Located in the southern parts of Colon, Panama Gatun Lake is one of the most famous tourist destinations in the country. The lake was formed between 1907- 1913 and is the longest artificial lake in the region. The total area covered under the lake is approximately 425 square kilometers. The lake lies along the Gatun Dam across the Chagres River.
Until 1907, the site was home to many small villages and other habitation. At the time of its creation, the lake was considered the largest man-made lake in the world and in addition to this, the Gatun dam was the largest dam on globe. The total water storage capacity is about 5.2 cubic kilometers. In the middle of the lake lies Guacha Island, a wildlife sanctuary.
The main purpose behind constructing the lake was to hold back sufficient water in the Gaillard Cut valley. It acts as an important reservoir in canal locks.
Beside its natural beauty, Gatun Lake has other attractions, which include hiking, swimming, bird watching, sightseeing, fishing, etc. Every year thousands of tourists visit the Lake and explore the magnificence site of the region.