Panama Canal expansion begins

Panamanian President Martin Torrijos has personally detonated the 15 tons of explosive charge to break ground on an expansion of the Panama Canal. Former United States president Jimmy Carter and several Latin American leaders participated in the opening ceremony of the construction works. The construction is projected to cost around 5.25 billion dollars and is scheduled for completion by 2015. The project will almost double the tonnage that can be carried through the canal. The expansion program was also favored by the Panamanian public. The Panama Canal, with 81 kilometers length and 150 meter width at the narrowest end, is the shortest waterway connecting the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. Four percent of world shipping passes through this canal.

Submission | September 4, 2007

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