Code Switch The Rise and Fall of the Panama Canal
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Apr 17, 2024 
Author Cristina Henriquez discusses the history and environmental impact of the Panama Canal. The podcast explores the diverse workforce that built the canal, racial segregation, and the current challenges posed by climate change. Henriquez's novel provides a glimpse into the personal struggles and cultural influences behind this monumental project.
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Geographical Challenge of Canal
- The Panama Canal cuts through a narrow strip of land connecting the Atlantic and Pacific oceans.
- Its construction required overcoming mountains, swamps, and challenging terrain unmanageable by 1500s technology.
Human Cost of Canal Construction
- Construction of the Panama Canal took 10 years and 5,000 to 25,000 workers lost their lives.
- The canal's interlocking lakes and rivers were an engineering marvel that shrank the world.
Multinational Labor Force
- Thousands of men from 90 different countries labored in harsh conditions on the canal.
- They worked daily in rain, mud, and disease while wielding tools to cut through mountains.