Building of the Panama Canal

A French company led by Ferdinand de Lesseps began digging across the isthmus in 1881 but failed in 1889, after disease had killed many thousands of workers. The United States backed Panama's break from Colombia, took over in 1904, fought yellow fever and malaria, and built a lock canal that opened in August 1914, shortening voyages between the oceans by weeks. Panama took full control in 1999.