Are you ready to navigate through history and geography with our Panama Canal trivia? Challenge yourself with questions about the engineering marvel that changed global shipping forever. From its construction obstacles to the presidents who played pivotal roles, this quiz dives deep into the fascinating story behind the canal.
Whether you’re a history buff, a geography enthusiast, or just love impressive feats of human achievement, discovering the secrets of the Panama Canal is both enlightening and fun. Test your knowledge about the dates, the key figures, and the technical details that make this waterway a vital link between two oceans.
Once you’ve sailed through this quiz, keep the momentum going with more intriguing challenges like our anatomy trivia, delve into the world of 90s music trivia, or explore the magic of Disney with our Disneyland trivia. There’s a whole sea of fascinating trivia waiting for you to conquer!
On which continent is the country that hosts the Panama Canal located?
South America
South America
Asia
Asia
North America
North America
Africa
Africa
What two large bodies of water does the Panama Canal connect?
Indian Ocean and Pacific Ocean
Indian Ocean and Pacific Ocean
Arctic Ocean and Atlantic Ocean
Arctic Ocean and Atlantic Ocean
Atlantic Ocean and Pacific Ocean
Atlantic Ocean and Pacific Ocean
Atlantic Ocean and Caribbean Sea
Atlantic Ocean and Caribbean Sea
The Panama Canal officially opened in which year?
1898
1898
1904
1904
1914
1914
1929
1929
Which European explorer is credited with first observing the Pacific Ocean from the Americas, inspiring the idea of a canal?
Ferdinand Magellan
Ferdinand Magellan
Christopher Columbus
Christopher Columbus
Hernán Cortés
Hernán Cortés
Vasco Núñez de Balboa
Vasco Núñez de Balboa
The engineering challenge of the Canal required the construction of a man-made lake. What is its name?
Lake Nicaragua
Lake Nicaragua
Lake Gatun
Lake Gatun
Lake Maracaibo
Lake Maracaibo
Lake Titicaca
Lake Titicaca
Which company began the first attempt to build the Panama Canal in the late 19th century?
Dutch West India Company
Dutch West India Company
Ferdinand de Lesseps’ French company
Ferdinand de Lesseps’ French company
Compagnie Universelle Africaine
Compagnie Universelle Africaine
The British East India Company
The British East India Company
What unique feature allows ships to traverse the different elevations of the Isthmus of Panama?
Gates
Gates
Locks
Locks
Lifts
Lifts
Tunnels
Tunnels
Approximately how long, in kilometers, is the Panama Canal?
112 km
112 km
21 km
21 km
82 km
82 km
51 km
51 km
Which infectious disease significantly hindered early canal construction until it was controlled?
Malaria
Malaria
Tuberculosis
Tuberculosis
Smallpox
Smallpox
Polio
Polio
Which US President played a major role in the Canal’s construction?
Woodrow Wilson
Woodrow Wilson
Dwight D. Eisenhower
Dwight D. Eisenhower
Theodore Roosevelt
Theodore Roosevelt
Franklin D. Roosevelt
Franklin D. Roosevelt
What is the name of the first ship to officially pass through the Panama Canal?
Santa Maria
Santa Maria
Queen Mary
Queen Mary
Titanic
Titanic
SS Ancon
SS Ancon
Which city marks the Pacific entrance of the canal?
Panama Viejo
Panama Viejo
Balboa
Balboa
Gamboa
Gamboa
Colón
Colón
The canal’s management was transferred to Panama in which year?
1977
1977
1999
1999
2007
2007
1968
1968
How is the water that fills and empties the canal’s locks primarily sourced?
From the sea with pumps
From the sea with pumps
Rainwater feeding into Lake Gatun
Rainwater feeding into Lake Gatun
Underground aquifers
Underground aquifers
Rivers diverted by dams
Rivers diverted by dams
Which treaty led to the eventual transfer of canal control from the U.S. to Panama?
Suez Treaty
Suez Treaty
Torrijos-Carter Treaties
Torrijos-Carter Treaties
Hay-Bunau-Varilla Treaty
Hay-Bunau-Varilla Treaty
Clayton-Bulwer Treaty
Clayton-Bulwer Treaty
What is the term for the expansion completed in 2016 to accommodate larger ships?
Panama Deepening
Panama Deepening
Gatun Project
Gatun Project
Panama Canal Expansion
Panama Canal Expansion
Canal Widening Project
Canal Widening Project
Which type of ship is specifically built to fit the original canal dimensions?
Handysize
Handysize
Panamax
Panamax
Supertanker
Supertanker
Suezmax
Suezmax
What is the maximum number of ships that can transit the canal daily (approximate average)?
25
25
50
50
10
10
35
35
What logistical advantage does the canal provide to ships?
Reduces fuel usage
Reduces fuel usage
Shortens the trip between Atlantic and Pacific
Shortens the trip between Atlantic and Pacific
Avoids hazardous Cape Horn
Avoids hazardous Cape Horn
All of the above
All of the above
Which country originally controlled the territory where the canal was built, prior to Panamanian independence?
United States
United States
Spain
Spain
Colombia
Colombia
Britain
Britain
Which engineering structure lifts ships approximately 26 meters (85 feet) above sea level from the Atlantic side of the Panama Canal?
Gatun Locks
Gatun Locks
Miraflores Locks
Miraflores Locks
Culebra Cut
Culebra Cut
Pedro Miguel Locks
Pedro Miguel Locks
Which natural hazard often threatens the canal’s operation and maintenance?
Hurricanes
Hurricanes
Earthquakes
Earthquakes
Snowstorms
Snowstorms
Landslides
Landslides
Which major port city is located at the Atlantic entrance to the canal?
Colón
Colón
David
David
Cristóbal
Cristóbal
Panama City
Panama City
About how many years did it take for the United States to complete the canal after taking over from the French?
22 years
22 years
10 years
10 years
30 years
30 years
5 years
5 years
Which technical innovation was critical to control tropical diseases during canal construction?
Mosquito eradication programs
Mosquito eradication programs
Vaccines
Vaccines
Penicillin use
Penicillin use
Quarantine stations
Quarantine stations
You can do better
Not bad
Great!
Test your knowledge of global landmarks and history with our Panama Canal trivia! Ready for more? Try your hand at 90s music, anatomy, or Disneyland trivia for a fun challenge across various topics.
