Massive floods close Panama Canal but end of world not near

by Chris Owen on

Ship transit through the Panama Canal was suspended Wednesday as flood waters, the worst ever recorded, made transit impossible.

17 hours of prolonged heavy rain forced the closing, only the third time since the canal opened 96 years ago and the first time because of flooding. Panama’s civil protection system declared Eastern Panama on high alert and issued evacuation orders for over 1000 people in dozens of flooded neighborhoods.

Reopening on Thursday, operations are back to normal at this time and no cruise ship itineraries were affected reports CruiseCritic.com

The Canal also closed in 1989 when the United States invaded Panama to depose bad guy Manuel Noreiga. In 1915 and into 1916 landslides closed the Canal, only months after it opened.

In case you missed it in history class, the Panama Canal was built by the United States between 1904 and 1914. It serves as a link between the Atlantic and Pacific ocean and handles more than 200 million metric tons of cargo every year.

Flickr photo by galif548

Photo of the day (10.14.10)

by Meg Nesterov on

For many of us, dreaming about travel and planning a trip is a favorite part of a travel process. Those early days of discovering a destination and imagining the delights it may hold, before the reality of long airport security lines, bad hotel rooms, and jet lag spoil the fun, are some of the sweetest. This photo by Flickr user Chris Maki titled “Wanderlust” recalls the immense possibilities a map and a few guidebooks can hold. When traveling on frequent flyer miles, I used to look at places where American Airlines and Marriott hotels intersected (a lot of South America and Western European destinations), and now my inspiration tools include a Turkish Airlines timetable, a stack of inflight magazines, and a Kindle full of Lonely Planet guides.

Have any travel photos to inspire wanderlust? Upload them to our Gadling group on Flickr and we might use one as our Photo of the Day.

Photo of the Day (8.19.10)

by Meg Nesterov on

“Clang, clang, clang went the trolley,” sang Judy Garland in Meet Me in St. Louis, giving the most charming mode of transportation its own theme song. Except this trolley isn’t in St. Louis or even San Francisco, it’s in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, part of the oldest operating tram system in South America. Whether you call it a tram, a trolley, a streetcar, or a cable car, this Flickr photo by AlexSven captures the old-timey fun (also, suspenders are the most charming way to hold up pants). Nowadays, trolleys are making a comeback, with new or extended routes planned for many cities in the United States including St. Louis, Memphis, New Orleans, and Little Rock. Kennebunkport, Maine is even home to a trolley museum.

Find a fun way to get around on your travels? Upload your pix to the Gadling Flickr pool and it might be featured as a future Photo of the Day.

Photo of the Day (3.30.10)

by Stephen Greenwood on
This stunning Photo of the Day comes from the heights of Chile’s Vulcão Villarica, in the city of Pucón. Villarrica is one of Chile’s most active volcanoes – and at 9,340ft, is classified as a stratovolcano. Hikers that dare to summit in the summer months can peer into the volcano crater’s active lava lake – a rarity since Villarrica is one of only four volcanos in the world that has an active lava lake.

Check out tripAconcagua’s photostream for more great photos of South America, and if you have a picture from an exotic place that you’d like to submit – send it in to our Gadling Flickr Pool! It might just be our next Photo of the Day!

Jets to Brazil easier in 2010

by Grant Martin on

Planning on beating the crowds to Brazil before the 2016 Olympics? If you’ve put a shred of research into visiting the beautiful South American country, you probably now know two things: a) its far and b) visas are expensive.

With over $100 in visa fees, a trip to the consulate and a long flight to the southern hemisphere involved, many American travelers are often deterred from visiting the country of Brazil, opting for the less expensive Argentina or more accessible Central America instead.

But several changes this year could help alleviate some pressure. To begin with, ten new flights from the US to Brazil will start operating, spurring demand, capacity and hopefully lower prices.

Brazil is also taking the positive step in reducing some restrictions on tourist visas. Soon, applicants wont need to travel within 90 days of acquiring their visas, and after it’s purchased, the document is good for ten whole years. This means that one can go the first time to scout out rental vacations this winter, again to crash for the Olympics in 20106 and again in 2019 for Carnivale — all on the same visa.

Sure, the $150 visa fee is still a pain in the ass, but at least the investment stays sound for 10 years.

Need some inspiration? Check out Gadling’s 24 hour in Rio guides for a snapshot of beautiful coastal city. Hint: it’s amazing.%Gallery-76818%