Californicationdude wrote:
interesting site.....is Nicaragua really going to build a canal?
Actually, during the "Goldrush" days of the mid 19th century, the best site for a canal was presumed to be Nicaragua; using Lake Nicaragua
Another "fun fact to know and tell" about this is this was the start of the Vanderbilt fortune, under "Commodore" Vanderbuilt - his companies had extensive operations in Nicaragua to transport the gold seekers (the '49ers) to California.
At that time, if you wanted to go to California, from the east coast, you had 3 options:
Walk - or take a wagon - cross country (the transcontinental railroad was still 20 years in the future - 1869)
Take a ship for a long, arguous journey round the Horn (Cape Horn)
OR
Take a short sea voyage to Nicaragua, go across the country via a short trip in horse/mule wagon, and reboard a ship for CA
So for many years it was pre supposed the site for a canal would be Nicaragua
