The Panama Canal was built by America to allow ships to pass from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean without having to travel around South America to get to the Pacific Ocean. My grandfather, Lawrence Moran, worked on the Panama Canal. The canal cuts across the country of Panama. France had tried to build the canal but quit due to the disease of Malaria and hardships of the task. America then took on the job in 1904 and did a very nice job. The canal was built from 1880 to 1914. In 1999, ownership of the canal was transferred to Panama. The canal consists of artificial lakes and 3 channel locks. The ships are raised high into the air and then lowered again as they cross through the Panama Canal.
You can read more about the Panama Canal in my 4th book,
The Library Kids Talking Stones.
Here are some pictures of my grandfather (who was the electrical engineer for the generators of the canal), the generator room, and the canal (these pictures are copyrighted, please do not copy or use them):
Lawrence is the man on the right as you look at the picture.
The Generator Room
Panama Canal
By Rita Jean Moran (www.thelibrarykids.com)
Sources:
Family Story
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Panama_Canal
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