The Panama Canal: The Greatest Engineering Feat in History

Check my other channel Biographics! / @biographics
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/ @geographicstravel
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Credits:
Host - Simon Whistler
Author - Morris M.
Producer - Jennifer Da Silva
Executive Producer - Shell Harris
Business inquiries to [e-mail]
Source/Further reading:
History and engineering: interestingengineering.com/a-...
Conditions for workers: www.smithsonianmag.com/histor...
Early Panama Canals: www.pancanal.com/eng/history/...
Panama history with Colombia: www.britannica.com/place/Pana...
Thousand Days War: www.britannica.com/event/The-...
US role in Panama revolution: www.theguardian.com/world/201...
www.history.com/this-day-in-h...
Inaugural voyage: www.bbc.co.uk/history/british/...
History of the Zone: www.theguardian.com/cities/20...
www.britannica.com/place/Cana...
Vasco Nunez de Balboa: www.biography.com/explorer/va...

[@MrWillcapone]

"Charles, the Numerically Confusing". Ok, this is a thing now.

[@hockeyprofit19]

I knew as soon as I saw Charles the 1st painting that he was Hapsburg! Look at that jaw. Dude looks like Muttley.

[@theangryaustralian7624]

@@hockeyprofit19 who's Muttley ...wait are you one those crazy Americans I keep hearing about

[@resileaf9501]

He made me spit water with that one.

[@alexeifrederickflores4021]

Add in James IV of Scotland, who became James I of England/ Great Britain

[@NajwaLaylah]

Was he before or after James the of Scotland and first of England?

[@fmotta4]

Panamanian here. You got the end wrong. The expansion was finished in 2016. The new locks have been fully operational for almost 3 years.

[@jamesclendon4811]

You must not have had much of a party to celebrate the occasion. You're right, of course, but this is the first time I heard that.

[@fmotta4]

@@jamesclendon4811 Actually, there was a large celebration where a bunch of world leaders came to watch the first ship go through the new locks.

[@jamesclendon4811]

@@fmotta4 Damn! Somehow I missed that. The guy we've got, pretending to be a "world leader," probably couldn't find Panama on a map. Anyway, Congratulations.

[@maddog7795]

@@jamesclendon4811 See heres where your wrong, Donald Trump is a World leader, just not in politics. World leader in Ex wife's and casino bankruptcy? Yup! World leader in narcissism, and Ego? SURE! LOL I would have added a World Leader in lying and Corruption, but let's be honest and give credit where credit is due, Lying and Corruption is probably the only 2 things Trump is the best at in the WHOLE UNIVERSE! Did I say universe? I meant Total Multiverse! Lol

[@augia5051]

Felipe Motta A why is Colón so shitty? (no offense) but as a port city I’d imagine it would have more support and money flowing through

[@aSinisterKiid]

I dunno Simon, the shortcut between my bed and the fridge is pretty amazing.

[@Carefreeblues]

aSinisterKiid Ah.. the Diabetico Canal. Have been up and down that path numerous times.

[@acefreak9561]

Pfft mine also has the bathroom right besides it

[@citizen240]

“ Shortcut between bed and fridge“ - sounds like an extension to the alimentary canal

[@the_nondrive_side]

Dummies. My fridge is beside my bed.

[@RikoJAmado]

David Murray Holland That’s exactly what I was about to ask, “ So you have a mini-fridge for a nightstand?”

[@wpcampbell491]

When I was a teenager, and met up with co-workers and friends at our local Friendly Restaurant for coffee and whatnot before and after work, I met and became friends with an elderly gentleman who worked on both the Panama canal, and the Hoover dam! Al was a real gem of a man. The type of guy that impressionable boys should model their own lives on. I looked up to him, and felt that the entire world lost a great human being when he passed away in 1989. To have participated in 2 of the world's largest engineering/building projects, and lived a long, humble and personable life, there didn't seem anything the man couldn't accomplish, and I'd bet dollars against doughnuts that there aren't but a handful of men living today who could survive the brutal , laborious hours for the pittance in compensation my old friend Al smiled and laughed while explaining his role in either of those projects. People like that amaze me. I wish there were a lot more, because with them, the world would be a much nicer place to live in the 21st century.

