The Panama Canal is a 48 mile ship canal across the Isthmus of Panama in Central America. It was built from 1904 to 1914 by the U.S. Government.
The US was not the first to think of building a canal across Panama. In 1534, Charles V ordered a survey of the land that would cut the time between Europe and the west coast of South America. The French began construction of a canal in 1880, but due to disease, financial mismanagement, and political corruption, they failed and gave up. The US began work on May 4, 1904, and finished August 15, 1914. After WWII, many Panamanians felt that the Canal belonged to Panama, so US and Panama negotiations led to complete control of the Canal by Panama in 1999.
I think the Panama Canal is very important in the Worldwide shipping industry. It cuts a lot of time and distance off of the trips. If Panama doesn't make major improvements allowing wider and longer ships, they are going to lose ships going through the canal.
Comments
This is brief with only one picture.