Gatun Lake
Gatun Lake (Spanish: Lago Gatún) is a large freshwater artificial lake to the south of Colón, Panama. It forms a major part of the Panama Canal, carrying ships 33 km (21 mi) of their transit across the Isthmus of Panama.
| Gatun Lake | |
|---|---|
 Ships follow marked channels among the hilltop islands. | |
  Gatun Lake | |
| Coordinates | 9°11′N 79°53′W |
| Type | artificial lake |
| Primary inflows | Chagres River |
| Basin countries | Panama |
| Surface area | 425 km2 (164 sq mi) |
| Water volume | 5.2 km3 (4,200,000 acre⋅ft)[1] |
| Surface elevation | 26 m (85 ft) |
| Islands | Isla Barro Colorado, Isla Gatun, Isla Falta Calzado, Isla Tres Perros |
Supplementary benefits
Angling is one of the primary recreational pursuits on Gatun Lake. Non-native peacock bass were introduced deliberately to Gatun Lake around 1967[2] by a local businessman,[3] and have since flourished to become the dominant angling game fish in Gatun Lake. Locally they are called Sargento, and are believed to be the species Cichla pleiozona.[4]
Notes
- Hulman, Lewis G. (1972). "System Relationships a Panama Canal Water Supply Study". Water Resources Research. 8 (3): 774–778. doi:10.1029/WR008i003p00769. hdl:2027/uc1.31210024723247.
- Zaret, Thomas M.; Paine, R.T. (2 November 1973). "Species Introduction in a Tropical Lake". Science. 182 (4111): 449–455. doi:10.1126/science.182.4111.449. PMID 17832455. S2CID 19268817.
- "Peacock Bass: Fun to Catch, Fine to Eat". Panama Canal Review. February 1971: 11. Retrieved 2012-04-30.
- "Gatun Lake Peacock Bass Fishing Charters". Archived from the original on 2010-07-22. Retrieved 2012-04-30.
References
- History Of The Panama Canal, by Ira E. Bennett
- The Panama Canal, by Colonel George W. Goethals
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