[@sydhenderson6753]

That reminds me of one of Charles Kuralt's shows where he interviewed people who worked on a big project. And he shows us what they built: The Golden Gate Bridge. Can you imagine pointing to that and telling your children what you did.

[@mrgiggly21]

@@sydhenderson6753imo i’d be so bored about tellin people like yea i helped build a bridge or wtv so what 😂 pretty sure some of them were like that like yea man i was in construction and built some stuff. than shows you a pic of him and his crew at an airport or some shit

[@jamesclendon4811]

A nugget of trivia that always amazes me--the Atlantic end of the canal is actually further West than the Pacific end.

[@shindari]

Proof beyond any other that Panama is a weirdly shaped country.

[@jeff__w]

One of my favorite geographic facts!

[@soldtobediers]

Had jungle training there in '73. Too busy eatin' monkey, snake, iguana, & whatever in the hell kind of skewered meat they had on the sidewalks of Colon to know it. Thanky. -82nd Abn.

[@MicahPotts]

I assume you all know then that Reno, Nevada is farther west than Los Angeles, California too, right?

[@jeff__w]

@@MicahPotts Wow, I didn't know that! And by about 86 miles (138 km). Thanks!

[@e.l.daniel1565]

My Army father was stationed in Puerto Rico when the Korean War broke out. He then received orders to Panama CZ. The family sailed via Navy ship and crossed the zone to the Pacific side. He was later transferred to the Atlantic side and again we went via ship through the canal. I was 10 in 1950. He was stationed at Ft Clayton which was very close to the canal. The family lived in quarters at Ft. Kobe. My brother and I attended a missionary school in Balboa and to get there we crossed over the canal daily. We saw many famous ships from WW2 like the USS Battleship Missouri going through the locks. As a child I was totally oblivious to the tensions of our government being there so this video has been very enlightening. Many thanks .

[@dylancott3861]

A man a plan a canal Panama. The longest palindrome I was taught as a child :D

[@geographicstravel]

That's a nice one.

[@superyamagucci]

Dylan Cott dammit I only came here to post that.

[@dylancott3861]

I've been waiting since the last Canal Geographic hahaha

[@rafanifischer3152]

I learned that many years ago. Now that's all I think about when I hear Panama!

[@dylancott3861]

@@rafanifischer3152 same! Haha

[@gustavogonzalez4985]

Best video about the history of my country ever on KZbin. It's basically a whole year of History in Panama condensed down to 23 minutes. Loved every second of if and a few very small and not event changing details are missing, for example the Bidlack Treaty is actually named Mallarino-Bidlack.

[@calebwinfield1403]

Yeah, this channel is amazing

[@geographicstravel]

Thank you :)

[@jesuschristsuperczar1224]

Gustavo González I had the opportunity to visit your country on business in 2012. I’ll never forgive myself for not taking the time to visit the canal. However, I had a great time seeing Panama City! Forgive my poor memory but what do you guys call the old district with all the original colonial architecture? That was probably the highlight for me! A coworker who was very familiar with Panama took me to a restaurant and nightclub with a rooftop terrace that offered a full panoramic view of the city across the water. It was spectacular! My fondest memory was talking béisbol with the cab driver I hailed just as the sun was setting and I’d sort of lost my way back to my hotel after wondering around the city for a few hours. Anyway, just wanted to compliment Panama and her people!

[@milesedgeworth6353]

Holy shite simon, ive been following your various channels for a while now and i'm also a panamanian citizen so I grew up with this history being taught in school for pretty much all my childhood and lemme tell you that you made it sound way more interesting than any of my previous professors ever did, you definitely have a knack for this! Looking forward for more content!

[@geographicstravel]

Thank you :)

[@Jason918114]

It's a fascinating story of engineering, societal struggles and politics with a happy ending.

[@mimis5140]

Miles, Greetings from Boston. Any need for English only speaking nurses in Panama? I'm relocating....somewhere.....😁😷

[@KaraZiasapiens]

My dad was one of those army brats who partially grew up in the Panama Canal Zone, and even graduated from the high school there. When I was little, I begged my Dad to get stationed there, so I, too, could explore the jungle, learn to scuba dive, and have a parrot and a monkey as pets. To my childhood self, Panama was a magical place.

