Map of Panama Canal

In the Beginning… The idea of a canal connecting the Atlantic and Pacific ocean across the Isthmus of Panama can be traced back to the early 16 th century Founded in 1513, at the Isthmian crossing of Vasco Nuñez de Balboa Charles I of Spain initiated a movement to build a passage across the Isthmus

Construction Difficult b/c of land characteristics: mountains, impenetrable jungle, deep swamp, torrential rains, etc. Lucien N. B. Wyse’s plan: canal route closely parallel to Panama railroad and require a 7,720 meter-long tunnel through the Continental Divide at Culebra Wyse traveled to Bogota and negotiated Wyse Concession; waterway would revert to Columbian government after 99 years w/o compensation

Construction (continued) Work force May ,000 (approx.) Nov ,000 Oct ,967 Oct ,495 Dec ,826 Aug ,962

The Panama Canal: Construction

Health Problems During French construction, 10,000-20,000 died at the canal zone between American doctor William Gorgas called to examine area, because of the health problems that occurred during the French construction Diseases prevalent: malaria and yellow fever, tuberculosis, cholera, small pox, bubonic plague, etc.

Completion First complete Panama canal passage by ocean-going vessel took place on January 17, 1914 When completed, they were under budget by 23- million dollars The toll was originally 90 cents a ton, but was raised in 1974, due to increasing costs of operation, to $1.08 a ton

The Panama Canal: Right Now Makes trips from east coast to west coast much shorter; short cut Traffic through canal continues to increase Some ships such as, oil supertankers and military battleships still can’t fit through the Panama Canal

The Panama Canal: Present Day

Bibliography st/a/panamacanal.htm st/a/panamacanal.htm