THE PANAMA CANAL
• First
earth broken by French January 1, 1880
• Active
work started by the French January 20, 1882
• Canal
Zone acquired by U.S. from Panama by treaty February 23, 1904
• Amount
United States paid Panama for Canal Zone $10,000,000
• Rental
paid by U.S. to Panama beginning in 1913 per annum $250,000
• First
ship through the Canal September 26, 1913
• Date of
official opening August 15, 1914
• Date of Jimmy Carter, Panama Canal Treaty, September 7, 1977
• Name of
first official ship S.S. Ancon
• A boat
traveling from New York to San Francisco saves 7,872 miles by using the
Panama Canal instead of going around Cape Horn.
• Length
of Canal from Atlantic to Pacific 51 miles
• Width of
the Canal Zone 10 miles
• Time to
transit Canal 8-10 hours
• Number
of ships crossing daily 40
• Number
of ships crossing each year 12-15 thousand
• The
lowest toll paid was US$ 0.36 and was paid by Richard Halliburton who crossed the Canal swimming in 1928
• Estimated
cost of the Panama Canal built by U.S. $375,000,000
• Toll
charge for Disney Magic cruise ship in 2008 $313,200
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