how deep is the panama canal

The Panama Canal is about 82 kilometers (roughly 51 miles) long from sea to sea, and its canal channel through Gatún Lake sits at a depth of about 13 meters (roughly 43 feet) in the main navigation sections. The lock chambers themselves are configured to accommodate vessels up to certain maximum dimensions, and the canal uses a system of locks to lift ships from sea level to Gatún Lake and back down as they pass through (the locks are lined with chambers that are several tens of meters deep). If you need the precise, up- to-date figures for maximum draft, beam, or lock dimensions, I can pull the latest official specifications.