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The World's Shortcut: How the Panama Canal Works [video]

jlgaddis 7y ago
If this is the video I'm thinking of (I can't watch it at the moment), on the "Half as Interesting" (?) channel, I'd suggest checking out the other videos on this channel as well as the "Wendover Productions" channel (both by the same guy, AFAICT) if you found this one interesting. I just discovered these two channels in the last week or so and there's a lot of interesting (to me) videos on them.
- CaliforniaKarl 7y ago
  This video is a Wendover Productions video. But, indeed, both channels come from the same source! Generally, Wendover videos are longer and more serious, while the 'HAI' videos are more light-hearted.
- dharmab 7y ago
  He also has a podcast series "Extremities" that is going in depth on a single topic (for season 1, the history and logistics of the world's most isolated permanently populated place.)
snowwrestler 7y ago
One of the surprising things about the Panama Canal is how the sea level can differ between the Atlantic and Pacific sides. This depends not just on tides but on salinity, weather, and even differences in gravity. The Panama Canal has locks to lift and lower boats through the central lake, but even if the entire canal was built at mean sea level, it would still need locks to accommodate the (ever changing) difference between Atlantic and Pacific sea level at any given point in time.
- plibither8 7y ago
  Then I'm inclined to believe this would have been a problem when building any canal across a considerably large landmass - such as the Suez Canal. Is it exclusive to the Panama Canal only?
  - deleted 7y ago
    [deleted]
  - thinkingkong 7y ago
    No the Suez canal has no locks, but the current changes with the tide, probably more affected by the larger body of water.
  - a1369209993 7y ago
    According to the second paragraph at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Suez_Canal https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Suez_Canal, it has a continuous current through the various segments, depending on tide and season. Presumably the water levels in the Mediterranean and Red Seas are close enough that the current isn't a problem in practice.
dfeojm-zlib 7y ago
Due to climate change, there are now many shortcuts across the Arctic in the summertime.

If this is the video I'm thinking of (I can't watch it at the moment), on the "Half as Interesting" (?) channel, I'd suggest checking out the other videos on this channel as well as the "Wendover Productions" channel (both by the same guy, AFAICT) if you found this one interesting. I just discovered these two channels in the last week or so and there's a lot of interesting (to me) videos on them.

CaliforniaKarl 7y ago
This video is a Wendover Productions video. But, indeed, both channels come from the same source! Generally, Wendover videos are longer and more serious, while the 'HAI' videos are more light-hearted.
dharmab 7y ago
He also has a podcast series "Extremities" that is going in depth on a single topic (for season 1, the history and logistics of the world's most isolated permanently populated place.)

snowwrestler 7y ago

One of the surprising things about the Panama Canal is how the sea level can differ between the Atlantic and Pacific sides. This depends not just on tides but on salinity, weather, and even differences in gravity. The Panama Canal has locks to lift and lower boats through the central lake, but even if the entire canal was built at mean sea level, it would still need locks to accommodate the (ever changing) difference between Atlantic and Pacific sea level at any given point in time.

plibither8 7y ago
Then I'm inclined to believe this would have been a problem when building any canal across a considerably large landmass - such as the Suez Canal. Is it exclusive to the Panama Canal only?
- deleted 7y ago
  [deleted]
- thinkingkong 7y ago
  No the Suez canal has no locks, but the current changes with the tide, probably more affected by the larger body of water.
- a1369209993 7y ago
  According to the second paragraph at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Suez_Canal https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Suez_Canal, it has a continuous current through the various segments, depending on tide and season. Presumably the water levels in the Mediterranean and Red Seas are close enough that the current isn't a problem in practice.

dfeojm-zlib 7y ago

Due to climate change, there are now many shortcuts across the Arctic in the summertime.