In 1914, the Panama Canal was officially opened. The canal links the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans, allowing ships to sail from one ocean to the other without having to go around South America. The canal's construction was financed and supervised by the U.S. government and took 10 years to complete. Over 70,000 people worked on the project, $400 million was spent, and 5,600 deaths were recorded, most caused by malaria or yellow fever. The U.S. government controlled the canal until a treaty allowing Panama to gradually assume control was signed in 1977.
Wordchecker
canal (noun): a man-made channel of water on which boats/ships can travel
construction (noun): the building or making of something
finance (verb): help pay for; support with money
supervise (verb): watch over
malaria (noun): a deadly disease that is spread by mosquitos
treaty (noun): a written agreement (usually between countries)
taken from http://www.englishclub.com/this-week-in-history/
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