Panama Canal is an
engineering marvel for visitors
to behold
By: Alice Greene O'Neil,
TimesHerald.com
Panama is not at the top of the
list when considering a winter
vacation in the sun.
However, if you enjoy history
you should give it
consideration. The Panama Canal
no longer receives media
attention; we just accept it's
there. Before my visit to the
canal I too gave it little
thought.
The importance of a canal
connecting the Atlantic and
Pacific oceans cannot be
overstated. There have been
suggestions of a canal through
Columbia, Mexico and Nicaragua.
The breadth, depth and gross
tonnage of modern-day ships have
made the current canal obsolete.
In fact, the canal was 3 meters
too narrow for our naval vessels
when it was completed!
In 1999, the United States gave
control of the canal to the
Panamanians. Panama is a tiny
country, without a military. It
depends upon the canal for
employment and income.
In 2006, the Panamanians voted
to build additional larger locks
and dredge to accommodate the
size of contemporary ships. No
small undertaking! The Panama
Canal Authority is starting work
this year and projects 2014 for
completion. To experience this
marvel of engineering in its
original form is a piece of
history you should not miss.
Now is the time to put Panama at
the top of your list. Then,
reschedule it for the 2014 grand
opening of the reworked canal!
The Panama Canal is both a piece
of world history and a salute to
American engineering. I wonder
if any of the freighters that
pass Port Huron have traversed
the Panama Canal?
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