"In engineering terms the new waterway would be one of the most ambitious attempted anywhere in the last 20 years. The route is expected to take ships in a series of giant locks 105ft (32 metres) up to Lago Cocibolca (Lake Nicaragua), the second largest lake in Latin America. In total, the route would be about 170 miles long and would largely follow the San Juan River, requiring massive cuttings and earthworks. It would also have to negotiate Mt Momotombo, an active volcano. It is thought that a major new port and tourist developments would be built at both ends.
A canal through Nicaragua has been a dream of many countries and entrepreneurs for more than 400 years, since the Spanish conquistadors saw the potential of a sea route to the East Indies."
Building a canal across Central America has captured the imagination of engineers since the mid-1500s. Ever since the construction of an inter-oceanic canal became feasible in the 1800s, the strategic and economic value of Central America rocketed in the eyes of it's powerful neighbours. However, in Central America's case this has not meant a corresponding increase in power, but rather a corresponding increase in interference and exploitation.A canal through Nicaragua has been a dream of many countries and entrepreneurs for more than 400 years, since the Spanish conquistadors saw the potential of a sea route to the East Indies."
As such I guess you could say that inter-oceanic canal contruction across the Central American isthmus is a kind of case study of this phenomenon of interference and exploitation of the region that continues to the present.
In the 1800's, when the site of a canal stretching from the Pacific to the Atlantic was sought, Britain along with the US planned for many years to build it in Guatemala- but never did. This was tied into the illegitimate annexation of Belize by Britain from Guatemala during this period.
During this time Britain and the US actually signed the Clayton-Bulwer Treaty in 1850 that aimed to guard against either monopolizing control of a canal or railway should one be built. That neither Britain or the US thought it appropriate or necessary to invite representatives from Central America to participate in the signing of this treaty, says a lot about how they viewed Central America at the time.
The Nicaragua Canal has a long history (the above photo is from a book on the subject from 1899). The Nicaragua Canal idea was discussed seriously by businessmen and
governments throughout the 19th century. In 1897, the United States' Nicaraguan Canal Commission proposed this idea, as did the subsequent Isthmian Canal Commission in 1899. However, the commission also recommended that the French work on the Panama Canal
should be taken over if it could be purchased for no more than
$40,000,000. Since the French effort was in utter disarray, the U.S.
was able to make the purchase at its price (Source: Wikipedia).
Now that the idea of constructing a canal in Nicaragua have resurfaced, albeit a month before national elections in Nicaragua, it will be interesting to see the extent to which Central America and Nicaragua in particular, can turn this increased strategic importance in the 21st century to its own advantage and advance its own interests above those of foreign interests for a change.
Now that the idea of constructing a canal in Nicaragua have resurfaced, albeit a month before national elections in Nicaragua, it will be interesting to see the extent to which Central America and Nicaragua in particular, can turn this increased strategic importance in the 21st century to its own advantage and advance its own interests above those of foreign interests for a change.
