-
Jan 1, 1513
panama canal
In 1513 was when the first discussion about the canal came to be. A spanish explorer named Vasco Balboa had found a thin place of land. That thin land is all that separates the Pacific from the Atlantic Ocean. -
panama canal
In 1881 Ferdinand de Lesseps had directed the engineering of the Suez Canal. And he then begins a $70 million project to build a canal through Panama. However in 1889 De Lesseps company went bankrupt -
panama canal
In 1903 Panama gained its independence from Colombia. This was after colombia rejected the united states idea. The united states had a plan to build a similar canal and colombia did not like the idea. -
panama canal
Then in 1904 the US Senate and columbia passed the Hay-Bunau-Varilla Treaty. This gives the US control of a 10 mile wide and 51 mile long piece of land. They call the land the canal zone. -
panama canal
In 1913 after many years of construction, President Woodrow Wilson sent a signal from the White House to blow up the Gamboa Dike. This caused water to flow into the Panama Canal. Joining the Atlantic and Pacific oceans -
panama canal
In 1914 Alexandre La Valley which is an old French crane boat. Reached the Pacific Ocean and became the first self-propelled ship to cross the Panama Canal. The crane moved through the waterway during the final stages of construction, which were said to end later that year. -
panama canal
The first use of the panama canal was in August 15, 1914. The original owner of the canal was La Société internationale du Canal. The canal separates the pacific and the atlantic ocean and has a length of 48 miles -
panama canal
In the late 1930s, additional construction was planned and completed for the Panama Canal. this included extra water storage. They also wanted it it have more locks. -
panama canal
In 1935 the madden dam was created to prevent flooding to the Chagres River. The chagres river then flows into Gatun Lake. Which is a major part of the canal. -
panama canal
In 1939 another set of locks were planned in order to carry large U.S. warships through the canal. And also to defend it against enemies. However the plan was stopped because of the start of WWII.
