It took $352 million, 61 million pounds of dynamite, and the excavation of 232.4 million cubic yards of dirt over 10 years. The aim was to unite two oceans and cut the distance for ships traveling between the West and East Coasts of America by 8,000 nautical miles. The Panama Canal was, according to historian David McCullough, "a masterpiece in design and construction" whose locks worked perfectly from the start. But the cost in lives was steep: 5,609 deaths were recorded from dynamiting accidents and mosquito-borne diseases such as yellow fever and malaria.

Related Links
"Panama Canal History Overview"

Discovery Channel: Panama Canal Cam

Discovery Channel: "The Unkindest Cut"

Discovery Channel: Panama Canal Web Links