8 Things Floridians Never Learned About the Panama Canal

I’m an American living within the Panama Canal watershed. Like most Floridians and fellow U.S. natives, I didn’t learn much about the Panama Canal in school other than it being a shortcut for cargo ships.

That has changed since my move to Panama. These are some facts about the Panama Canal most Floridians have no clue about.

1. The Canal Wasn’t Always in Panama

Believe it or not, Panama wasn’t the first choice for the canal. Back in the 1800s, some people thought Nicaragua would be the best spot. It’s not hard to see why—Nicaragua is just north of Panama and has lakes and rivers that seemed perfect for the project.

But a French engineer named Philippe-Jean Bunau-Varilla pushed for Panama instead. Why? A well-timed stamp featuring an erupting Nicaraguan volcano scared people into thinking it was too risky.

2. France Tried to Build It First (and Failed)

Before the U.S. took over building the Panama Canal, France gave it a shot. Led by the same man who built the Suez Canal in Egypt, Ferdinand de Lesseps, the French thought it would be a piece of cake. Spoiler alert: it wasn’t.

France underestimated Panama’s harsh jungle environment, diseases like malaria and yellow fever, and the tricky terrain. Over 20,000 workers died, and the project ran out of money.

3. The U.S. Had to Fight for the Right to Build It

The U.S. didn’t just stroll into Panama and start digging. At the time, Panama was part of Colombia. When negotiations with Colombia fell apart, the U.S. supported Panamanian independence.

Yep, that’s right—the U.S. helped Panama become its own country in 1903. Just days later, the U.S. signed a treaty to start building the canal.

4. Thousands of Workers Risked Their Lives

Building the canal was no small feat. Seventy-five thousand workers from all over the world came to Panama to help, but conditions were rough.

Tropical diseases, intense heat, and dangerous construction zones made the work deadly. Around 5,600 workers died during the U.S. construction period alone. That, coupled with the tens of thousands of other people who died, makes the Panama Canal the deadliest construction project to this day.

5. It Uses a Lot of Water—Every Single Day

Every time a ship passes through the canal, it takes millions of gallons of water to move it from one side to the other. Where does all this water come from? Rain!

Panama’s tropical climate and the nearby Gatun Lake provide the massive amounts of water needed. On average, 52 million gallons of fresh water are used for each ship.

6. It’s an Engineering Marvel That Keeps Getting Better

The original canal was impressive enough, but did you know it’s been upgraded? In 2016, a massive expansion project added new, larger locks to accommodate today’s super-sized ships.

This $5 billion upgrade, called the Panama Canal Expansion, has doubled the canal’s capacity and made it even more important for global trade.

7. It’s a Lifeline for Global Trade

The Panama Canal connects the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, cutting travel time for ships by thousands of miles. Without it, ships would have to sail all the way around South America—a trip that takes weeks longer.

Today, about 6% of the world’s trade passes through the canal, making it a vital shortcut for goods like cars, oil, and food.

8. The Canal Zone Was U.S. Territory (Until It Wasn’t)

To be fair, this point became far more common knowledge starting on December 22, 2024, when President-elect Trump posted about wanting the U.S. to reassert control over the Panama Canal. For most of the 20th century, the U.S. controlled the Panama Canal Zone, a strip of land around the canal. This control gave the U.S. a lot of power but also caused tensions with Panamanians.

After years of protests and negotiations, the canal was handed back to Panama in 1999. Today, Panama runs the canal and earns billions from it.

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