Rotarians Kate Campbell and Bob Rademaker love to travel, so their recent trip to Panama was no surprise. However, this trip was special for Bob as he became fascinated with the Panama Canal as a school boy. Bob shared some early history of canal building in Panama noting that early Spanish explorers made the dangerous overland trip from ocean to ocean. It was a dangerous trip through the jungles and over the mountains. The French were the first to try to dig a canal, but the climate, disease, and difficult terrain put an end to the project. President Theodore Roosevelt championed a United States effort which benefitted from power equipment and the eradication of yellow fever. The construction was a marvel of engineering as lakes and a series of locks were built that made it possible to raise and lower vessels 85 feet on their 40 mile journey between oceans. The canal opened in 1914, saving vessels as much as 8,000 nautical miles.
Panama assumed ownership and operation of the canal in 1999, providing the country with its main source of income. In 2006 a system of new locks were added to accommodate the bigger cargo vessels. Today considerable cargo is offloaded and transported overland and reloaded to continue its journey. Kate said she enjoyed the trip, meeting new people and learning lots. Both travelers agreed that the trip was enjoyable and worthwhile.
