Scenario: You are a naval commander and your fleet is positioned in the Northwestern Pacific near the U.S. and Canadian border. Your orders are to report (along with your fleet) to Cuba. A war has ensued in Cuba and your fleet is needed immediately.

1. Locate your current location. This is an approximation (based on the scenario)2. Locate your destination point3. Calculate (an approximation) the miles your fleet will have to travel to get from point A to point B.Use an atlas or your textbook and find a map of the Western Hemisphere to calculate the distance.4. How much time might it take you to get from point A to point B?5. What geographical factors pose disadvantages?

Questions to Consider1. Geographical factors are characteristics that are about the Earth

and the distribution of these characteristics. What are the geographical factors your fleet may encounter other

than distance?

2. What human factors (characteristics that are about humans)might become obstacles for completion of the

journey?

3. Discuss with your group members possible ways to resolve the

distance between point A to point B for your fleet’s success.

Panama’s Transportation Corridor:PANAMA CANAL

The Panama CanalThe World’s Most Important Shortcut

Image Courtesy of: http://www.boyds.org/images/canal_aerial.jpg

Where is Panama?

Maps Courtesy of: http://www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/americas/americas_pol96.jpg

The country of Panama is an isthmus- a narrow strip of land which has water on each side and connects two larger pieces of land.

Panama

Courtesy of: http://www.1uptravel.com/worldmaps/maps/pm-map.jpg

Building the CanalThe next few pictures show what the

area looked like when the French started building the canal. What

challenges do you think they faced building a canal in this type of area?

Image Courtesy of: http://www.anu.edu.au/BoZo/jennions/images/Panama%20lake.jpg

Courtesy of: http://www.canalmuseum.com/photos/panamacanalphoto002.htm

Courtesy of: http://www.canalmuseum.com/photos/panamacanalphoto002.htm

Courtesy of: http://www.canalmuseum.com/photos/panamacanalphoto003.htm

The French started building the canal in 1881.They had to deal with a tropical

jungle and mountains.

After looking at these pictures what do you think would be the challenges of

trying to build a canal through a tropical jungle and mountains?

• After the French failed to complete the canal, the U.S. took over in 1904. It took 10 years to finish in 1914.

• In 1999 the United States gave full control of the canal to Panama.

Panama Canal

Positive Benefits

• Saves time on traveling trips and trade• Saves energy like gas so that makes a better

environment• Panama gains economically

Negative Effects

• Many people died as they were constructing the canal

• Rural communities were submerged• Farmers were also displaced• Local Panamanians in the area live in poor

conditions

Here is how the Panama Canal works

Image Courtesy of: http://www.panamacanal-cruises.com/panama-canal-pictures/crosssections.jpg

The building of the canal

Photo courtesy of: www.canalmuseum.com

The building of the canal

Photo courtesy of: www.canalmuseum.com

1914 The Canal Opens

Image Courtesy of:http://www.canalmuseum.com/photos/panamacanalphoto042.htm

The Panama Canal Today

Today the canal is a busy place. Ships get stuck in traffic jams because there are so many of them and often have to wait up to 20 hours to go through the canal. Then the trip through the canal takes another eight hours.

The Panama Canal is an important landmark and is considered by some to be the 8th Wonder of the World.

                               

   

Photo from the Canal Zone Brats www.czbrats.com