When was the Panama Canal Company founded?

When was the Panama Canal Company founded?

The Panama Canal is a major shipping canal that cuts across the Isthmus of Panama in Central America. It connects the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans.

Although the concept of a canal near Panama dates back to the early 16th century, the first attempt to construct a canal began in 1880 under French leadership. The Panama Canal Company was founded in 1879, but this attempt failed.

Later, in 1914, the Panama Canal became a reality. Construction of the canal was one of the largest and most difficult Engineering projects ever undertaken. The building of the 77 km canal was plagued by problems, including diseases like malaria and yellow fever as well as land slides. As many 27, 500 workers are estimated to have died during the construction of the canal.

Since its opening, the canal has been enormously successful, and continues to be vital for international shipping. Each year, more than 14,000 ships pass through the canal.