4 ms·

> It's always struck me as exceedingly odd that Panama is the terminus for all land-borne transportation. Might be because there's this chunk of Panama/north C

> It's always struck me as exceedingly odd that Panama is the terminus for all land-borne transportation. Might be because there's this chunk of Panama/north Columbia that's run by Guerillas and is one of the most dangerous places in existence (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dari%C3%A9n_Gap https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dari%C3%A9n_Gap)

scythe 4y ago
There has also been concern that a land-based link would hamper the containment of foot-and-mouth disease that was eradicated from North America, and there are environmental concerns. Colombia proposed building a road through the whole gap: https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1995-08-20-mn-36988-story.html https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1995-08-20-mn-36988-... But this has been heavily protested by environmentalists and natives alike. It might be less controversial to go northeast to Acandí by tunneling under the mountains, which would leave almost all of the forest untouched. Then you could build a long bridge, a coastal highway, or just keep using the ferry.
minsc_and_boo 4y ago
Not just that, you have some of the highest concentrations of sea shipping lanes in the world competing nearby, with rugged landscape, earthquakes, and multiple socipolitical barriers along the route.
- R0b0t1 4y ago
  Sounds like they need some freedom.
  - hackernews1134 4y ago
    What an immediately cynical, hilarious and eventually thought provoking response. I suspect it violates HN guidelines (too snarky?!?!). However, I for one applaud it's pith!
mullingitover 4y ago
There's this whole massive project that bombs the Darrien Gap with sterilized screwflies to prevent them from getting into North America[1]. I suspect opening that route to vehicles would probably help get them past the gap and into North America where they'd wreak havoc on livestock. [1] https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/article/north-american-screwworm-barrier https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/article/north-ame...

scythe 4y ago

There has also been concern that a land-based link would hamper the containment of foot-and-mouth disease that was eradicated from North America, and there are environmental concerns. Colombia proposed building a road through the whole gap: https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1995-08-20-mn-36988-story.html https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1995-08-20-mn-36988-... But this has been heavily protested by environmentalists and natives alike. It might be less controversial to go northeast to Acandí by tunneling under the mountains, which would leave almost all of the forest untouched. Then you could build a long bridge, a coastal highway, or just keep using the ferry.

minsc_and_boo 4y ago

Not just that, you have some of the highest concentrations of sea shipping lanes in the world competing nearby, with rugged landscape, earthquakes, and multiple socipolitical barriers along the route.

R0b0t1 4y ago
Sounds like they need some freedom.
- hackernews1134 4y ago
  What an immediately cynical, hilarious and eventually thought provoking response. I suspect it violates HN guidelines (too snarky?!?!). However, I for one applaud it's pith!

mullingitover 4y ago

There's this whole massive project that bombs the Darrien Gap with sterilized screwflies to prevent them from getting into North America[1]. I suspect opening that route to vehicles would probably help get them past the gap and into North America where they'd wreak havoc on livestock. [1] https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/article/north-american-screwworm-barrier https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/article/north-ame...