2006-07-31 14:19:11 · 13 answers · asked by mfletcherchristian 2 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Geography
> No. 1. it's man-made; 2. It's not the same elevation on both ends
It's not the same elevation at both ends? Aren't both ends at sea level?
Besides, where in the definition of strait does it say "not man made?"
Abbr. Str. or St. A narrow channel joining two larger bodies of water. Often used in the plural with a singular verb.
Okay, well, it's a channel (that's part of the definition of canal). It's narrow (too narrow, IMHO). It joins two extremely large bodies of water.
So how is it not a strait?
2006-07-31 19:46:29 · update #1
No, because it is not at sea level, and water cannot flow freely between the atlantic and the pacific. Ships have to go through locks, and even cross a few fresh water lakes that are above sea level.
2006-07-31 14:24:51 · answer #1 · answered by Vincent G 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No, because its not a "natural" water way.
It is a man made and operated water way. A strait would be natural with no elevations, just a natural pathway to another body of water, as the panama canal is not natrual, bisecting two continents. It has locks that bring the water level up to certain elevations in order to bring the ships in, and out of the water way.
Oh, btw, the panama canal is so obsolete, that only small ships can go through it now, as most large vessels have to go around the continent because they are too large for it.
I wish you well..
Jesse
2006-07-31 21:27:11 · answer #2 · answered by x 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The Panama Canal was opened in 1914.It was started in 1904. It is manmade so it is not a strait. It is at sea level at each end, the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans.Going up over the mountains uses locks where the water level is controlled.Although the super tankers can not go through it does take very large ships. It was turned over to Panama in 1999. They are talking about a rebuild to take larger ships.
2006-08-02 08:56:28 · answer #3 · answered by science teacher 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No its not a strait because the Panama canal is just created by man itself in the mid 80's or 90's. It just looks like a strait because the width of the canal is so big but its main purpose is to transport ships from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean. In short, it is a "distance reducer"
2006-08-01 00:49:06 · answer #4 · answered by John Leo A 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
A strait is geographically speaking a wider body of water that a canal. The Strait of Magellan or Bering Strait for example.
2006-07-31 21:25:13 · answer #5 · answered by Bullwinkle Moose 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It is not a straight, because by common usage, a straight is not man-made. It is at sea level, but sea levels change from ocean to ocean, depending on the tides. But apart from the Panama Canal being, well, a canal, it is also a palindrome: "A man, a plan, a canal - Panama!"
2006-08-02 07:22:06 · answer #6 · answered by Dennis J 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
You keep on answering this question?!
Canal man-made, strait not man made..
Calling it a strait is a term sailors use when on it, as canals often are not very bendy - over time enough sailors have said it so that is has taken on this term as part of its' description also: However, canal is a term that engineers use and they are quite fastidious with naming things...who you going to believe?!
It is as simple as that, we are getting rather bogged down by definition here!
2006-08-01 04:57:26 · answer #7 · answered by Ichi 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No. 1. it's man-made; 2. It's not the same elevation on both ends
2006-07-31 23:10:13 · answer #8 · answered by idiot detector 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Because it was called the Panama Canal and not the Panama Strait. Same reason a book is a book and not a table--someone named it that way.
:P
2006-08-01 03:39:54 · answer #9 · answered by quntmphys238 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No. A canal is man made and a strait is naturally made.
2006-07-31 23:00:39 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