Panama Canal
8th wonder of the world!
What is the Panama Canal?
The Panama Canal is a manmade canal for ships. It created a passage between the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans.
Where is the Panama Canal?
The canal is located in the isthmus of Panama!
Challenges during construction?
A. Organization
B. Sanitation
C. Engineering
D. Tropical diseases
Organization & Engineering
Malaria! Yellow Fever!
Landslides!
France’s role in the Canal?
Panama Canal Museum – murals… http://www.pancanal.com/eng/history/murals/index.html
• French survey and plan a route through Panama in 1877.
• France negotiates a treaty with Columbia, agrees to turn the canal over to Columbia in 99 years!
• De Lesseps is the engineer for France • January 1, 1880 France begins building
France
• Yellow fever, tropical diseases, death• Engineering problems• Rising costs! • France gives up and is far in debt!• The construction was not half way
finished!
United States
• Learned from France’s mistakes• Benefited from the work France had
done• Finished the canal and held control
until it was transferred to Panama
Canal opens August 15, 1914
How does the Canal work?
• Canal is 51 miles long• From Colon to Panama City• Travel – about 8 hours
• Fun Facts http://library.thinkquest.org/27638/panama.html
December 31, 1999
Sources• Cia World Factbook• https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/pm.html 12/6/2011• Canal de Panama http://www.pancanal.com/eng/general/howitworks/index.html
12/6/2011• Panama Canal history • www.pancanal.com/eng/history/history/french.html 12/6/2011• How stuff works http://history.howstuffworks.com/american-history/panama-canal.htm
12/6/2011• Panama Canal Museum
http://panamacanalmuseum.org/index.php/exhibits/detail/hells_gorge/ 12/6/2011• Two Tone Blue http://twotoneblue.com/panama_canal_maps.htm 12/6/2011• Marine Insight
http://www.marineinsight.com/marine/how-the-water-locks-of-panama-canal-work/ 12/6/2011
• Panama Canal Railway Company http://www.panarail.com/en/new-pma-railroad/index.html 12/6/2011
• ThinkQuest http://library.thinkquest.org/27638/panama.html 12/6/2011