Part 2/9:
The Panama Canal is facing an existential threat due to severe drought conditions that are crippling its operations. The canal, which historically sees over 14,000 vessels and carries more than 500 million tons of cargo annually, is now struggling with reduced water levels in the Gatun and Alajuela Lakes—key sources necessary to operate its locks. With climate change exacerbating this issue and the recent El Niño phenomenon leading to prolonged droughts, the water supply for canal operations has plummeted. In 2019, the available water was recorded at just 3 billion cubic meters, significantly short of the 5.25 billion cubic meters needed, thus jeopardizing the viability of this critical trade route.