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TED-Ed

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.

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.

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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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