Study the map given below carefully and answer the questions that follow :

(i) Identify and name the canal shown in the map.

(ii) State any four features of this canal.

(i)The canal shown in the map is the Panama Canal. It was constructed across the Panama Isthmus between Panama City and Colon by the U.S. government which purchased 8 km of an area on either side and named it the Canal Zone.

(ii) • The Canal is about 72 km. long and involves a very deep cutting for a length of 12 km.

• It has a six lock system and ships cross the different levels (26 m up and down) through these locks before entering the Gulf of Panama.

• It shortens the distance between New York and San Francisco by 13,000 km by sea.

• This Canal is relatively less than that of the Suez. However, it is vital to the economies of Latin America.