History of the channel of Panamá
The history of the channel of Panamá goes back to the first European explorers in America since the thin strip of land of the Isthme of Panamá offered a unique opportunity to create a maritime passage between the Pacific Ocean and the Atlantic Ocean. The first colonists of the Central America quickly recognized it and of the plans of channels were produced on several occasions thereafter.
Towards the end of the 19th century, the commercial technological advances and pressures were such as the construction of a channel becomes a viable proposal. A first attempt of the France fails but makes it possible to make a first opening. This one is used thereafter by the the United States, giving current the Canal of Panamá in 1914. At the same time, the nation of the Panamá is created by division with the Colombia.
Currently, the channel is always in operation, releases from the benefit and represents a vital component of the Maritime transport world.
Before the channel
The strategic localization of the isthmus of Panamá and the short distance separating the oceans led to several attempts through the centuries to create a road through the isthmus. If the majority of the first projects related to a terrestrial road connecting the ports, a channel was considered very early.
First roads
The isthmus of Panamá is already used by the Amerindians before the European invasion of the 15th century. The first European explorers discover old roads several centuries through the isthmus used by civilizations pre-Colombians and the people Waunana and Ngobe.
The author Gavin Menzies suggests on his assumption 1421 discussed that Chinese tradesmen maintained to a commercial presence pre-Colombian in Panamá and built a small channel, by noting that the Grand channel of China goes back to Ve century before J.C. This theory however did not receive a great support.
The Spanish era
In 1514, Vasco Núñez de Balboa, the first explorer European to see the Pacific, is built a road used to transport its ships of Santa María the Antigua del Darién on the Atlantique coast of Panamá to the Baie San Miguel (Peaceful). This road made 50 to 65 km length but was quickly abandoned.
In November 1515, the captain Antonio Tello de Guzmán discovers a way crossing the isthmus since the Golfe of Panamá until Portobelo, close to the site of the abandoned city of Nombre of Dios. This way was used by the natives during centuries and was practicable. It is improved and paved by the Spaniards and becomes El Camino Real. The road is then used to transport the Or until Portobelo to bring it in Spain and becomes the first major road of the isthmus.
In 1524, Charles Quint suggests that by digging the ground some share in Panamá, the voyages towards the Ecuador and the Peru would be shorter and would make it possible the ships to avoid the Cape Horn and its dangers, in particular for the transport of gold. A foreground is produced in 1529 but the political situation in Europe and the technological level of the time make that impossible.
The road of Portobelo to the Pacific knows its first problems and in 1533 Gaspar de Espinosa recommends to the king to build a new road. Its plan is to build a road from the town of Panamá, which is then the Pacifique terminus of the EL Camino Real, at the town of Cruces, on banks of the Rivière Chagres and to 30 km of Panamá. Once on the Chagres river, the boats transport their cargo until in the Caribbean Sea. The road is built and called El Camino de Cruces or path Las Cruces. With the mouth of the Chagres river, the small town of Chagres is strengthened and the fortress of San Lorenzo is built on a headland overhanging the area. De Chagres, the treasures and other cargoes are transported to the warehouse of the king with Portobelo.
The road will last several years and will be even used in the Années 1840 by the gold diggers moving towards the Gold rush to California.
Scottish forwarding
The Projet Darién is another attempt to establish a road between the oceans. In July 1698, five ships leave Leith in Scotland with an aim of establishing a colony with Darién and of building a road for the trade towards China and Japan. The colonists arrive in November at Darién and adapt it like colony of Calédonie. But forwarding is badly prepared for the hostile conditions, suffers from the local diseases and a bad organization. The colonists give up finally New Edinburgh by leaving four hundred tombs behind them.
Alas, another forwarding of support left already Scotland and arrives at the colony in November 1699, encounters the same problems in addition to one attack and a blockade of the Spaniards. The April 12th 1700, Calédonie is abandoned for the last time.
The railroad
See also: Railroad of Panamá
At the 19th century, it becomes obvious that the way Las Cruces is not enough any more: one needs a faster and less expensive means of transport through the isthmus. Being given the difficulty of construction of a channel, a railroad seems a being an ideal solution.
The studies begin as of 1827; several projects are proposed and of the capital are required. About the middle of the century, other factors are encouraging: the annexation of the California by the the United States in 1848 and the movements increasingly more colonists towards the west coast increase the request for a fast road between the oceans; the gold rush of California prolongs movement.
The railroad of Panamá is then built through the isthmus of 1850 with 1855; it makes 75 km length of Colón on the Atlantique coast until Panamá on the Pacific. The project represents a chief of work of engineering of its time, carried out under difficult conditions: it is estimated that more 12 000 people died in her construction, the majority of the Choléra and the Paludisme.
To the opening of the channel, the railroad transported the largest volume of freight per unit of length that any other railway in the world. The existence of the railroad was a key factor in the selection of Panamá like place of the channel.
The French project
The idea to build a channel through the Central America is suggested again by a German scientist, Alexander von Humboldt, which leads to an renewed interest at the beginning of the XIXe century. IN 1819, the Spanish government authorizes the construction of a channel and the creation of a company to build it.
The project does nothing but float in the air during a certain time but of many studies are led between 1850 and 1875, arriving at the conclusion that the two most favorable roads are through Panamá (then part of Colombia) and the Nicaragua; a road through the Isthme of Tehuantepec to the Mexico is a third option.
Sources
General reference