[@Silverwing2112]

My great-grandfather was stationed in Panama, he brought a pair of ocelots home as pets.

[@mgabrysSF]

To their massive credit - the Panamanians not only maintained and kept the canal working great - but they even expanded it massively. Good job Panama!

[@davideasterling2729]

I was in the US Navy when the Canal changed hands. I was on the last US warship to go through the Canal while under the US flag and also onboard to also be the first to go back through under the Panamanian. It was definitely a unique experience.

[@jerimiahstephens8580]

Why would we build it and then give it away?

[@JJ-si4qh]

@@jerimiahstephens8580 That's what I'm wondering. It would probably be a continual headache for the US. Panama has definitely benefitted from it.

[@michaelrumfelt3106]

Because Democrats give everything away

[@bunger6813]

@@jerimiahstephens8580 America gave it away because when America and Panama built it America agreed they would run it for 20 years then give it to Panama. If America had not given it back it would have meant war and a massive diplomatic incident.

[@CarlosAM1]

@@jerimiahstephens8580 because the us really started to fuck things up here in panama and we started to get a bit on their tail so they ended up giving it back

[@planetdisco4821]

As a guy who’s spent nearly 40 years working in mining and construction (As all my family has for generations) can we all please take a moment to appreciate the sacrifices made by the workers on projects like this and the callousness and blatant disregard for human lives from the people in charge. No marvel of engineering is worth such a staggering death toll. It fills my heart with sorrow....

[@rosscroft3954]

Construction worker here. Well said sir.

[@deanbritt9131]

Well said

[@Genius_at_Work]

Then you may like the Kiel Canal, cutting through northern Germany to link the North Sea and the Baltic Sea. It was built without a single fatal Accident, which would be impressive even today, but the Kiel Canal is over 120 Years old.

[@22steve5150]

[Grant has a nightmare] Subordinate--"Sir, was your nightmare about the untold horrors you say in the civil war or the war with Mexico?" Grant--"No, no, waiting for a train in Panama during rainy season, the true face of horror!"

[@offroad3574]

20:39 My high school History teacher was one of those 26,000 troops, and he used to read parts of his journal from his time there during the Veteran's Day assembly each year

[@nicoleyork790]

Will you do one on the hoover damn and the great wall?

[@Russo-Delenda-Est]

Yes and yes. I second that.

[@Chris-adams-rc-journey]

Third!!

[@gioxenit]

Me 4th

[@sketchesofpayne]

The Glen Canyon Dam is only 16 feet shorter than Hoover dam, but it is longer and more massive.

[@krismorrelle1088]

One of the things they did to get rid of the mosquitoes was to put a layer of oil on all standing water. They basically hired these women to go around with these oil cans just to cover water.

[@user-ob1rh3cz7h]

Kris Morrelle they also used ddt and sucked up all the standing water. It was the use of all these chemicals and medicines in this era that saved so many lives and now pc environmentalists are the cause of us not being able to wipe out the reinsurgance of mosquitos carrying new and old deadly diseases.

[@krismorrelle1088]

@@user-ob1rh3cz7h True but at the same time, we do not know the environmental effects of wiping out all the mosquitoes. Not to mention the effect upon humans themselves.

[@andrewmasters5573]

R6 I’d rather have mosquitos AND many birds that would others be killed by the use of DDT than have neither.

[@stanislavkostarnov2157]

@@user-ob1rh3cz7h at least when you say this, specify, Human Lives.... because if you take all sentient living things... well, probably it killed more then it saved...

[@headmondronary2127]

Maleria kills more humans than any other disease.

[@AlexGarcia-lo9hx]

Panamanian here! Thanks for teaching some of our history to others! We here are very proud of the canal haha 🇵🇦🇵🇦🇵🇦

[@humve50]

America says, you’re welcome for making you the country you are.

[@luise8701]

@@humve50 “making you the country you are” that is what they teach y’all in school? Lol

[@humve50]

@@luise8701 Americans have shaped the modern world, for the better. Don’t be mad, be happy you don’t have to live like peasants anymore.

