Sometimes called the 8th wonder of the world, the Panama canal links the Pacific and Atlantic oceans, providing a valuable trade route for modern commerce. It took many years, and even more lives, to build this important piece of world history, which is only now being changed to accomodate today's super ships.

Plans for the canal began in the early 1500's, although contruction of the canal didn't begin until the late 1800's. The French began the construction of the canal, with various surveys and plans. Unfortunately, there were many factors, like malaria and other disease that slowed the construction and eventually ended the French construction efforts. Shortly thereafter, the United States took up the contruction role.

Beginning with US president McKinley and moving to US president Roosevelt, the american's began their construction efforts by making sure they studied the pitfalls that ended the French construction, and avoided them. Housing and hospitals were built to make sure the workers were always kept healthy and free of yellow fever and malaria. Roosevelt also helped to establish Panama's independance from Columbia by providing warships and

Shown above is a picture of the first ship to pass through the Panama Canal in 1914.

military presence to eliminate as much violence as possible.

On January 7, 1914, the first vessel passed through the Pacific end of the locks, coming from the Atlantic side, and on August 15, 1914, a celebration was held to officially open the canal to the world. In 1999, after 85 years of being run by the americans, the Panama canal was handed over to Panama.