aug 15, 1914 - Panama Canal Opens
Description:
Since at least as early as the 1500s, people have wanted a faster path through the Americas to Asia than sailing around the southern end of South America. In 1880, France was the first to attempt to build a canal, but the project lasted only eight years before it lost funding and had to be abandoned. In 1902, the United States bought the land and rights to build the canal instead. Obstacles including an unwise plan, poor equipment, a small workforce, and diseases made the task daunting. Dr. William Gorgas saved the workforce from lots of disease with his theory about mosquitoes, John Stevens purchased new equipment and recruited a new workforce, and a new plan using locks instead of a sea level canal was proposed. Officially open as of August 15, 1914, the Panama Canal is vital to modern day trade routes.
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