Panama Canal: Culebra Cut
The canal's channel dug through the Continental Divide.
Terra Explorer Mines, dams and mountain roads
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The Standard resolution model is free as STL, 3MF, Colored 3MF, OBJ and a 16-bit heightmap. High resolution samples the place about ten times more finely.
- Region
- Panama
- Position
- 9.0700, -79.6600
- Area
- 10 × 10 km
- Real elevation
- 0 to 383 m (383 m of relief)
- Printed size
- 150 mm (5.9 in) wide, about 1:66,700
- Heights
- 3× exaggeration
- Elevation data
- Open satellite data (SRTM and others), about 30 m per point
- Suggested color
- Natural
- Group
- Mines, dams and mountain roads
About Panama Canal: Culebra Cut
The Culebra Cut, formerly called Gaillard Cut, is an artificial valley that cuts through the Continental Divide in Panama. The cut forms part of the Panama Canal, linking Gatun Lake, and thereby the Atlantic Ocean, to the Gulf of Panama and hence the Pacific Ocean. It is 12.6 kilometres (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 metres (85 ft) above sea level. Construction of the cut was one of the great engineering feats of its time; the immense effort required to complete it was justified by the great significance of the canal to shipping, and in particular the strategic interests of the United States of America. Culebra is the name for the mountain ridge it cuts through, and was also originally applied to the cut itself.
From Wikipedia: Culebra Cut, text available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 license. The article’s history lists its authors.
Questions about Panama Canal: Culebra Cut
Where is Panama Canal?
Panama Canal is in Panama at 9.0700, -79.6600. The model covers a 10 by 10 kilometer square around that point.
How high is the terrain in the Panama Canal model?
The land in this model runs from 0 to 383 m (383 m of relief). These are the measured heights, printed 3 times taller so the shape is easy to see.
Can I 3D print Panama Canal?
Yes. Download the free Standard resolution STL and print it on any FDM or resin printer. It is 150 mm wide and about 22.2 mm tall, on a solid 5 mm base, at a scale of about 1:66,700. It also works for CNC carving. Use Customize to change the width, base thickness or height exaggeration, make it round or add a name plate.
How accurate is the Panama Canal model?
It is built from real elevation measurements, not an artist's guess: open satellite and survey data (NASA SRTM, Copernicus and national surveys), about 30 meters per point. The shaded picture on this page is made from the same data.
Is the Panama Canal model free?
The Standard resolution model is free as STL, 3MF, Colored 3MF, OBJ and a 16-bit heightmap. High resolution samples the place about ten times more finely and is a paid upgrade.
What is a Panama Canal terrain model good for?
People use it as a desk piece, an engineering classroom model or a gift for someone who works there.
About this terrain model
Embossify Terra builds Panama Canal: Culebra Cut from real measured elevation, not an artist's guess. Outside the United States the heights come from open satellite and survey data (NASA SRTM, Copernicus and national surveys), about 30 meters per point.
The model covers a 10 by 10 kilometer square centered on 9.0700, -79.6600. It prints 150 mm (5.9 in) wide on a solid base, a scale of about 1:66,700. The heights are exaggerated 3× so the shape is easy to see and feel; you can change that when you customize the model. The sea is flattened to zero, so land stands on a clean base.
New to terrain printing? Read how Terra works. The shaded picture on this page is made by Embossify from the same elevation data.
