Panama Canal expansion nearing completion

EARTH Aboard the International Space Station -- 09 Mar 2016 -- British ESA astronaut Tim Peake took this image of the Gatun Locks of the Panama Canal. Large Panamax (the dimensions to fit in the locks of the interoceanic canal) vessels can be seen transiting the canal out to the Atlantic Ocean on the right of this image and entering Gatun Lake to pass through two other sets of locks and out to the Pacific Ocean. The lower empty channel is part of the expansion of the Panama Canal which is nearing completion - known as the third set of locks. Panama is aiming to inaugurate its newly expanded canal at the end of June 2016, the head of the state canal authority said rin early March, nearly two years behind schedule and $2 billion over budget -- Picture by Tim Peake/Atlas Photo Archive/ESA