The Panama Canal: a history marked by the death of thousands of people and a worrying future



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The Panama Canal is more than history. It is the epic of Panama, a testimony of human strength, the mind, the physical powers. The idea of ​​excavating a canal connecting the two oceans dates back to the 16th century, when the Spanish conquistadors noticed that the Panama Strait was only 80 kilometers wide. They already thought then that the canal would help prevent long and dangerous boat trips through South America.

The canal layout was prepared by the famous French engineer Ferdinand de Lesseps, who played the first violin while digging the Suez Canal. Mining works in 1881. taken over by companies financed by France. Unfortunately, without taking into account the geological and natural conditions, working primitively, constantly without funds, the construction trust of the canal went bankrupt, spending 282 million. AMERICAN DOLLAR. In 1889 the works were stopped.

And the most important and sad thing about this project is that mosquitoes, which transmitted yellow fever and malaria, attacked workers at that time with an incurable disease that claimed the lives of many young men (5,600 people died in 8 years ). A high-rise monument has been erected in the capital’s old town to commemorate the victims of the Panama Canal.

Kanal mining in american hands

Finally, after the financial crisis and political scandals, the company’s shares were sold in the United States.



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