May 19, 2025

Corlyn Sophia Salazar

9th Grade

John F. Kennedy High School 

For many years, canal construction has changed the rise and fall of many civilizations, from the Suez Canal to the Panama Canal. The canal has truly shaped the lives of many, while reflecting technological achievement. But how does a canal work, especially in different parts of the world? Where did it all start, and how did they evolve over time?

A canal is defined as an artificial waterway that connects boats or ships to a channel to convey water for irrigation. How it works is that different bodies of water, such as lakes, oceans, or rivers, all connect to each other. A ship travels through each body of water through a series of locks, rectangular chambers that decrease or increase water from one body of water to match the water level of the next body of water. Gates are used to separate the two bodies of water until the levels of the two bodies of water match, and a boat is ready to come through. The water used for a canal is for creating electricity, agriculture, or even for flood control. The way they are made is by digging through a channel and blocking the area with lined materials and clay, and after the canal is completed, people would create a water supply for the canal from rivers or lakes.

The first canals of the world date back to the ancient civilization of Mesopotamia around 4000 BC, where canals were used for irrigation. The Tigris and Euphrates rivers were the lifeline for crops in Mesopotamia, and the Mesopotamians took advantage of the rivers by creating canals. Mud brick or stone were used to maintain a water flow, while slabs and other materials were used as gates to line border canals. Weirs and dams were constructed on the riverbank to regulate the flow of water, as water lifting devices were used like locks that would lift water to higher elevations. These water lifting devices were known as the shaduf and the Archimedes screw. Other ancient civilizations, such as China, Egypt, and the Indus Valley civilization, also had canals that acted similarly to the ones in Mesopotamia. 

The Suez Canal is one of the most famous canals in the world. It is located in Egypt, connecting the Red and Mediterranean Seas. The French had the idea of creating a canal through the isthmus that would make it possible to sail from the Mediterranean Sea to the Indian Ocean much faster, resulting in a lifeline to Indian trade for other countries in the age of Imperialism. The canal was dug through baskets and picks by men who were forced into labor, but later steam shovels and dredgers made the process much quicker. 

The Panama Canal is another famous canal that connects the Caribbean Sea and the Pacific Ocean. It is a 51-mile waterway in Panama that is 82 kilometers long. A French company started to work on the canal in 1881, but it faced many issues. After several years, America decided to finish the canal in 1904. The canal has three large but fragile locks: Miraflores, Pedro Miguel, and Gatu, and it takes about 8-10 hours for a ship to get through. Like the Suez Canal, many workers cleaved Panama in half to join the Pacific Ocean. A dam was built to prevent flooding, known as the Gatun Dam, and later, they built the Madden Dam. 

Today, canals function as recreational waterways for cargo. However, their historical significance as transportation routes has diminished, but canals can still offer irrigation, hydroelectric generators, and water supply. The construction of canals is now so much easier, due to advanced engineering techniques. Instead of using workers to dig up the channel, people can now use excavators and bulldozers. This saves time, effort, and money. People create banks on the sides of the canal to prevent erosion, and engineers take account of the environmental impact that a canal would have.

The history of canal engineering highlights the enduring efforts of humanity to control water for many different purposes. From the early canals of Mesopotamia to the monumental constructions of the Suez and Panama Canals, the advancement reflects evolving capabilities and the motivation of society over time. As technology advances, canals will remain a significant part of history and infrastructure planning.