[@luise8701]

@@humve50 “Shaped the modern world” is an overstatement. The US, being a pain in everyone’s ass, forced certain regions to change. The one time we’ve been closest to “live like peasants” was during the invasion, any Latin American that knows about our history could tell you the US has done terrible things down here, and the few positive contributions are largely overshadowed by them. I’m not mad, I’m happy. I’ve seen the decadence of your society. I’ve seen your institutions get corrupted. I might even see “the empire” fall during my lifetime. That does really make me happy.

[@humve50]

@@luise8701 be happy about whatever you want but you will still owe your happiness to us.

[@jliller]

"The Path between the Seas: The Creation of the Panama Canal" by David McCullough is a really good book about building the canal.

[@gregorypolander9014]

I actually just went through the Panama Canal a couple weeks ago through the Old Locks as part of a cruise. Amazing experience and so cool seeing all of the old locks operating still.

[@kevindechamp6862]

This dude should be a narrator for Nat Geo or The History Channel, literally within 1 minute of this video I subscribed

[@geographicstravel]

Thanks :)

[@Unknowngfyjoh]

If you look back at the beginning of the TopTenz channel, they tried out many narrators before picking him.

[@joannecarolyn1595]

This was super informative! Always reading and hearing about the Panama Canal, but not really very interested until this! So sad how many people lost their lives. I hope they can rest in peace seeing how all their hard work and suffering has benefitted those in Panama who struggled for so long. I'm gonna share this on Facebook! Thanks so much to Simon & the team who work so hard to give us this amazing info day after day :)

[@stephenlane9168]

Love all your channels Simon. Great presentation and well researched informative topics of interest to my curiosity 👌👍

[@DerptyDerptyDUM]

Thanks guys! Another great one. Where the hell do y'all find the time do do do so much good work??

[@drew-shourd]

Another amazing video...the writing, producing and editing is always TOP NOTCH...and again Simon delivers with much class.

[@geographicstravel]

Thank you!

[@philipbrindle867]

Always love your videos, thanks so much... keep up the good work...

[@thesaltking7355]

As a panamanian im incredibly proud and impressed by this video and the amount of research you brought up on this video.much love

[@drevil2675]

Such a great details and explanation.

[@alecsnider3225]

I am *so* glad that you do these! Now that History and Discovery are nothing more than bad "reality TV" channels this is the only place I've found where you can *actually* learn history and discover things

[@leeesposito5851]

You can say that again! 👍👍👍

[@amandajones661]

Discovery and History suck now.

[@wingerding]

Not sure if I'd use the word reality

[@Scooty_Scooty]

Some ancient astronaut theorists believe 😂

[@stacysalinas22]

Thanks for the great video! Very interesting. Best wishes!

[@CORPORAL-dn7nn]

Great video Simon Thank you

[@InflatablePlane]

Great job on touching on the War of Just Cause, the official name of the 1989-90 war in panama. My dad fought in that war and was one of the soldiers who picked through Noriegas home after he was arrested. I remember this stuff vividly as a six year old boy.

[@duncanharper4466]

Fabulous history lesson.

[@CitizenZero1]

I was living on base during the war! Panama was an amazing place to grow up. I’m 37 now, and I still think about it all the time.

[@alpringle5000]

So do most if not ALL zonians.

[@MARKETMAN6789]

Great video enjoyed it very much

[@PNWGuitar]

Love your videos Simon!

[@Kevin-dn8qe]

I'm loving Geographics! Keep it up, Simon!

[@medusagorgo5146]

I’ve cruised through the canal and it was amazing, I’m doing a partial canal cruise in January. If you ever get a chance to do it you should.

[@HBC423]

How much did it cost?

[@MOsaucy]

My dad worked the locks in the late 60s/ early 70s. Thanks for this one!

[@duncane.korabie187]

Awesome show

[@2avcrm]

I was lucky enough to travel to Panama and spent a wonderful afternoon watching the ships pass through the Pacific locks. Truly an amazing feat of engineering.

[@avabethmcghee3048]

Theodore Roosevelt, also known as the guy who scared Dr. Seuss from ever appearing at any sort of public function, for the rest of his life.

[@kervonfarley1332]

I have Panamanian 🇵🇦cousins. I am from Barbados 🇧🇧. My cousins and my great grandparents left Barbados 🇧🇧 to help build the canal. One of my cousin left Barbados 🇧🇧 in 1885 to Panama 🇵🇦 when the French was building it. I am proud of my family all my Bajan 🇧🇧and Panamanian 🇵🇦family.

