [music] full video right here on Hidden Infrastructure of the World.