Talk:Nicaragua Canal

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[edit] Proposed new lead section

Hi Eb, Your rewrite of the lead of Nicaragua Canal has definitely made it more punchy and less waffly. I think I was the person who messed it up -- the reason I did it was to indicate that the canal isn't just a "proposed project" but something that's been around for a long time. While your text is definitely a better read, I think it would be useful to indicate right at the beginning that the concept is as much historical as futuristic. Also, I'm thinking that it might be good to move the details of the various proposed routes out of the lead. How about:

The Nicaragua Canal is a proposed waterway that would connect the Atlantic and the Pacific oceans through Nicaragua. Such a canal would follow rivers up to Lake Nicaragua, then cut across the isthmus of Rivas to the Pacific.

Construction of a canal along this route was proposed in the early colonial era, due to the favourable geography of the area. Plans by the United States to build such a canal were abandoned only in the early 20th century, after the purchase of the French interests in the Panama Canal at a reasonable cost. Speculation on a new canal continues, however; the steady increase in world shipping, together with the possibility of establishing shorter shipping routes, may make this a viable project. Alternatively, a railway, or a combined railway and oil pipeline, could be built to link ports on the Atlantic and Pacific coasts.

== Route ==

Several possible routes have been proposed for a canal in Nicaragua, all making use of Lake Nicaragua, the second largest lake in Latin America. Three routes have been discussed to carry traffic from the Atlantic up to the lake, which is at an elevation of 32 m (105 ft) above sea level:

• from Bluefields, up the Rio Escondido and then an artificial canal to the lake

• from Punta Gorda, up the Rio Punta Gorda and then an artificial canal to the lake

• from San Juan del Norte, up the Rio San Juan -- with improvements and new locks -- to the lake

An artificial canal would then be cut across the narrow isthmus of Rivas, whose lowest point is 56 metres (183 ft) above sea level, to reach the Pacific Ocean at San Juan del Sur.

Comments? Johantheghost 12:17, 1 December 2005 (UTC)

I am all in favor of this revised lead. I only suggested making the first sentence end in "through Nicaragua, in Central America." And the second sentence in "up to Lake Nicaragua and then cut across the isthmus of Rivas to reach the Pacific." -- Eb.hoop 04:14, 2 December 2005 (UTC)

Cool — done! — Johantheghost 12:51, 2 December 2005 (UTC)

[edit] Maps

I think this article would benefit from some maps, particularly one with all of the proposed routes. Ubermonkey 12:15, 8 June 2006 (UTC)

Indeed, it would. IIRC, the local history room at Galion Public Library contains an old book proposing a Nicaragua Canal. If it is out of copyright, perhaps I can get a map from there that can be used as a starting point at least. If I forget, bug me via eady@galionlibrary.org --Jonadab, 2006 June 30

[edit] Costa Rica Island

If this Canal was made, would Costa Rica and half of Panama become an Island?

Albertojb 17:37, 26 February 2007 (UTC)

If there are gates and the canal is not a sea-level all the way across, I don't see it as doing that. IIRC several islands with springs whereupon streams from the spring split one portion from the other are still one island. On the other hand, we have non-islands called island like Ile de France 132.205.44.5 (talk) 03:58, 6 December 2007 (UTC)