• First 3D movie at Miraflores Locks Visitors Center
  • New interactive simulator and new roofed terrace for events
  • Launches new website http://www.micanaldepanama.com/

Panama City, August 21, 2012.  To commemorate its 98 anniversary, the Panama Canal announced today significant enhancements to Miraflores Locks Visitors Center (CVM) with the first 3D film of the Canal and the launching of its all new website http://www.micanaldepanama.com/.  In addition, a new Observation Center with a view to the expansion work on the Atlantic side of the Canal in the province of Colon, was recently inaugurated.

New 3D Theater
“For the first time in the history of the Panama Canal, visitors will be able to learn about the past, the present and the future of the Canal in a 3D movie, since it will be one of the first facilities featuring this technology in the region,” said Panama Canal Authority Administrator Alberto Alemán Zubieta.

New Simulator
Additionally, exhibition hall number 3 of the Miraflores Visitors Center was completely refurbished to showcase Canal operations. “We have completely overhauled the exhibition hall which houses the simulator to give visitors a sense of how the Canal works.  We have the latest technology in “video walls”, or recreations of the components of the Canal, and the simulator attraction allows visitors to experience a Canal transit”, he said.

New Terrace
Among other improvements, the Visitors Center has a new roofed terrace so that tourists can enjoy the transit of ships through Miraflores Locks from a privileged viewpoint.  This roofed area is one of the favorite spots, since its altitude provides visitors with a unique perspective of the Panama Canal.

New Ticket Office
Also the Panama Canal had added a new ticket office at Miraflores Visitors Center to better serve the increasing number of tourists that can reach up to 4,000 people daily.  Also for the convenience of all visitors, the Center has enabled a new parking area.

Free WiFi
The Miraflores Visitors Center continues to offer the public free wireless internet service so people can stay connected to social networks and share with the world their experience while visiting the Panama Canal.

New Website

www.micanaldepanama.com

From now on, you may visit the all new website http://www.micanaldepanama.com/, which is currently only available in Spanish.  Its streamlined and modern design integrates the social networking experience so users can easily share the contents of the Panama Canal with friends.

A new feature is the section for educators, where they will have direct access to instructional videos, and will be able to view and download Panama Canal educational materials to share with their students.

And soon the Panama Canal will have the first interactive application for iPad devices.  With this new app users will be able to access contents of the Canal, such as the live cameras to get a glimpse of the transiting vessels, the weather radar, and the latest news about the waterway.

Improvements to the facilities of the visitors centers, new technology and new interactive tools are new ways to experience the Panama Canal.

About the Panama Canal Authority (ACP)
The ACP is the autonomous agency of the Government of Panama in charge of managing, operating and maintaining the Panama Canal. The operation of the ACP is based on its organic law and the regulations approved by its Board of Directors. For more information in English, please refer to the ACP’s Web site: http://www.pancanal.com/. For Panama Canal video, please visit http://www.youtube.com/elcanaldepanamatv. You can also follow us on Twitter: http://twitter.com/thepanamacanal.