Panama Canal

Panama Canal

Construction of the Panama Canal is considered to be the one of the most difficult projects in the world. It is a 77.1 km long canal connecting the Atlantic Ocean and Pacific Ocean passing through Panama. It has three Gatun locks to raise the ships to an elevation of 26.5 m above the sea level and enter the Gatun Lake (the biggest man-made lake of its time) after the 24.2 km float in the lake; ships are lowered by using basin locks. This total distance of 77.1 km saves thousands of kilometers and a lot of time of the sailors and helps in trade. The construction of the lake was first proposed in 1534 to be surveyed by the King of Spain. Because of its location and potential, the many others also tried to survey and plan a route in the narrow Isthmus of Panama separating two oceans. In 1877, French Engineers surveyed the rout and the excavation began in 1881. Due to the harsh conditions in Panama Rainforest, thousands of workers died of mosquito carried diseases. At that time, mosquitoes were not known to be disease carriers, hence the cure was not found for those diseases. Due to the death of so many people, the company that carried excavation started lacking experienced labor. Also, the skilled labors were not found due to the risk of diseases. This started corruption and finally the company declared Bankrupt.
The whole company was bought by US govt. in 1904 and started excavating again. The engineer who was appointed the Chief Engineer, resigned from his post in 1905 soon after the project began since he couldn’t withstand the corruption. Next man appointed was John Frank Stevens who worked till 1907. In 1905, an Engineers commission finalized a three lock system for the canal, which directed the creation of Gatun Lake, the biggest man-made lake in its time. When Stevens resigned in 1907, George Washington Goethals was appointed at the post, who finally managed to complete the project in 1914.
Since its construction, Panama Canal has always been used by ships to cross Panama, though; it was closed two times in the history. Various developments have been made since 1914 in the canal, like the widening of the gates to facilitate the crossing of bigger ships and a water prevention system has also been installed to save 60% of the freshwater in each cycle when a ship is raised and lowered.

The American Society of Civil Engineers have declared Panama Canal as one of the Seven Wonders of the Modern World. Panama Canal is also one of the ‘Seven Wonders of the Industrial World’.

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