The Panama canal

The Panama canal is in Panama and lets ships get from the Pacific to the Atlantic. A canal is a man made river that lets ships go though in a series of locks which raise and lower the water level. The Panama was built in 1914 by the Americans.The author of this book once swam the Panama in eight days! On this voyage he swam 50 miles from coast to coast. On the way he saw alligators and his guide even shot at some of them! He even had to pay a toll just like other ships. It was only 36 cents! (the smallest toll in panama history).