Name two geologic obstacles and one political obstacle that stood in the way of the construction of the Panama Cannel. How did engineers and politicians overcome these obstacles.

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Google: Panama Canal obstacles

I know I found old post by you I found an old link you gave.

Thank you though.

Thanks for the help Ms.Sue it helped a lot.

Two geologic obstacles that stood in the way of the construction of the Panama Canal were the difficult terrain and the presence of a massive mountain range. The engineers encountered dense jungles, marshes, and swamps, which made it challenging to navigate and construct a waterway. Moreover, the Cordillera de Talamanca, part of the Central American mountain range, presented a significant physical barrier that needed to be overcome.

To overcome the difficult terrain, engineers implemented various techniques. They employed massive amounts of labor, including thousands of workers and soldiers. These workers cleared the forests, dug through the swamps, and leveled the terrain. Additionally, steam shovels, dredges, and dynamite were extensively used to excavate the land, remove rocks, and create an open passage. The use of these advanced construction tools helped to overcome the challenging geologic obstacles encountered during the construction of the canal.

The other geologic obstacle, the presence of the mountain range, was overcome through the implementation of a lock system. Initially, a sea-level canal was considered, but due to the difficulty of dealing with the mountains, the idea was abandoned. Engineers designed a system of locks to lift and lower ships through the elevated terrain. Locks act as water chambers that are filled or emptied, enabling vessels to pass through the varying elevations of the canal system. This innovative solution allowed ships to transit the Panama Canal despite the geologic challenges posed by the mountain range.

In addition to the geologic obstacles, there was also a significant political obstacle to the construction of the Panama Canal. The area where the canal was being built was then part of Colombia. Negotiations between the United States and Colombia reached a standstill over issues such as payment terms and sovereignty. Consequently, the United States supported a Panamanian independence movement aimed at separating from Colombia. In 1903, Panama declared its independence from Colombia, with the support of the United States. The newly established Republic of Panama then granted the United States control over the canal zone, facilitating the construction of the canal.

To summarize, the geologic obstacles of difficult terrain and a mountain range were overcome through extensive labor, advanced construction tools, and the implementation of a lock system. The political obstacle was resolved by supporting Panama's independence from Colombia, leading to the creation of the Panama Canal Zone under U.S. control.