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Panama Canal History
Home » Panama » Panama Overview and History » Panama Canal HistoryThe Isthmus of Panama has been utilized as a transit route anytime man wanted to migrate up and down the American continent. A sea level canal crossing the Isthmus has been a dream ever since Vasco Nunez de Balboa discovered the Pacific Ocean in 1513.
In 1534, Charles V, the King of Spain, ordered the first studies for the formation of a canal channel for the Isthmus. Even though this idea never transpired, the Spaniards built roads paved with stone that were used to transport, by mules, tons of gold and silver coming from Peru, bound for Spain.
In 1880, a French company directed by Ferdinand de Lesseps, the builder of the Suez Canal, began the construction of the Panama Canal. De Lesseps was forced to abandon the project after seven years of fighting diseases and the insurmountable problems of the jungle terrain.
In 1903, the province of Panama declared its independence from Colombia and immediately signed the Hay-Bunau Varilla Treaty that authorized the United States to start construction of the Panama Canal in 1904. The canal was completed and began operation on August 15, 1914 when the U.S. cargo ship Ancon made a historic first transit while the war raged in Europe.
The Panama Canal is located in the narrowest part of the American continent and the lowest region of the Panamanian isthmus and is still considered one of the most amazing engineering marvels of the world. The Panama Canal provides easy and reliable crossings from the Atlantic to the Pacific and back for more than 750 thousand vessels. Ships all of the world are built to fit the three sets of double locks that are part of the 50 mile long water way.
Related Panama Overview and History Articles
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