Why does the Panama Canal use locks to move ships across the Isthmus of Panama?

The Panama Canal utilizes locks to navigate the Isthmus of Panama primarily because a mountain range, including the Continental Divide, runs through the region. Additionally, the tidal levels of the Atlantic Ocean and Pacific Ocean on either side of the canal differ.12

To overcome these geographical challenges, the canal system employs locks to lift vessels from sea level to the elevation of Gatun Lake—which accounts for approximately half the length of the canal—and subsequently lower them back to sea level on the opposite side. By using these waterway locks, engineers were able to create a high-level canal rather than attempting a sea-level route, which proved impractical due to construction difficulties.134