Traveling To The Panama Canal In Central America
The country of Panama holds a unique strategic geographic location, and it has tried its best throughout the ages to exploit this to the full. From the time of the Portobello fairs to the first transisthmian railroad to the present waterway, often considered to be the eighth wonder of the world.
A canal linking the Atlantic with the Pacific oceans had been a dream since the first Spanish colonizations. In fact it was Charles V of Spain who first envisaged a shortcut through the Panamanian jungle to ease the difficult crossing. So in 1524 he ordered a survey of the land. However what inspired the king initially was not so much the possibilities for trade, so much as how to bring back to Spain with least difficulty the hoards of treasure recently discovered in Peru. Unfortunately for him, earth-moving techniques were to need major improvement before his idea could be undertaken.
It was not until 1826 when the United States started investigating a treaty with South American countries to “protect the companies intending to open a communication system between both oceans”, that the building of a canal attracted worldwide interest, with France, England and the United States looking for locations and means to avoid the long, difficult and dangerous voyage around Cape Horn. The first attempt at this was the construction of the Transisthmian Railroad in 1855, which eliminated about 8,000 miles from the journey.
The first attempt at a canal was in 1854 by a multinational expedition comprising the United States, France, England and New Granada. But the impenetrability of the jungle was to take its toll and the attempt failed with many resultant deaths. But not to be daunted in this most crucial endeavor, in 1878 the French obtained a concession from Colombia to build a waterway. Yet again, after seven years of fighting disease and other jungle problems, the attempt was to fail with yellow fever, malaria and various plagues holding sway. This project, with the idea of building a level canal, was ultimately abandoned at the turn of the century.
Eventually the creation of a canal was to become a military imperative for the United States who commenced (fruitless) negotiations with Colombia in 1902. Finally, Panama declared its independence from Colombia in 1903 and the project went ahead. The monumental construction took 10 years to complete at a cost of $387 million.
The Panama Canal is 50 miles in length running from northwest to southeast. About 8 hours is needed for a typical vessel to transit the canal, whilst being lifted gradually to a height of 85 feet through three sets of locks – the Gatun, Pedro Miguel and Miraflores.
Operating the gigantic locks consumes vast amounts of fresh water. For every ship passing along the waterway, around 52 million gallons of water flows into the locks then out to sea. This comes from the Gatun and Madden lakes. The lock gates, themselves engineering wonders, consist of pairs of towering leaves from 47 to 82 feet high, 65 feet wide and 7 feet thick. Their weight is from 400 to 700 tons, yet each can be opened or closed in 2 minutes, powered by electric motors.
To navigate the canal, a ship’s captain must relinquish responsibility for his vessel to a Panama Canal Pilot. Currently over 250 pilots steer over 14,000 ships through the canal each year. The total time spent in the canal is around a full day. Navigating through the canal is not cheap for vessels, averaging several 10s of thousands of dollars, depending upon the size of vessel and its contents. However, whatever the toll, it is typically ten times what it would have cost to navigate around Cape Horn.
The Panama Canal Commission welcomes visitors at the Miraflores Locks on the Pacific side of the Isthmus seven days a week, from 9am to 5pm. Ships passing through the locks can be viewed from a pavilion where commentators provide an English and Spanish-language commentary, giving all the details of the canal including the amazing statistics. From yachts and small crafts through to container vessels, huge cruise liners and even small submarines, the Panama Canal is truly an international crossing point.
Chris Sims
May 5th, 2010 at 8:57 pm
the place where i live is the most beautiful city on earth miraflores or miraflowers (look at the flowers) even the name is pretty,so gay lol
May 5th, 2010 at 9:19 pm
hell thats f…. cool, me encanta!!!
May 5th, 2010 at 9:24 pm
The political situation in Nicaragua is not something to rule it out. The war has been over for over two decades. Also, Nicaragua is statistically the safest country in Central America (google it for fact). Nicaragua has the best atmosphere for the show but since everyone thinks costa rica is "better", has more "biodiversity" and is more "gringo friendly" that is why all the other countries don't get mentioned much. El Salvador has the highest homicide and murder rate int he region and Guatemala has the highest crime rate. Honduras is quite unsafe as well with the most gang members in the region, or so facts state. As for Belize, the majority of people speak Spanish rather than English (a creole-type English) and crime, the country itself does not have over 1 million inhabitants so i assume it is quite safe.
Nicaragua actually has the largest rainforest north of the Amazon in Brazil, the two largest lakes in Central America (Lake Nicaragua being the 2ns largest in Latin America) and a load of biodiversity. In my opinion, Costa Rica doesn't come close.
