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[[Image:Panama Canal Locks.jpg|thumb|left|150px|Miraflores locks]]
[[Image:Panama Canal Locks.jpg|thumb|left|150px|Miraflores locks]]
Originally the [[French]] attempted to build a canal through the isthmus, under the leadership of Ferdinand de Lesseps, the visonary who built the [[Suez Canal]]. He was the people's hero; the epitome of a Frenchman. They began digging on January 20, 1882, with much champange and dynamite. With de Lesseps to guide them, the French were cocky, thinking that such a canal expert could not fail them. During the convention which decided whether they would build the canal, any prophet predicting high costs and death tolls was not heeded. The workers were confident the job would be done in six years.
Originally the [[French]] attempted to build a canal through the isthmus, under the leadership of Ferdinand de Lesseps, the visonary who built the [[Suez Canal]]. He was the people's hero; the epitome of a Frenchman. They began digging on January 20, 1882, with much champagne and dynamite. With de Lesseps to guide them, the French were cocky, thinking that such a canal expert could not fail them. During the convention which decided whether they would build the canal, any prophet predicting high costs and death tolls was not heeded. The workers were confident the job would be done in six years.
But their attempt ended after 22,000 of them died, due partly to [[yellow fever]] or desentary. Mostly, however, it was [[malaria]] that killed the workers. It was a widely accepted fact that jungle disease was caused by a "noxious vapor" in the air. The living conditions of the men were atrotiously unsanitary. The initial cost of the canal was 300 millilon francs.
But their attempt ended after 22,000 of them died, due partly to [[yellow fever]] or desentary. Mostly, however, it was [[malaria]] that killed the workers. It was a widely accepted fact that jungle disease was caused by a "noxious vapor" in the air. The living conditions of the men were atrotiously unsanitary. The initial cost of the canal was 300 millilon francs.