The idea of connecting the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans across the Isthmus of Panama originated in the 16th century, but the technique for this appeared only three centuries later. The construction of the legendary passage was accompanied by many twists and turns.
Where is
The Panama Canal is one of the grandiose man-made objects. It was created to reduce the path from the Atlantic to the Pacific by 13 thousand km. It takes only 8 hours to walk through it. The channel is located in South America, in Peru. It stretches from the northwest to the southeast of the Isthmus of Panama: from the city of Colon to Panama City.
How they built
Back in the middle of the 16th century, the Spanish king Charles the Fifth ordered the preliminary research needed to build a canal between the Pacific and Atlantic oceans. But the matter did not move.
In 1846, Colombia, which belonged to Panama until 1903, managed to achieve the recognition of this territory as neutral, so that all countries could equally freely cross the isthmus. In 1850, the decision was confirmed by the Clayton-Bulwer Treaty between Great Britain and the United States.
In 1850, despite this agreement, the United States declared that if the passage was to be dug, it would be American, built with American money and on American soil. In 1879, Colombia supported the creation of the General Company of the Interoceanic Canal. Out of 19 proposals, the project was approved by the French engineer Ferdinand de Lesseps, fanned by the glory of the construction of the Suez Canal. The project envisaged a connection by a channel laid at sea level, Limonskaya Bay with the Gulf of Panama.
Construction work began in 1880. Overly optimistic in his assessments, the French expected to complete them by 1888. But many obstacles awaited him.
The main problem was nature: sweltering heat, unhealthy humidity, impenetrable jungle. Added to these harsh working conditions were the epidemic of malaria and yellow fever. During the entire period of work, 20 thousand French workers died.
The construction of the canal was also hampered by technical problems. The rocks turned out to be much harder than expected. Also, Ferdinand de Lesseps opposed the construction of a system of locks, which would be much cheaper and easier. As a result, the money for construction seemed to disappear into a bottomless abyss. In December 1888, the French government declared the company bankrupt. Having gone broke, they were forced to offer the US ownership of the channel. The resale took place in 1904 for $ 40 million instead of the original $ 100 million.
The new project of the Americans involved the construction of a canal with locks. The construction site employed 60 thousand workers, using the most advanced equipment of the time.
On August 15, 1914, the ship "Ancon" flying the American flag in 9 hours covered almost 80 km separating the oceans. In 1999, the territory of the canal was returned to the government of Panama under the contract.
Length, width and depth
The Panama Canal stretches for almost 82 km, 65 of which are laid by land. The total width is 150 m and the depth is 12 m.
