How Long to Read Portrait of the Panama Canal

How Long Does it Take to Read Portrait of the Panama Canal?

It takes the average reader 1 hour and 39 minutes to read Portrait of the Panama Canal by William Friar

Assuming a reading speed of 250 words per minute. Learn more

Description

This classic from William Friar about the Panama Canal has been completely updated and revised in time for the opening of the expanded locks. This engaging collection of contemporary and archival photographs is illuminated by Friar’s lively and informative text. Though the dream began as early as 1513 when Vasco Nuñez de Balboa first crossed the isthmus and saw the Pacific Ocean, it was not until 1914 that the Panama Canal became a reality. The French had started excavation for the Canal in 1869, but the work was beset by earthquakes and landslides; disease—malaria, yellow fever, cholera, beriberi, smallpox, and typhoid fever; and wild animals—from pumas and jaguars to a whole menagerie of poisonous snakes. By 1889, the money ran out and the whole enterprise collapsed in a cloud of scandal and bankruptcy that drove the French government from power. Some fifteen years later, on November 12, 1904, after much debate and political maneuvering, the first Americans arrived, and the work began again. The Canal opened less than ten years later, on August 15, 1914. For sixty-five years, the United States operated the Canal, but 1979 saw the start of a twenty-year transition. On December 31, 1999, control and day-to-day operations were turned fully over to the Republic of Panama. In the past fifteen years, the following changes have taken place in the Canal: widening the Gaillard Cut so two PANAMAX ships can pass each other; deepening the navigational channel in Gatun Lake to increase the capacity of the water reservoir; adding a new vessel traffic-management system that uses satellite Global Positioning System technology; the construction of two new sets of single-lane, three-step locks—one set at the Atlantic entrance and one at the Pacific; and adding two new navigational channels to connect the new locks to existing channels. In words and in photographs—both historical and contemporary—Portrait of the Panama Canal traces the story of the Canal from its beginnings as just a dream to its present reality as one of the wonders of the world.

How long is Portrait of the Panama Canal?

Portrait of the Panama Canal by William Friar is 97 pages long, and a total of 24,929 words.

This makes it 33% the length of the average book. It also has 30% more words than the average book.

How Long Does it Take to Read Portrait of the Panama Canal Aloud?

The average oral reading speed is 183 words per minute. This means it takes 2 hours and 16 minutes to read Portrait of the Panama Canal aloud.

What Reading Level is Portrait of the Panama Canal?

Portrait of the Panama Canal is suitable for students ages 10 and up.

Note that there may be other factors that effect this rating besides length that are not factored in on this page. This may include things like complex language or sensitive topics not suitable for students of certain ages.

When deciding what to show young students always use your best judgement and consult a professional.

Where Can I Buy Portrait of the Panama Canal?

Portrait of the Panama Canal by William Friar is sold by several retailers and bookshops. However, Read Time works with Amazon to provide an easier way to purchase books.

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