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Constructing the Panama Canal was no small feat. After a failed attempt by the French in the late 1800s, the United States, led by President Theodore Roosevelt, took upon themselves the monumental task of breaking through the rugged terrain of Panama. The project overcame tremendous challenges, including malarial conditions and varying water levels in the Chagres River, which initially plagued the French attempt. Ultimately, the U.S. adopted a lock system that allowed ships to traverse varying elevations, leading to the canal's official opening on August 15, 1914.