Answer: August 15, 1914
The cargo ship Ancon passed through the canal on August 15, 1914, although it wasn't actually the first ship to do so. The SS Cristobal went through two weeks earlier, on August 3rd. 2. Who was considered the "mastermind" behind the canal? (Hint - he designed the lock system for the Panama Canal).
Answer: John Stevens
John Stevens was the so called "genius" behind the construction of the Panama Canal. Unfortunately, he resigned his post before the completion of the project. 3. Which US president helped the Republic of Panama gain independence and received a lease of land around the "canal zone" on which the canal was built?
Answer: Theodore Roosevelt
Teddy Roosevelt was able to gain a land grant spanning 50 miles in Panama. On this land was built the modern day Canal. 4. Before the Americans built a successful canal this nation attempted to construct a trans-isthmian passage.
Answer: France
The French canal project officially began in 1879 and ten years later due to disease and bankruptcy was forced to be terminated. 5. What is the name of the lake formed by the canal?
Answer: Gatun
At the time of the canal's construction, Gatun Lake was the largest artificial lake in the world. 6. This Spanish ruler was the first to suggest the construction of a canal.
Answer: King Charles
King Charles ordered the Isthmus of Panama to be surveyed for a possible site for a canal in 1520. His surveyors concluded that such a passage was impossible to build. 7. 100 million gallons of water are used in each transit of the canal.
Answer: False
Only a minuscule 52 million gallons of water are used. 8. This man was in charge of the failed canal project in 1879. Who was it?
Answer: Ferdinand de Lesseps
Ferdinand de Lesseps was in charge of the construction of the Suez Canal. His project would eventually fail due to disease. 9. Which one of these is NOT a set of locks of the Panama Canal?
Answer: San Medio Locks
The Gatun locks consist of 3 pairs of locks, the Pedro Miguel locks account for one more pair of locks, and the Miraflores for two. 10. 7,800 miles is cut off a journey from New York to San Francisco by using the canal.
Answer: True
Obviously, the canal provides immense economic advantages as well as being much more convenient and safer than the journey round Cape Horn. Source: Author nrs21
This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor bloomsby before going online. Any errors found in FunTrivia content are routinely corrected through our feedback system.