Landmark
Gatun Dam
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Gatun Dam is a monumental earthen structure that impounds the Chagres River to form Gatun Lake, one of the largest artificial lakes in the world and a vital part of the Panama Canal system. Completed in 1913, the dam is about 2.3 kilometers long and 32 meters high, constructed from millions of cubic meters of earth and rock. Visitors can view the dam from nearby roads or boat tours on the lake, appreciating the sheer scale of this early 20th-century engineering marvel. The dam's spillway is particularly impressive during the rainy season when water cascades down.
Don't miss
- View the massive earthen dam and its spillway from the causeway.
- Take a boat tour on Gatun Lake to see the dam's full extent.
- Learn about the dam's construction at the nearby Panama Canal museum in Colón.
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