Podcast
Questions and Answers
How many ships pass through the Panama Canal in a day?
How many ships pass through the Panama Canal in a day?
Which country holds the right of sovereignty over the Panama Canal?
Which country holds the right of sovereignty over the Panama Canal?
How wide are each leaf of the gates in the Panama Canal?
How wide are each leaf of the gates in the Panama Canal?
What powers the opening of the massive gates in the Panama Canal?
What powers the opening of the massive gates in the Panama Canal?
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What was built to provide the water needed to lift ships over the high point in the Canal?
What was built to provide the water needed to lift ships over the high point in the Canal?
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What was the purpose of the water-tight compartment fitted in the lower half of each gate?
What was the purpose of the water-tight compartment fitted in the lower half of each gate?
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Why was a big cut made during the construction of the Panama Canal?
Why was a big cut made during the construction of the Panama Canal?
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Who initially expressed doubt about the feasibility of constructing a canal through the Isthmus?
Who initially expressed doubt about the feasibility of constructing a canal through the Isthmus?
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What historical significance does the Panama Canal project hold today?
What historical significance does the Panama Canal project hold today?
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Why did the French fail in their attempts to build a canal through the Isthmus?
Why did the French fail in their attempts to build a canal through the Isthmus?
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Study Notes
The Panama Canal
- Connects the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, crossing the Isthmus of Panama
- Allows ships to pass from one ocean to the other, improving world trade
- Guaranteed to remain open to all nations' vessels, with no right of war or hostility exercised within
Panama's Sovereignty and US Control
- Panama has sovereignty over the Canal, but grants the US exclusive control and use of a 10-mile-wide zone
Canal Specifications
- 51 miles long from the Atlantic to the Pacific Ocean
- Approximately 30 ships pass through the Canal daily
- 50 million gallons of water are required to lift a ship over the high point in the Canal
Locks and Gates
- Gatun Lake, a dam, supplies water for the Canal locks
- 46 pairs of gates, each with two leaves, 7 feet thick, 65 feet wide, and 74-82 feet high
- Leaves weigh enormous amounts, but 25-horsepower motors can open them in 2 minutes
- Lower half of each gate has a water-tight compartment, making it buoyant
Construction Challenges
- The lowest route found required ships to go up 312 feet
- 8 miles of rock had to be cut down to 85 feet below sea level
- The Culebra Cut, the biggest man-made cut on earth, was made
- A 140-foot hill was leveled to sea level to prevent landslides
History of the Canal
- The concept of a canal was first proposed to Charles V of Spain, but deemed impossible
- The French attempted to build the Canal twice, failing miserably
- The US government spent $380,000,000 on the original construction
- Today, the Panama Canal is considered one of the seven wonders of the modern world
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Description
Test your knowledge about the history and significance of the Panama Canal, a vital waterway connecting the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. Learn about its construction, impact on world trade, and international treaties related to its operation.
