63 Facts About The Panama Canal You Did Not Know

The Panama Canal was owned and controlled solely by the United States.

A lock-type canal that lies at an altitude of 9° N. It is a 50 mi (80.5 km) waterway that divides North and South America. It also consists of several ‘cuts’ such as the Culebra Cut.

Once you have finished reading this article, why not discover Panama history facts and the isthmus of Panama facts, here at Kidadl.

Facts About Panama Canal

The Panama Canal is more than 100 years old. Read on to learn more such facts.

• The Panama Canal was originally named Canal de Panamá in Spanish.
• It cuts across the other side of the Isthmus of Panama and creates a trench for maritime trade.
• It is the most difficult engineering project for a shortcut.
• This canal reduces the time spent traveling between the Atlantic and Pacific oceans.
• It also shortens about 8,000 mi (12,874.6 km), avoiding the long Cape Horn route around South America through the Drake Passage or Strait of Magellan.
• The distance of 4038 mi (6,598.5 km) is reduced while traveling from the coasts of North America to the other side of America.
• The ships traveling between Europe and East Asia or Australia save approximately 2299 mi (3,699.9 km) travel time through the canal.
• Since the canal has been constructed, many a few ‘Panama Canal Honorary Pilots' have been appointed by the PCA.
• Commodore Ronald Warwick crossed the canal more than 50 times.
• The Panama Canal incorporates several artificial channels and lakes, as well as three sets of locks.
• There are additional artificial lakes, including Alajuela Lake, Gatun Lake, and Miraflores Lake.
• These lakes act as reservoirs for the canal.
• It also consists of several ‘cuts’ such as the Culebra Cut.
• The Culebra Cut cuts through the continental divide and stretches with sharp-edged twists and turns for about 6.9 mi (11.1 km).
• While the construction was in the middle, the Colombian troops dispatched to Panama were blocked by US warships to suppress the Panama rebellion.
• This rebel was revolted against by Panamanian rebels with the intention of separating Columbia from Panama City and the U.S.
• In 1979, control of the Panama Canal Zone was taken over by the Panama Canal Commission.
• The country now manages the project, and there are no cases of corruption within the operations.
• The profit from the canal goes straight to the country.

History Of Panama Canal

Read on to learn interesting insights into the history of this canal.

• The King of Spain thought to ease the voyage journey between Spain and Peru.
• The earliest thought of constructing a canal across the Isthmus of Panama came in 1534.
• In 1788, the Minister of France suggested building a canal via the sea.
• The plan for constructing the canal was outlined by Alessandro Malaspina.
• Great Britain attempted to build a canal across the Isthmus of Darien.
• They named it the Atlantic and Pacific Canal.
• The plan for Panama Canal construction was never carried forward, and the engineers of the French Navy proposed constructing the canal.
• The French succeeded in constructing the Suez Canal in the Middle East.
• On January 1, 1881, the first French attempt to construct the Panama Canal was made.
• The French engineer wanted a sea-level canal, but the French went bankrupt, facing several financial and health issues.
• In 1904, the U.S. was granted permission to oversee construction by President Roosevelt under the chief engineer, John Findley Wallace.
• After several attempts and many aspects, the canal was finally built in 1914 by the Americans.
• In August 1914, the construction of the two most tactical artificial waterways was completed: the Suez Canal and the Panama Canal.
• In 1979, control was taken over by the Panama Canal Commission, which is a joint agency of the Republic of Panama and the United States.
• On December 31, 1999, the administration of the canal was given to the Panama Canal Authority (PCA).
• The Panama Canal runs straight from Colón, which is the entrance on the Atlantic side via the Gatún Locks, to Gatún Lake’s widest portion.

Importance Of Panama Canal

Here are some more facts about the Panama Canal:

• The construction of the canal wasn’t just an idea, but also a need to build an interoceanic canal.
• By using the Panama Canal, ships trading from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean save about 9320 mi (14,999.1 km).
• This saving prevents more carbon emissions in today’s era of global warming.
• The Panama Canal works as a bridge that lifts ships about 85 ft. (25.9 m) above sea level via a system of locks.
• As the canal is important for international trade, the ships were built to the maximum size, known as Panamax vessels.
• The canal incorporates three sets of locks so that the maximum size of ship can pass through it.
• The Panama Canal is way more important than just sailing.
• This canal avoids traffic as it connects with ports from 160 countries, consisting of 144 routes.
• Panama is home to the largest ship registry in the world, which has huge significance for the shipping industry.
• The canal zone also plays an important role in the Panamanian economy because it comprises 9,000 employees and provides fresh cash to the government.

Countries Benefitted By Panama Canal

One of the principal routes connecting the Pacific and Atlantic sides is the Panama Canal.

• It is responsible for approximately 6% of global trade.
• Recently, the expansion of the Panama Canal, which is, ‘Neo Panamax’, has created a great impact on Latin America and the Caribbean.
• The expansion increased the number of ports in Southern America and Central America by 34% and 12%, respectively.
• The Panama Canal is the preferred canal route over the Suez and other US transportation options.
• Therefore, according to the PCA, China, Japan, Mexico, Colombia, and the United States were the foremost users of the canal.

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