[@hgc7000]

With your Panama Canal Hellblazer comment, you have earned a sub. Many thanks for that line!

[@camilopoveda9228]

My favorite channel of yours !!!

[@calebwinfield1403]

This really is the best channel on KZbin

[@StephanieElizabethMann]

2nd time I've seen this video. It's well presented and the information is very good.

[@dirtydave2691]

I was stationed there in 88/89. You could see the Mira Flores locks from my barracks room window. Fascinating engineering. The climate is no joke. I caught Leptospirosis in 88. I have seen the remaining bits of the French canal and abandoned rail road equipment in the middle of the jungle.

[@5590ERS]

As a half American, half Panamanian, thank you for making this video. 😊

[@luyzqint3760]

If you are Panamanian, then, you all ready are an American.

[@bradgillette9253]

Awesome! Waiting for a piece on USA transcontinental Railroad. You folks are amazing.

[@seejayfrujay]

McCullough's book on the canal "The Path Between the Seas" is a great reference. It was still great to watch the color pictures and listen to a British dude tell the story. Thanks.

[@Blaklege63]

this is always such a fasinating story

[@DerrickLHardy]

Peace and Love! Thank You

[@crustykells27]

Thank you Simon. Love your voice. You should be higher in TV. A natural. Cheers

[@charlesmartin8454]

During WWII the Japanese designed a huge submarine that could carry a plane. Since they knew that trying to bomb the Panama Canal with planes from a carrier would be impossible due to the US having a surface fleet able to detect a carrier far out of range for planes of a carrier to reach the canal; their plan was to use several of the large undetectable submarines to get close enough to launch planes to bomb the locks. However with the war quickly closing and materials in short supply, this plan did not pan out.

[@toxicity4818]

One of the most underrated channels on KZbin right here.

[@XD152awesomeness]

My dad was an America soldier in Panama. Met my mom there. They got married, 2 years later I was born there, then moved to the US, and then a month later my dad was sent back to Panama as part of the invasion force.

[@limbokidthedank8746]

yooo, my country is getting so much focus I feel so represented rn this is the weirdest feeling ever

[@TheACcam]

Over the last week I've grown to like the style this channel has. I thought the subject of this video would be great based on what I already knew of it. The DC crossover joke got a like and subscribe from me, sir.

[@ChristineCAlb1]

Did not know the canal’s history went that far back (the 1800’s). Love your channels

[@hazevthewolf178]

Well done! Thanks for a ride back to 1965 and my 6th grade classroom. Here in California, 6th graders studied Latin American history.

[@NiuhiNui]

What are they studying now days?

[@augia5051]

Nui Niuhi Nui I remember learning about the aztec and inca empires, along with the conquistadors. Though I dont remember learning about the canal

[@johnmothershead1690]

A footnote, if I may. Up until the eve of WWII, the size of the Panama Canal locks pretty much dictated the size of USN warship designs. It was not until the Montana and Midway classes were being designed in the early 1940s that the Navy's Bureau of Construction finally relaxed the restriction. Even today, most USN warship designs fall within the size of the original lock dimensions (not the new locks). A further note: even though the US has relinquished control of the Canal to Panama, don't think for a moment DOD does not have contingency plans, frequently updated, to take control of the Canal in a military emergency, with or without Panamanian cooperation. For that matter, if the Russian, Chinese, even the UK military establishments don't have similar plans, I've badly overestimated them.

[@dudepool7530]

Uk DC fans, I feel your pain. Poor John, he never gets the respect he deserves...

[@anthonyguarino3025]

ALL HAIL CHARLES.. THE NUMERICALLY CONFUSING!

[@sketchesofpayne]

I liked "Charles Double-King."

[@michaelsommers2356]

Why is he more confusing than James VI/I?

[@jamiebarba5701]

@@michaelsommers2356 King James VI/I of England and Scotland

[@disbeafakename167]

Just add em up, call him the 6th, and roll with it.

[@gene8172]

Does this mean he gets two wives? Or at least two mistresses?

