ICAP American History Practice Test

The Panama Canal is the waterway that connects the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. Completed in 1914, this vital maritime route allows ships to bypass the lengthy and hazardous journey around the southern tip of South America via the Strait of Magellan. The construction of the Panama Canal was a significant engineering achievement of the time and played a crucial role in international trade, significantly reducing travel time for maritime shipping.

In contrast, the Suez Canal, while also a major waterway linking two oceans, connects the Mediterranean Sea with the Red Sea, serving a different geographic need. The St. Lawrence Seaway and the Great Lakes Waterway, although important for trade and transportation within North America, do not link the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. The former primarily serves as a route for ships traveling to and from the Great Lakes to the Atlantic, while the latter focuses on facilitating navigation within the Great Lakes system.