Panama Canal

The Panama Canal was built between the years of 1904 and 1914 to connect the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans. 48 miles in length, this was the second attempt to build such a canal- costing over 5,000 deaths from disease and injury.  The first attempt, by the French, in the 1880's cost nearly 22,000 people their lives mostly due to deaths from malaria and yellow fever.  The video below is really neat, it is a time-lapse journey through the canal, and shows how the locks operate.  Pay attention to the end of the video for the amazing Bridge of the Americas that is sort of a finish line that symbolizes you have reached the Pacific Ocean. 



Some of the more interesting things I have read about the Panama Canal are the tolls. 

Length of vessel                                                                                                              Toll


Up to 15.240 meters (50 ft)                                                                                        US$1,300

More than 15.240 meters (50 ft) up to 24.384 meters (80 ft)                                      US$1,400

More than 24.384 meters (80 ft) up to 30.480 meters (100 ft)                                    US$1,500

More than 30.480 meters (100 ft)                                                                              US$2,400

Passenger vessels, like cruise ships, pay based on how many "berths" the ship has, or how many beds (and therefore people) could fit on the ship.  The highest toll recorded was paid by the Disney Magic Cruise Ship in 2008.  The cruise vessel paid $331,200!! 
 
On the opposite end of the spectrum we have Richard Haliburton, an American adventurer, who paid just 36 cents to swim the passageway in 1928. 
 
Currently with two sets of locks, the Panama Canal is expected to finish the construction of the third set of locks, costing over 5 billion dollars in 2015.  This set of locks is being added due to increased volume of ships using the canal.  It is not unusual for a ship that is not paying a priority price to have to wait in a seven day long line (or about 90 vessels) to get their turn to enter the canal. 
 
 
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Panama_Canal