Before the panama canal people from East coast of America who wanted to go to Asia had to either sail around south America which took months or sail towards Asia and go around Africa which took even longer. The panama canal was a short cut right in the middle of central America which cut navigation time in half. Hope I helped. :)
The disadvantages of the Panama Canal included political tensions with Colombia, harsh labor conditions for workers, environmental impacts, economic inequality, and issues of sovereignty. These factors contributed to ongoing resentment and challenges in Panama and surrounding regions. Despite its benefits for trade, these disadvantages had a significant impact on local communities.
;