The Panama Canal transects the Isthmus of Panama, connecting the Atlantic Ocean with the Pacific. The Canal is 51 miles long and is an essential waterway for maritime trade. The Canal was constructed between May 04, 1901 and August 15, 1914. Colombia, France, and the United States were the contributors to the construction, with the United States taking control and finishing the project. This book details the construction of the Canal, and all of the political and economic issues surrounding it. I knew very little about this canal, and bought this book because I enjoy this historians other books. I learned a great deal about the construction and hazards associated with the construction in that time period on such a large scale.