Construction of the Panama Canal
The first plans for the construction of the channel, which should connect the Pacific and Atlantic oceans, belong to the XVI century. But the king of Spain, Philip II, imposed a ban on the consideration of such projects, since "what God combined, man cannot separate." Interest in their implementation resumed at the beginning of the XIX century with the growth of international trade. Considered two options for building the channel - through Nicaragua and Panama.
In 1889, a specially created Nicaraguan company signed agreements with the governments of Nicaragua and Costa Rica and began construction of the canal, which, however, was suspended in 1894 due to lack of funding.
Meanwhile, in 1881, the construction of the Panama Canal began by the French company Lesseps, which in 1869 successfully completed the construction of the Suez Canal. But the poor design of the project, financial problems and difficult working conditions led to the bankruptcy of the company.
The construction of the canal was restored only three years later under the leadership of Philippe-Jean Buno-Valilla, the former chief engineer of Lesseps, and by the end of the century was carried out at a rather slow pace.
In 1902, the US Congress decided to acquire the French company that built the Panama Canal, and the allocation of appropriate funding to complete the work. In 1903, an agreement was signed between the USA and Colombia on the right of control over the Isthmus of Panama in exchange for substantial financial compensation. But it has not been ratified.
A year later, after the United States recognized Panama’s independence and entered into a treaty with it, America received the exclusive and permanent right to be present in the canal zone and conduct its construction. In exchange for this, Panama received $ 10,000,000, with 250,000 annual grants for the next 9 years, and the defense of the United States against external invasion.
The construction of the Panama Canal continued in early May 1904 by the forces of the United States War Ministry. In 1906, it was suspended for additional engineering and design training and to overcome the tropical epidemics that raged in the work area, and was restored in 1909.
Over the next 6 years, the United States invested about $ 400,000,000 in construction, and on August 15, 1914, a channel of 65.2 km in length (or 81.6 km, if we consider the work on dredging at both ends) was officially opened for shipping.
In 1889, a specially created Nicaraguan company signed agreements with the governments of Nicaragua and Costa Rica and began construction of the canal, which, however, was suspended in 1894 due to lack of funding.
Meanwhile, in 1881, the construction of the Panama Canal began by the French company Lesseps, which in 1869 successfully completed the construction of the Suez Canal. But the poor design of the project, financial problems and difficult working conditions led to the bankruptcy of the company.
The construction of the canal was restored only three years later under the leadership of Philippe-Jean Buno-Valilla, the former chief engineer of Lesseps, and by the end of the century was carried out at a rather slow pace.
Photo © jnsm.com.ua
In 1902, the US Congress decided to acquire the French company that built the Panama Canal, and the allocation of appropriate funding to complete the work. In 1903, an agreement was signed between the USA and Colombia on the right of control over the Isthmus of Panama in exchange for substantial financial compensation. But it has not been ratified.
A year later, after the United States recognized Panama’s independence and entered into a treaty with it, America received the exclusive and permanent right to be present in the canal zone and conduct its construction. In exchange for this, Panama received $ 10,000,000, with 250,000 annual grants for the next 9 years, and the defense of the United States against external invasion.
The construction of the Panama Canal continued in early May 1904 by the forces of the United States War Ministry. In 1906, it was suspended for additional engineering and design training and to overcome the tropical epidemics that raged in the work area, and was restored in 1909.
Over the next 6 years, the United States invested about $ 400,000,000 in construction, and on August 15, 1914, a channel of 65.2 km in length (or 81.6 km, if we consider the work on dredging at both ends) was officially opened for shipping.
