Lewis war diary, August 1917-March 1919 / James Ray Lewis - Page 35
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[Page 35]
After passing the first locks the canal went deep through the hills into the great "Culebra cut", one of the most stupendous undertakings ever thought out and accomplished by civilised man; & acres on the side slipped once so one can guess the size of the cut. Its resemblance to pictures of Burrinjuck dam was remarkable. Here and there cascade fell down the side into the canal for one of the many great feats in the building of the canal was the work of turning the water aside so as to allow of excavations being made. The water in the canal is muddy and fresh and supplied by the Chagres river.
After passing through the hills we enter Gatun lake, a fairly large expanse of water with many arms stretching out. Gatun lake is artificial, and was formed by daming the valley through which the Chagres river valley ran out to sea, and leaving a place for two locks, which lower us down to the Atlantic.
Just before reaching Gatun locks a party of American soldiers