The earliest mention of a cacross the isthmus of Central America dates back to 1534, when Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor and king of Spain, suggested that a cin Panama would ease the voyage for ships traveling to and from Ecuador and Peru. ~ Given the strategic situation of Central America as a narrow land dividing two great oceans, other forms of trade links were attempted over the years. ~ The ill-fated Darien scheme was an attempt launched by the Kingdom of Scotland in 1698 to set up an overland trade route, but was defeated by the generally inhospitable conditions, and abandoned in 1700. ~ Finally, the Panama Railway was built across the isthmus, opening in 1855. ~ This overland link greatly facilitated trade, and this vital piece of infrastructure was a key factor in the selection of the later croute. ~
Construction work on the Gaillard Cut is shown in this photograph from 1907. ~
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Construction work on the Gaillard Cut is shown in this photograph from 1907. ~
An all-water route between the oceans was still seen as the ideal solution, and the idea of a cwas revived at various times, and for various routes; a route through Nicaragua was investigated several times. ~ Finally, enthused by the success of the Suez Canal, the French, under Ferdinand de Lesseps, began construction on a sea-level c(i.e., without locks) through the province of Panama (as it was then) on January 1, 1880. ~ In 1893, after a great deal of work, the French scheme was abandoned due to disease and the sheer difficulty of building a sea-level canal. ~ The high death toll was one of the major factors in the failure: although no detailed records were kept, as many as 22, 000 workers are estimated to have died during the main period of French construction (1881 – 1889). ~
The United States, under Theodore Roosevelt, bought out the French equipment and excavations, and began work in 1904, after helping Panama to declare independence from Colombia in exchange for control of the Panama CZone. ~ A significant investment was made in eliminating disease from the area, particularly yellow fever and malaria, the causes of which had recently been discovered (see Health measures during the construction of the Panama Canal). ~ With the diseases under control, and after significant work on preparing the infrastructure, construction of an elevated cwith locks began in earnest. ~ The cwas formally opened on August 15, 1914 with the transit of the cargo ship Ancon. ~
The advances in hygiene resulted in a relatively low death toll during the American construction; still, 5, 609 workers died during this period (1904 – 1914). ~ This brought the total death toll for the construction of the cto around 27, 500. ~
By the 1930s it was seen that water supply would be an issue for the canal; this prompted the building of the Madden Dam across the Chagres River above Gatun Lake. ~ The dam, completed in 1935, created Alajuela Lake, which acts as additional water storage for the canal. ~ In 1939, construction began on a further major improvement: a new set of locks for the canal, large enough to carry the larger warships which the U.S. ~ had under construction, or planned for future construction. ~ The work proceeded for several years, and significant excavation was carried out on the new approach channels; but the project was cancelled after World War II. ~
After the war, United States control of the cand the CZone surrounding it became contentious as relations between Panama and the U.S. ~ became increasingly tense. ~ Many Panamanians felt that the czone rightfully belonged to Panama; student protests were met by the fencing in of the zone and an increased military presence. ~ Negotiations toward a new settlement began in 1974, and resulted in the Torrijos-Carter Treaties. ~ Signed by President of the United States Jimmy Carter and Omar Torrijos of Panama on September 7, 1977, this set in motion the process of handing the cover to Panamanian control. ~ Though controversial within the U.S., the treaty led to full Panamanian control effective at noon on December 31, 1999, and control of the cwas handed over to the Panama CAuthority (ACP). ~
Before this handover, the government of Panama held an international bid to negotiate a 25-year contract for operation of the Canal's container shipping ports (chiefly two facilities at the Atlantic and Pacific outlets), which was won by the Chinese firm Hutchison Whampoa, a Hong Kong-based shipping concern whose owner Li Ka Shing is the wealthiest man in Asia. ~
