The
Gaillard Cut, or
Culebra Cut, is a man-made valley that cuts through the
continental divide in
Panama. The cut forms part of the
Panama Canal, linking Lake Gatún, and thereby the
Atlantic Ocean, to the
Gulf of Panama and the
Pacific Ocean. It is 12.6 km (7.8 mi) from the Pedro Miguel lock on the Pacific side to the
Chagres River arm of Lake Gatun, with a water level 26 m (85 ft) above
sea level.