Panama Canal Coordinates: Precision Location for Navigation & Study
The Panama Canal — 82 km (51 mi) of engineered waterway connecting Atlantic and Pacific — centers on these coordinates:
Primary Reference Point (Miraflores Locks — Pacific Entrance)
- DMS: 9°02′42″ N, 79°38′18″ W
- Decimal: 9.0450° N, -79.6383° W
- UTM: 17P 214322 E, 999432 N
Key Waypoints Along the Canal
| Feature | Latitude (N) | Longitude (W) |
|---|
| Atlantic Entrance (Limón Bay) | 9.3833° | 79.9167° |
| Gatún Locks (3 chambers) | 9.2700° | 79.9200° |
| Gatún Lake (max level 26.7 m) | 9.2500° | 79.8500° |
| Culebra (Gaillard) Cut | 9.1000° | 79.7000° |
| Pedro Miguel Lock (1 chamber) | 9.0667° | 79.6500° |
| Miraflores Lake | 9.0333° | 79.6333° |
| Miraflores Locks (2 chambers) | 9.0450° | 79.6383° |
| Pacific Entrance (Balboa) | 8.9500° | 79.5667° |
Coordinate Systems in Use
- WGS84 (GPS): Standard for navigation, AIS, chartplotters.
- NAD27 / Panama Datum: Legacy charts; offsets ~50–100 m.
- Panama Canal Authority (ACP) system: Proprietary grid for engineering/maintenance.
Practical Uses
- Maritime navigation (ECDIS waypoints)
- Transit scheduling (ACP assigns slots by longitude)
- Environmental monitoring (water quality stations)
- Research (seismic, hydrologic, meteorological)
- Tourism (observation centers at Miraflores, Gatún)
Geodetic Note
The canal crosses the Continental Divide at Culebra Cut (elevation 26.7 m — Gatún Lake level). Coordinates reflect the constructed waterway, not a natural river course.
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