The Gatun locks are built into a cut made in a hill bordering the lake, which required the excavation of 5,000,000 cubic yards (3,800,000 cubic meters) of material, mostly rock. The locks themselves were made of 2,046,100 cu yd (1,564,000 m3) of concrete.
The seagoing tug Gatun, an Atlantic entrance working tug used for hauling barges, made the first trial lockage of Gatun Locks on September 26, 1913.