News / Praying for rain as record lows loom for Panama Canal and Amazon

Ships wait at Gatun Lake © Dani3315

Water levels in the Gatun Lake – the man-made reservoir which dictates the navigability of the Panama Canal – are again sinking below the 80ft (24.3 metre) threshold and looking set to pass the record low levels seen last year.

Around 8ft lower than ideal for safe navigation, Gatun Lake water levels reached a nadir of 79.24ft in late July and have not recovered much since, reaching a high point of just 81.83ft in November.

Traditionally, Gatun reaches its highest watermark in ...