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How to Draw a Panama Canal
Draw a panama canal in 13 easy steps, about 10 minutes. Free, with a printable worksheet.
Each picture adds one red line. Draw that line, then scroll to the next picture. Rub out any dashed helper lines at the end. First up: two lock walls.
Step 1: Two lock walls
On each side, start at the edge, rule a line in, then go straight down. Stop near the bottom.
Tip Leave a wide gap between the walls for the ship.
Step 2: The low water
Start at the left edge. Draw a wavy water line across to the right edge, touching both wall feet.
Step 3: The lock gate
Start low on the left wall. Rule the gate top across to the right wall. Add a middle line down.
Tip The gate is 2 giant doors that hold the water back.
Step 4: Water in the lock
Above the gate, start on the left wall. Draw a wavy water line across to the right wall.
Tip The gate holds this water up high, so the ship can float through.
Step 5: The ship's hull
Rule a line above the water. From its ends, curve 2 sides down to the water. Add a middle line.
Tip Make the top line nearly as wide as the lock. The middle line is the ship's pointed front.
Step 6: A stack of boxes
On the ship draw a big box, nearly as wide as the deck.
Step 7: Ten containers
Rule 1 line across the middle of the box and 4 lines down, to make 10 containers.
Step 8: The bridge
On top of the boxes draw a smaller box with a long window. Add a little T mast.
Step 9: Two green hills
On each side, start at the edge and draw half a round hill sloping down to the wall top.
Step 10: Yellow and green boxes
Colour the containers yellow and green, taking turns like a checkerboard.
Step 11: Stone walls, green hills
Colour the 2 lock walls stone grey and the 2 hills green, out to the edges.
Step 12: Blue water
Colour the water blue: the strip in the lock, and the low water out to the edges.
Step 13: Red ship, dark gate
Colour the ship's hull red, down to the water. Colour the gate and the bridge window dark grey.
Tip Leave the bridge white.
Your finished drawing
Follow the steps above and this is where you end up: a panama canal, drawn by you.
Every step in one picture
