The Panama Canal is located in the country of Panama, in Central America, crossing the narrow Isthmus of Panama between the Atlantic (Caribbean Sea) and Pacific oceans.

Exact location

  • It runs across the Isthmus of Panama, the thin land bridge connecting North and South America.
  • The canal connects the Atlantic side near the city of Colón to the Pacific side near Panama City and Balboa.

Key geographic facts

  • Region: Central America.
  • Length: About 65–82 km (40–51 miles), depending on how it is measured along the route and approaches.
  • It lies near latitude about 9° north of the equator.

Why this location matters

  • The canal cuts through the narrowest practical point of the isthmus, dramatically shortening sea routes between the Atlantic and Pacific.
  • Before the canal, ships had to sail the long, hazardous route around South America’s Cape Horn.

Mini FAQ

  • Country? Panama.
  • Continent/region? Central America, between North and South America.
  • Oceans linked? Atlantic (via the Caribbean Sea) and Pacific.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.