[Lonesome in Massachussets]

Ships crossing the Isthmus of Panama are raised high above sea level by a series of locks, and then lowered back. Rainwater refreshes Gatun Lake. In fact, a good part of the passage is through the lake itself. It would be possible to dig a sea level canal through Nicaragua, but it would be considerably longer.

[x]

Now we get to the real mystery:

Why the Caribbean entrance at Colón is to the west of the Pacific entrance at Panama City.

[minnesota_bound]

Build a pipeline that will use ocean water.