À cause de la forme de l'isthme de Panamá, l'extrêmité côté Pacifique du canal est en réalité au sud-est, et l'extrémité côté Atlantique est au nord-ouest. Du côté Pacifique, les écluses Miraflores et Pedro Miguel (qui se passent respectivement en deux et une fois) amènent au plus haut point du canal : 26 mètres au-dessus du niveau de la mer. La Coupe Culebra (ou Coupe Gaillard) conduisent au lac Gatún, créé par le barrage construit sur le fleuve Chagres ; puis les écluses Gatún ramènent au niveau de la mer dans la baie Limón.

Le trait gras rouge montre la route maritime. Le trait rouge fin dans le lac Gatún est la Coupe Banane, un raccourci utilisé par des bateaux et yachts du canal.

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