What is the Panama Canal?

The idea for the Panama Canal dates back to sixteenth century. In 1524 Charles V suggested that the riches of Peru, Ecuador and Asia would be easier to access and faster to import if they were able to pass through Central America. Panama was suggested because of the narrowness of the isthmus. Although seen as a valuable asset was put on hold permanently because of the fight for control over the Mediterranean Sea and the wars in Europe put any A survey of the isthmus was ordered and subsequently a working plan for a canal was drawn up in 1529. The wars in Europe and the thirsts for the control of kingdoms in the Mediterranean Sea simply put the project on permanent hold.

On May 4, 1904 the United States began work on the canal. A considerable amount of time and money were invested in eliminating disease in the area. Yellow fever and malaria were a particular problem because they were spread by mosquitoes in the tropic atmosphere. After the diseases were under control attentions turned to preparing the infrastructure and actually constructing the elevated canal system. Americans had begun using old French equipment but replaced it systematically with machinery that was designed for work of this scale.

The Panama Canal was completed two years ahead of schedule in 1914. It was formally opened on august 15, 1914 with the passage of the cargo ship Ancon. Elsewhere in the world, World War I began. In the end the canal cost nearly $352 million dollars and the lives of over 27,000 men.

Ninety four years after the canal was opened it still enjoys a large amount of traffic and continues to be a fundamental link in world trade, carrying more cargo than ever before. It was estimated in 1934 that the maximum capacity of the canal would be around 80 million tons per year but by 2005 traffic consisted of 278.8 million tons of shipping.