One of the more interesting parts of the trip was our visit to the Miraflores Locks during the afternoon of January 2, 2010. This photograph shows the administration building across the Canal from the Visitor Center. Miraflores is the name of one of the three locks that form part of the Panama Canal. In the Miraflores locks, vessels are lifted (or lowered) in three stages totaling 8 m, allowing them to transit to or from the Pacific Ocean port of Balboa (near Panama City). Ships cross below the Puente de las Américas (Bridge of the Americas) which connects North and South America.