The Panama Canal
Paul Kenyon
Paul Kenyon gave a fascinating insight on Thursday evening to Carnforth Rotarians about the Panama Canal and why it was built.
His interest in it began, when at the age of seven, he was given a book entitled The Wonder Book of Engineering Wonders which included an illustrated description of the construction of the canal.
During the 15th and 16th Centuries, ships taking valuable goods from the East to the West had to sail all the way round the tip of South America, a very dangerous and long journey, which continued for three hundred years.
At first, a railway was built, then Ferdinand Lessops (Suez Canal builder) began the Panama Canal Project. This was eventually abandoned due to extreme difficulties, as was another attempt for financial reasons.
Eventually it was funded in 1904 by the USA and completed in 1914. THE Chief Engineer John F Stevens designed the canal, using locks, so that it was above sea level and Lake Gatun was raised to provide the water via gravity.
In 2007 a new canal was started, as the original was too narrow for the ever increasing size of ships. This was completed in 2016.
Picture source: Pixabay free images.
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