Panama vs Nicaragua: Interoceanic Canal Route (1902)
by Anonymous
The US debated building the canal through Nicaragua (longer but sea-level possible) or Panama (shorter but required locks). A volcanic eruption in Martinique and Philippe Bunau-Varilla's lobbying tipped the vote to Panama.
Panama Route
1902
year
48 miles
route length
Locks required (Gatun Lake)
engineering
Chosen — canal opened 1914
outcome
Nicaragua Route
1902
year
170+ miles
route length
Sea-level possible using Lake Nicaragua
engineering
Not chosen — volcanic risk, longer route
outcome
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