The history of the Panama Canal
goes back almost to the earliest explorers of the Americas
. The narrow land bridge between North and South America offers a unique opportunity to create a water passage between the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. This potential was recognized by the earliest colonists of Central America
, and schemes for such a canal
were floated several times in the subsequent years.
By the late-19th century, technological advances and commercial pressure advanced to the point where construction started in earnest. An initial attempt by France
to build a sea-level
canal failed, but only after a great amount of excavation was carried out. This was of use to the U.S. effort, which finally completed the present Panama Canal
in 1914. Along the way, the nation of Panama
was created through its separation from Colombia
Today, the canal continues to be not only a viable commercial venture, but also a vital link in world shipping.
The strategic location of the Panama canal and the short distance between the oceans have prompted many attempts over the centuries to forge a trading route between the oceans. Although all of the early schemes involved a land route linking ports on either coast, speculation on a possible canal goes back to the earliest days of European exploration of Panama.before the canal ships had to pass around south america and it was hard for them to do so due to the wind patterns.
The Spanish era