[@TimmyCherry]

From this moment forward, I will only call Nicaragua Nicarag - you - ah

[@drmachinewerke1]

My grandfather was a operating engineer on the project . This would have been in the 20-30s. Before he passed away in 1982. He said it will never be done. There will always be work needed done. He was there a total of 5 years.

[@MartialBorschel]

The brightest dreams, they don't fade entirely. Well said.

[@TheRealToadfishRebecchi]

You guys should do a video on the Bermuda Triangle next!

[@thegodofz8230]

"Charles the numerically confusing" got a genuine laugh. Spot on delivery.

[@amandajones661]

I lived in the Panama Canal zone in 1994-1996. I spent a lot of time in actual Panama. I love it and I want to go back again.

[@Redfoot138]

I watch this, TopTenz, Today I Found Out, and Biographics right before I drift off to sleep. I dream in Simon Whistler.

[@dfdemt]

2:41 - Charles the Numerically Confusing. 😂

[@DickDiamond74]

I halfway expected you to gloss over the Constantine reference and boom!

[@hannahskipper2764]

Nice episode. I listened to it while eating breakfast. 😁

[@hddun]

Awesome!!

[@lexington476]

4:37 I think Simon would make an excellent American used car salesman 😀😃😄.

[@NoYouAreNotDreaming]

you speak like stephen fry...love to watch your videos...your voice is just so soothing

[@theangryaustralian7624]

Yup you guys got this KZbin thing totally....cheers again

[@ronalddavies1091]

Excellent. 👍✌️

[@annacwilson4313]

This is a fantastic film. I wondered if you had it right about Gorgas though. I had always been told it was Sir Ronald Ross who did the pioneering work on the link between malaria and mosquitoes. There are records of his notebooks on this from 1897, so before the time that Gorgas was working on draining the canal etc.

[@OiiRobbi3x]

MORE BLOODY VIDEOS PLEASE SIMON

[@geographicstravel]

Coming soon :)

[@billyteflon1322]

First Geographics I seen. Need more if these. Geography helps determine fate.

[@jorvar1446]

Panamanian here. Nowadays entering the former canal zone is a dramatic change. The look of the place and the architecture are completely different.

[@loupiscanis9449]

Thank you

[@DrAlfredNUmar]

Simon Whistler you are undoubtedly the Best at what you do... Keep it up brother...love from Russia

[@Knifeys]

Ha! - I've been waiting for this video ever since The Darien Venture

[@Machtyn]

Hmm, a Biographics on Noriega would be quite interesting. I have an uncle who lived in Panama with his family for awhile (Army). His family moved back to Georgia and he was activated during the Panama crisis.

[@muninrob]

Loved my stay at Ft Clayton.

[@joanneoliver8610]

Awesome!

[@markkmiecik9797]

Charles the Numerically Confusing. That's precious! I waited for all the engineering details that the title promised, yet, none appeared.

[@abdiqarebash3156]

You should do a episode about the Canadian railroad through the Rockies mountains

[@of7076]

4:12 "I would like you to do us a favor though" -Uncle Sam

[@Purplexity-ww8nb]

And the partisan democrats immediately began impeachment inquiries.

[@RikoJAmado]

7700Purplexity No they didn’t. Because back then, even Democrats respected Teddy Roosevelt.And the p*ssygrabbing draft-dodging coward Drumpf is no Teddy Roosevelt.

[@eversaavedra9279]

Charles the numerical confusing 😂😂

[@MaxBeaulieu]

Damn I adore this channel.

[@PatYouells]

Currently binge watching all of these geographic episodes. This is what the history channel used to be before it became all ancient aliens and junk. Thanks for picking up the slack.

[@nathanhiggins1438]

I like the soundtrack on this one.

[@paddyneill1964]

I first read about the Panama Canal in a Reader’s Digest volume of condensed books. I was a teenager then, I’m not now 👨‍🦳, still have the book. I’ve been telling people for years that an old trawler type boat was the first to transit, usually they laugh. Nowadays it’s more of a deer in headlights look 🤔. Bravo Zulu on the video.

[@benjib9115]

Do a video on the Shipley attractor or the great attractor

[@b.griffin317]

do the gowanus canal next! 😁

[@lesslisilverman]

You've outdone yourself Simon.