Why did the Panama Canal get built with a series of locks instead of like one single wide water way lined with stone sort of like the canals in Venice??

"It was realised that the solution to all the problems encountered, was that the construction of a high-level lock canal would reduce an enormous volume of excavation and prevent the landslides." - The Panama Canal

The canal's path travels through several different elevations. Using a series of locks was cheaper and faster than cutting through all the rock necessary to build a single level canal. This also allowed the builders to make and use a lake for part of the length of the canal.

Venice is basically a series of small islands, or high ground, in a marsh. The two situations were entirely different.

Thanks for the info. Another friend provided this information also, so I think I have a well-rounded idea now.

quote:

The MAIN reason a level canal was not built is the difference is tidal range of the Pacific and the Atlantic side....
The Atlantic side will average MAYBE a foot to max of two feet of tide difference....
The Pacific side will average 20-22 feet between hi and low tide every tide change...
If a level canal was built ( and it really could be done), the force of water in the canal between the average levels of the difference sides would be astronomic ,,, Ships would not be able to control themselves against the tidal forces....

Both of you, thanks for the data.

Audrey