I was about to write something, but this website says it better: "By August 15, 1914 the Panama Canal was officially opened by the passing of the SS Ancon. At the time, no single effort in American history had exacted such a price in dollars or in human life. The American expenditures from 1904 to 1914 totaled $352,000,000, far more than the cost of anything built by the United States Government up to that time. Together the French and American expenditures totaled $639,000,000. It took 34 years from the initial effort in 1880 to actually open the Canal in 1914. It is estimated that over 80,000 persons took part in the construction and that over 30,000 lives were lost in both French and American efforts." On this shot, you can see two ships crossing thru the Miraflores Locks. Notice that the nearest one is already lower, at the same level of the Pacific Ocean, while the other is still at the Miraflores Lake level. Notice also the mules, which are the small electric locomotive that contrary to popular belief don't pull the ships, but help center them in the lock so they don't damage themselves or the lock. The Panama Canal is needless to say, both a modern marvel and the image most people associate with my country.