Nicaragua canal to break ground, hoping to rival Panama

AP ^ | December 21, 2014 | Staff

[C19fan]

As a conscripted soldier during the Contra War of the 1980s, Esteban Ruiz used to flee from battles because he didn't want to have to kill anyone. But now, as the 47-year-old farmer prepares to fight for his land, Ruiz insists, "I'm not going to run."

Ruiz's property on the banks of Nicaragua's Rio Grande sits in the path of a $50 billion transoceanic waterway set to break ground on Monday.

Nicaraguan officials will start building access roads on state-owned land as the first step in creating a canal expected to rival that of Panama - a project supporters say will directly employ 50,000 people and dramatically boost the country's GDP.

[XEHRpa]

Sounds like a Clive Cussler Novel with Dirk Pitt (http://www.amazon.com/Trojan-Odyssey-Dirk-Pitt-Adventure/dp/0425199320)

[bmwcyle]

Revealed: Madcap 1960s plan to use 23 nuclear bombs to blast through California mountains and make way for highway Also they thought they could build a canal in Central America.

[RayChuang88]

I think the so-called New Panamax size ships are more than sufficient to handle traffic between US West Coast and US East Coast ports for many years to come.

[Snickering Hound]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_volcanoes_in_Nicaragua

The Pacific coast of Nicaragua is riddled with active volcanoes.

[Ruy Dias de Bivar]

I suppose this will be a sea level to sea level canal, which was originally planned in the late 1800s. It was abandoned due to volcanic activity in the area. A US Post stamp even showed the Nicaraguan volcano spewing.

I also understand the Atlantic and Pacific sea levels are much different. What will happen when the high sea begins to flow into the lower sea?
Change in ocean currents and weather patterns? ARE WE ALL DOOMED?

i remember reading about the feasibility of a Nicaraguan canal dug using a series of underground nuke explosions.

[DuncanWaring]

Palindrome!

[shortstop]

Nicaragua is susceptible to Caribbean hurricanes and the resulting damage, while Panama is not. Major advantage- Panama.

[Mears]

I’m not familiar with this publication but if what is reported here is true the people of Nicaragua are getting shafted.

http://elreporterosf.com/?p=16266

.

[FrankR]

THIS JUST IN: Congressman Hank Johnson fears if the new canal is cut, the entire section between the new canal and the Panama Canal could possibly just drift out to sea...film at 11.

[Dr. Sivana]

So, will that big lake in the middle turn into a salt water lake? There goes a great fresh water supply.

[Cold Heart]

$50 Billion. Is not that the figure that Obama gave (indirectly)to the Taliban for the Berg Whats his Face exchange.

[thackney]

I also understand the Atlantic and Pacific sea levels are much different.

Say that again?

[thackney]

No. No different than Gatun Lake in Panama Canal Traffic.

It exists above sea level. It is fresh water feed. It won’t be open to the seas, it needs locks to raise the ships to the lake level.

[SunkenCiv]

I’m going to take a chance, and, without checking the thread, make a David Lee Roth reference.

[tumblindice]

Neekahrahgwah?

[tumblindice]

pResident Obama got tired of waiting for congress to act and issued an executive order lowering both oceans levels, while he was being serviced by Gwynith “Craterface” Paltrow.

[hanamizu]

I believe when you factor in tides, they are in fact noticeably different. There is also some concern of transfer of Pacific & Caribbean flora & fauna.

[thackney]

And how would this be different than the existing Panama Canal?

[notdownwidems]

That’s funny, I am currently reading ‘Panama Fever’ by Matthew Parker; the US originally wanted to build the canal through Nicaragua to avoid the political instability inherent in Columbia (of which Panama was a part till Uncle Sam separated them out); as another poster implied, friends of the Panama version made sure that volcano postage stamp got widely disseminated as one of the tricks they used to nix that idea. Fact is, though, that the geology is much more tricky in Nicaragua, even without the volcanoes. The rivers aren’t wide enough and run too fast, not sure how the Chicoms are going to handle that. Look for a major disaster down the road!

[ZOOKER]

Agree.

Part of the requirements for the Panama Canal were an abundant water source. Locks at both ends of the canal are filled with water from the lake to raise ships up to lake level. When exiting the canal water is released from the locks into the ocean(s) lowering vessels to sea level. A little salt water comes into the lock each time the sea end is opened and makes it into the canal when that end is opened, but not much. A much greater volume of fresh water is discharged into the ocean.