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How did the Panama Canal help Pacific ports connect with eastern North America?

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Map of North America showing international boundaries, country names, and capital cities. The map includes Canada, the United States, Mexico, Greenland, Central American countries, and Caribbean nations, with a locator inset at the bottom left for global context. Major bodies of water such as the Pacific Ocean, Atlantic Ocean, Arctic Ocean, and Caribbean Sea are labeled.
North America

The Panama Canal revolutionized maritime trade by providing a direct, efficient passage between the Atlantic and Pacific oceans through the Isthmus of Panama.12

Before the canal's completion in 1914, ships traveling between the east and west coasts of the United States were forced to navigate around Cape Horn at the southern tip of South America. This arduous journey added approximately 8,000 nautical miles (15,000 km) to the trip and took about two months to complete. By cutting through the isthmus, the canal significantly shortened these voyages, facilitating faster and more reliable connections for trade and transport between Pacific ports and eastern North America. Today, the canal remains a vital link for major trade routes, including those connecting the U.S. East and West coasts, as well as routes between the east coast of North America and Oceania.123