Why was the Chagres River a major challenge during construction of the Panama Canal?

The Chagres River posed a significant challenge during the construction of the Panama Canal primarily due to its tendency to flood as a result of heavy tropical rains.1

To address this volatility, engineers had to devise a way to manage the river's flow. The solution involved constructing the Gatún Dam, which created Gatún Lake—at the time the world's largest artificial lake. This engineering feat allowed the project to control the river's discharge while simultaneously incorporating the lake into the canal's route, providing a stable and navigable waterway for ships. By damming the river, builders were able to transform a dangerous, unpredictable obstacle into a central component of the canal system.12