History of the Panama Canal and Interesting Facts

The history of the Panama Canal stretches back centuries. Interest in a canal linking the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans goes all the way back to the Spanish explorers of the 16th century, who were even then suggesting the possibility of a canal. Various attempts were made to organize a canal through the 1800s, but technical and political difficulties kept hampering these efforts.

U.S. construction on the Panama Canal began in 1906, with a projected schedule of ten years. In fact, with over 75,000 men working on the project, the Panama Canal was completed in 1914, well ahead of the deadline. The final cost to the United States for the 80-kilometer (about 49 miles) Panama Canal was $352 million—a staggering amount in 1914.

Traffic at the Panama Canal has increased steadily as the years have passed. In 1922 only 2736 transits were recorded. In 2002 the canal saw 13,000 crossings—11,862 of which were made by oceangoing vessels.

Today the Panama Canal employs more than nine thousand people and operates 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

How the Canal Locks Work

Cruises are always exciting, but people on a Panama Canal cruise have the added advantage of witnessing the Canal's triple lock system in action. Basically, the locking system is like a big aquatic stairway. When you enter the first lock, the gate behind you closes. Water from the second lock is poured into the first lock, raising the water level and floating your ship upwards. When the water in the first lock rises to the same level as the second, the second gate opens and you move into the second lock. Exactly the same thing happens between the second and third locks, and when the final gate opens, you're sailing into the interior of Panama.
 
Approximately 52 million gallons of fresh water is lost during each crossing, but the ample rainfall in the area makes up for this loss. Interestingly, the canal itself generates all the electricity needed to operate the lock system and to power the trains that tow the ships across the canal.

Panama Canal Statistics At a Glance

These are the highlights of the amazing history of the Panama Canal:
  • The Panama Canal took only 8 of the projected 10 years to build.
  • Over 75,000 men worked on the project.
  • 175 million cubic yards of earth had to be moved to create the Panama Canal.
  • The Canal stretches about 49 miles between the Atlantic and Pacific oceans.
  • The entire canal area was leased by the United States from Panama.
  • Mosquitoes carrying malaria and yellow fever were such a problem that swamps in the canal area had to be drained. Yellow fever was virtually eliminated in the area.
  • The Panama Canal cost the US $352 million...in 1914!