At a time when the thoughts of most people will be turning to a roast turkey dinner and a visit from Old Saint Nick, in Nicaragua construction will be starting on its $40 billion inter-oceanic canal.
On December 22, 2014, construction is due to begin on the inter-oceanic canal which will horizontally cut the country in two, creating a brand-new water passage from the Caribbean Sea in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, via the immense Lake Nicaragua.
There are increasing concerns over the environmental impact of the 278km waterway, which will be wider, deeper and over three and a half times the length of the Panama Canal. Once completed, the Nicaragua Canal will be capable of carrying bigger ships with greater cargo capacity.
Click on the graphic for an expanded view.
Engineering & Technology magazine 