May 5th, 2010 at 9:48 pm
Wow I feel like I can actually see this beast. Sounds like a fearsome enemy. Something hard to kill. I like it. I too am writing a novel only it is more of a fictional novel. I wouldn't be surprised if they add this monster to the great list of monsters.
May 6th, 2010 at 1:18 am
I'd suggest re-reading your textbook or use Google.
Your first four answers were wrong and it appears you're just guessing.
Roosevelt Corollary:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roosevelt_Corollary
Spanish American War:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spanish%E2%80%93American_War
Panama Canal:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Panama_Canal
Now, do the research and answer these questions yourself.
Good luck in your studies,
~ Mitch ~
May 6th, 2010 at 1:48 pm
1: e
2: d
3: c
4: a
5: i
6: f
7. What was the central message of the Roosevelt Corollary?
(1 point)
The United States would use force to prevent intervention in the affairs of neighboring countries.
8. Which event led to the Spanish-American War?
(1 point)
Cubans rebelled against Spanish rule.
9. A main goal of the United States during the Spanish-American War was to
(1 point)
annex Florida.
10. The United States wanted to build a canal across Panama to (1 point)
cut travel time between the Atlantic and Pacific oceans.
11. Roosevelt feared that the war between Japan and Russia would (1 point)
upset the balance of power in Asia.
12. In the late 1800s, journalists Henry George and Edward Bellamy both (1 point)
promoted plans to increase free enterprise profits.
13. Woodrow Wilson won the presidential election of 1912, partly due to (1 point)
a split in the Republican vote.
14. The platform of the Bull Moose Party supported (1 point)
women's suffrage.
15. The United States decided to enter the war in response to (1 point)
Germany's return to unrestricted submarine warfare.
May 6th, 2010 at 1:51 pm
7 The United States would use force to prevent intervention in the affairs of neighboring countries.
8 Cubans rebelled against Spanish rule
9 free Cuba from Spanish rule
10 cut travel time between the Atlantic and Pacific oceans
11
12 discouraged single-tax speculation
13 I think its The fact that he was the only candidate with a reform platform
14 women's suffrage
15 I think it's Germany's return to unrestricted submarine warfare
May 7th, 2010 at 12:16 pm
this was sooo fun
May 7th, 2010 at 8:53 pm
Do it yourself. Lazy clown.
May 8th, 2010 at 1:43 am
I'm going to "help" by giving you a few websites which will answer these.
Roosevelt Corollary:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roosevelt_Corollary
Spanish American War:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spanish%E2%80%93American_War
Panama Canal:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Panama_Canal
Good luck in your studies,
~ Mitch ~
May 8th, 2010 at 4:42 am
esta chevere el video !!!
May 8th, 2010 at 6:07 am
Buen video lindo panorama desde el aire,bien producido felicitaciones!.Ah quiero acotar (leo los comentarios)que aca en California los mas ricos viven en cerros.Un abrazo a mis paisanos! viva el Peru!
May 8th, 2010 at 6:35 am
1. e
2. d
3. c
4. a
5. i
6. f
Multiple Choice
Choose the item that best completes the statement or answers the question.
IDENTIFYING MAIN IDEAS
7. What was the central message of the Roosevelt Corollary?
(1 point)
The United States would use force to prevent intervention in the affairs of neighboring countries.
8. Which event led to the Spanish-American War?
(1 point)
Cubans rebelled against Spanish rule.
9. A main goal of the United States during the Spanish-American War was to
(1 point)
annex Florida.
10. The United States wanted to build a canal across Panama to (1 point)
cut travel time between the Atlantic and Pacific oceans.
11. Roosevelt feared that the war between Japan and Russia would (1 point)
upset the balance of power in Asia.
12. In the late 1800s, journalists Henry George and Edward Bellamy both (1 point)
promoted plans to increase free enterprise profits.
13. Woodrow Wilson won the presidential election of 1912, partly due to (1 point)
a split in the Republican vote.
14. The platform of the Bull Moose Party supported (1 point)
women's suffrage.
15. The United States decided to enter the war in response to (1 point)
Germany's return to unrestricted submarine warfare.
May 8th, 2010 at 9:57 am
Peru: un pais de esperanza, un pais de una voluntad inquebrantable, ese es mi pais.
May 8th, 2010 at 10:40 pm
Hi from Brazil!
Very good your flight and movie.
His video shows that Lima is beautiful and you as very good in Paragliding.
Congratulations for your movie
Saludos desde Brasil!
Muy bueno vuelo y vídeo.
Pudo perceber por su producion que Lima es muy bonita y vos muy bueno en parapente.
Felicitaciones por su video
May 9th, 2010 at 2:43 am
yo viajare a peru – lima especificamente miraflores.. q lugares me recomiendas para visitar?
May 9th, 2010 at 5:10 am
mostro!
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