From the Canal Commission's official 1997 map, this is a representation of the Atlantic end of Gatun Lake and the Gatun Locks which lead into Limon Bay and, finally, the Atlantic.

At the end of the Culebra Cut, the ship reaches Gamboa, the site of the Chagres River, and the headquarters for dredging operations on the Canal.

The ship now sails into Gatun Lake, an astoundingly large and beautiful artificial lake with islands which were once mountaintops. Most striking are the sightings of the tops of trees, now bare of leaf, sticking out of the water. They are just the last visible remnants of the jungle which existed before the river was dammed and the lake was created. We were told that several towns were also buried under the waters of Gatun Lake. The ship follows a clear channel through the lake, the path that the Chagres took before it was dammed. And then, looming ahead, are the wonderful Gatun Locks, three locks which would lower the ship to the Atlantic. 
This is the Chagres River at Gamboa. It was this river, among other things, that stymied Ferdinand deLesseps in the late 1870's. And it was this river that the Americans dammed to create the immense artificial Gatun Lake.
In Gatun Lake, what were once mountain tops are now islands. And the tops of rather tall trees continue to stick out of the water, even after 80 plus years.

As we completed our transit of Gatun Lake, I returned to the top deck and was fortunate to get a spot at the very front of the ship with a clear view of what was to come. I watched as our ship sailed slowly into the first lock at Gatun and we began to be lowered to the Atlantic. The weather changed from extreme sun to overcast, with a brief shower, thus providing a wonderful contrast in the view. Each lock consists of two channels and thus two ships can go through a lock, sometimes in different directions. As we entered the Gatun Locks, another much older cruise ship was in the lock alongside us. We were so close, it seemed we could almost talk to the people on the other ship. 
After almost a full day of being in the Canal, we have finally reached the Gatun Locks where the ship will be lowered down to the level of the Atlantic Ocean.
A wide view showing one of the lock gates opening, and one of the many rail engines (on the right) which guide the ships through the Canal (they are known as "mules").
The Gatun Locks building. The Panama Canal Commission's slogan: "Providing Passage Into the Twenty-First Century."

And at last, having transited the Canal in approximately 10 hours, we were in the Atlantic sailing towards Curacao and our first land adventure. 

The story continues on page 6.

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