Blakely (FF 1072) - Naval Cruise Book

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PHYSICAL FEATURES The Panama Canal is 50 miles long from deep water in the Atlantic to deep water in the Pacific. lt was cut through one of the narrowest places and at one of the lowest saddles of the long isthmus which joins the North and South American continents. The original elevation was 312 feet above sea level where it crosses the Continental Divide in the rugged mountain range. The Canal runs from northwest to southwest with the Atlantic entrance being 33.5 miles north and 27 miles west of the Pacific entrance. The airline distance between the two entrances is 43 miles. lt requires about 9 hours for an average ship to transit the Canal. During this brief time, the passengers aboard have an opportunity to see one of the modern wonders of the world in operation. lts principal physical features are the two terminal ports, short sections of the channel at either end at sea level, the three sets of twin locks, Gatun Lake and Gaillard Cut. A ship which goes through the Canal from the Atlantic to the Pacific enters the channel from Limon Bay at the Cristobal breakwater. ' The sea-level section of the Canal from the Atlantic side is 6V2 miles long. This section of the channel is 500 feet wide and runs through a mangrove swamp which is only a few feet above sea level in most places. A ship is raised or lowered 85 feet in a continuous flight of three steps at Gatun Locks. Each lock chamber is 110 feet wide and 1,000 feet long. The length of Gatun Locks, including the two approach walls, is 1115 miles. GATUN LAKE AND DAM Gatun Lake, through which the ships travel for 23V2 miles from Gatun Locks to the north end of Gaillard Cut, is one of the largest artificial bodies of water in the world. It covers an area of 163.38 square miles and was formed by an earthen dam across the Chagres River adjacent to Gatun Locks. The two wings of the dam and the spillway have an aggregate length of about 1112 miles. The dam is nearly a half mile wide at the base, sloping to a width of 100 feet at the crest which is 105 feet above sea level, or 20 feet above the normal level of Gatun Lake. PA AMA CAN L TRAN T

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ROS ING TH EQU TOR BLAKELYcrossed the equator on 11 April 1982 at latitude 000, 00' and longitude 0810, 36.6' and on 13 November 1982 at latitude 000, 00' and 000, 00' longitude. lt is naval tradition for the previous line crossers CSHELLBACKSJ to initiate the first timers CPOLLYWOGSJ as they cross into the Royal Domain of King Neptune. The initiation ceremony takes two days. On the first day there are several necessary watches that need to be stood followed by a beauty contest in the evening. Each division supplies a wog queen to be judged on looks and talents. The next morning there is a short wog breakfast. After they eat, the actual initiation takes place. As you will see it is no piece of cake: not that you won't run into a piece every now and then. X ,4 . Rl X. 3 4 X jf V1 fi. wr -K IN of X4, Q 4 r wx ,X x E