How has the Panama Canal Evolved? What has it accomplished?The Panama Canal has changed drastically since it was built in 1904. In 2007, the Panamanian government began a seven year project to update and improve the canal. This project is a $5.26 billion project, with the overall goal being to add a third lane of traffic and placing priority to the Panama Canal Authority (ACP) in order to cope with the needs of the modern day shipping industry.
Ever since 1914 when the first ship passed through the canal, the Panama canal has been the center of global trade. In 1939 more than 7,000 hips were passing through the canal and by 1966 the lines at each end of the canal had grown so long that the ACP lighting for overnight traffic. Over the recent years cargo shipping worldwide has increased immensely. This benefits many economies worldwide but in particular economies of Asia. Also, in 2005, 5% of worldwide shipping traffic was passing through the panama canal. In 2007 (the year construction began), 7% of all cargo to and from the U.S. was traveling through the Panama Canal. This travel included 14,721 vessels and 313 million tons of goofs. The demand for space in the Panama canal has also become an issue. Due to the vast amount of ships trying to travel through the canal many ships have to way 20-30 hours o average to pass through. However, in order to avoid this wait many ships pay a large fee for faster service. Along with the amount of ships and cargo increasing the size of vessels have as well. Now, "Panamax ships" are known as the largest ships that can fit through the canal and "Post-Panamax ships are the modern ships that are too large to fit. " Post-Panamax" ships include oil tankers, liquefied natural gas carriers and bulk carriers. The plans for the update of the canal include many improvements to strengthen to efficiency of the canal. This idea includes doubling the overall capacity of the canal, a new set of Post- Panamax sized locks to allow for a third lane of traffic that is 1,400 feet long, 180 feet wide and go feet deep. The implementation of new locks will deepen both the Atlantic and Pacific entrances to 740 feet wide and 51 feet deep. Also, during this process Gatun lake will be depend by 5 feet and nearly double in width. Not only will there be larger locks but lighting for the locks as well. Lastly, the Panama canal offers many new jobs. They canal has created up to 45,000 jobs and employment has increased by %10-15. Overall, the Panama Canal has improved greatly from its initial contraction in 1904 to its use in the world today. http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/features/then-and-now/panama/ |
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What are the negative effects of these improvements?
Although the Panama Canal has improved global trade in many ways, it has left some negative effects on the environment as well. The major concern of the canal is water conservation. Due to the large amount of water need during this process the CPA has developed multiple ways to conserve water in order to avoid issues with water conservation. The first tactic is to reuse 60% water consumed at each transit. Also, along with the new locks the CPA built 18 new basins to collect water from each lock. By using this water from the locks for the next transit it ultimately uses 7% less water in each transit. Overall, it is important to recognize the environmental impacts this system may have and work to decrease their negative effect.
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/features/then-and-now/panama/ |
History of the Panama Canal | THe canal today |