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Demolition, disease, and death: Building the Panama Canal - Alex Gendler

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In the 19th century, the California gold rush brought thousands of settlers to America's west coast. But finding gold may have been easier than transporting it back east. The only hope for avoiding a grueling six month wagon journey was to travel the narrowest portion of the continent — the 48-kilometer Isthmus of Panama. Alex Gendler details the creation of the Panama Canal.


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TED-Ed Animations feature the words and ideas of educators brought to life by professional animators. Are you an educator or animator interested in creating a TED-Ed Animation? Nominate yourself here »

Meet The Creators

  • Educator Alex Gendler
  • Director Cabong Studios
  • Narrator Addison Anderson
  • Storyboard Artist Rui Silveira
  • Animator Renato Nogueira Cavalher, Bianca Duffeck
  • Art Director Cabong Studios
  • Music Cem Misirlioglu, Amit Peled
  • Sound Designer Cem Misirlioglu, Amit Peled
  • Director of Production Gerta Xhelo
  • Editorial Director Alex Rosenthal
  • Producer Bethany Cutmore-Scott
  • Editorial Producer Dan Kwartler
  • Fact-Checker Eden Girma
Additional Resources for you to Explore
Writing nearly 100 years apart, J. Saxon Mills and David McCullough have produced masterful books on the canal. A lecture delivered by the chief engineer to the National Geographic Society shortly after the canal’s completion gives even more detail. And The Smithsonian provides a virtual multimedia tour of the construction process.

Customize this lesson

Create and share a new lesson based on this one.

About TED-Ed Animations

TED-Ed Animations feature the words and ideas of educators brought to life by professional animators. Are you an educator or animator interested in creating a TED-Ed Animation? Nominate yourself here »

Meet The Creators

  • Educator Alex Gendler
  • Director Cabong Studios
  • Narrator Addison Anderson
  • Storyboard Artist Rui Silveira
  • Animator Renato Nogueira Cavalher, Bianca Duffeck
  • Art Director Cabong Studios
  • Music Cem Misirlioglu, Amit Peled
  • Sound Designer Cem Misirlioglu, Amit Peled
  • Director of Production Gerta Xhelo
  • Editorial Director Alex Rosenthal
  • Producer Bethany Cutmore-Scott
  • Editorial Producer Dan Kwartler
  • Fact-Checker Eden Girma

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