[2] Created in 1913 by damming the Chagres River, Gatun Lake is a key part of the Panama Canal, providing the millions of litres of water necessary to operate its locks each time a ship passes through.

Many important scientific and biological discoveries of the tropical animal and plant kingdom originated here.

[citation needed] Gatun Lake also provides drinking water for Panama City and Colón.

Locally called Sargento and believed to be the species Cichla pleiozona,[6] these peacock bass originate from the Amazon, Rio Negro, and Orinoco river basins.

Although considered a premier game fish in their natural range, the introduction of the peacock bass to Gatun Lake had devastating effects on the local species.