How much did the construction of the Panama Canal cost?

The construction of the Panama Canal is estimated to have cost approximately $400 million. This figure reflects the immense scale of the project, which included significant expenses for labor, materials, and engineering challenges. The undertaking faced numerous obstacles, including disease (like malaria and yellow fever), difficult terrain, and the need for advanced engineering solutions to construct locks and manage the waterway efficiently.

Additionally, the operation involved the U.S. taking over from the French, who had initially attempted the project and had left it unfinished due to financial and logistical problems. The transfer and subsequent construction costs further added to the overall expenditure. As such, this substantial amount illustrates not only the financial commitment the U.S. made to complete the canal but also underscores its importance as a strategic maritime route for global trade and military movement.

The other figures listed do not accurately reflect the historical records of the canal's expenditure, which is well-documented and recognized by historians and scholars in the field.