logo
episode-header-image
May 2024
28m 48s

The Nicaragua Canal, An Unfinished Dream...

Lingo Mastery Spanish
About this episode

You know of the Panama Canal (we already talked about it in Season 1 if you didn't), but you probably had no idea that a second canal has been in plans for a very, very long time now - one that passes through Nicaragua (that's north of Panama).


But the delays haven't just been a problem of bureaucracy and budget... the canal would actually have to pass through a delicate natural reserve, where both humans and animals coexist, as well as a lake that certain endangered species call their home. All of this has caused great controversy.


And that doesn't even cover half of what has happened (or failed to happen) during the planning and proposed construction of this canal. Because even nuclear warheads (?!) have been considered, and yes, we're not kidding. Want to find out more? Check out this week's episode of the Learn Spanish with Stories podcast!


Transcript of this episode is available at: https://podcast.lingomastery.com/listen/1268

Up next
Jun 3
To Stay or to Go? The Latin American Dilemma (¿Quedarse o Partir? El Dilema Latinoamericano)
Life in Latin America can be stressful or it can be the most comfortable existence you'll ever have - it all depends on how you look at it.In today's DUAL NARRATOR episode and Season 4 finale, we fly over to warm, sunny Cali to join Daniel (a Colombian looking to move to Spain) a ... Show More
33m 13s
May 27
The Worst Kind of Impunity, The Atrocious Case of Linda Loaiza (La Peor Impunidad, El Atroz Caso de Linda Loaiza)
One of the saddest things about crime in Latin America is that even the worst criminals can benefit from impunity. In the case of Linda Loaiza, this was demonstrated in the most brazen and shameless way possible.Linda was a young woman from the west of Venezuela who moved to the ... Show More
31m 38s
May 20
Rigoberta Menchú, Courage in the Form of a Woman (Rigoberta Menchú, El Coraje Hecho Mujer)
Guatemala has a Nobel prize winner who you've probably never heard of, but she's one of the most incredible cases of a small voice being powerful enough to topple giants: Rigoberta Menchú.A poor indigenous woman in a nation where belonging to any of those three conditions reduces ... Show More
31m 11s
Recommended Episodes
Dec 2024
The Panama Canal
A 50-mile man-made waterway connecting the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, the creation of the Panama Canal was arguably the greatest infrastructure project the world had ever seen. But its journey from concept to completion was anything but simple, as it failed repeatedly, and pass ... Show More
1 h
Dec 2023
El Canal de Panamá
The Panama Canal plays a critical role in today’s global commerce, but it almost didn’t happen. A group of French engineers led by Charles De Lesseps spent nine years in Panama excavating earth to no avail. Later, Theodore Roosevelt took up the canal dream. Another 10 years of ha ... Show More
20m 22s
Jul 1
Historia de viaje: Las calles de Cartagena ♫ 229
What happens when a trip that was supposed to be a relaxing getaway goes completely off the rails?In this episode, find out how a travel plan gone wrong led to an unexpected solo adventure in the beautiful, historic city of Cartagena, Colombia.This story starts with a desperate, ... Show More
32m 12s
Jul 2024
Building Dreams With Project Schoolhouse With Renata Aleman
1.8 million. That’s how many people in Nicaragua (alone) still don't have access to clean, drinking water. 😲 In this episode, we interview Renata Aleman from Project Schoolhouse, a nonprofit that helps bring clean water and schools to remote areas in Nicaragua. She shares the ha ... Show More
26m 17s
Jul 2024
La Gran Colombia - Gran Colombia
In this episode, we explore the intriguing story of Gran Colombia, a political entity envisioned by Simón Bolívar to unify South American territories into a powerful state. We'll discuss the motivations behind this ambitious project, the internal and external challenges it f ... Show More
18m 53s
May 16
The Great Frenchman's Folly (Panama Disaster 1)
Ferdinand De Lesseps, "the Great Frenchman", is convinced that he is the man to build the Panama Canal. No, he isn't an engineer and, no, he's never actually been to Panama before. But he managed to dig the Suez Canal, and everyone said that would be impossible too. How hard can ... Show More
39m 8s
Nov 2024
Chichen Itza
Nestled in the heart of Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula, the ancient city of Chichén Itza stands as a majestic testament to the architectural ingenuity and cultural richness of the ancient Maya civilization. It’s long been regarded as a shining example of Maya influence, yet today, ma ... Show More
59m 20s
Aug 2024
The Northwest Passage
For seafarers, merchants, travellers, and monarchs, the idea of the Northwest Passage from Europe to Asia was pursued as the holy grail of maritime exploration. Some of Europe’s finest explorers dedicated their lives to its discovery - braving uncharted waters, and freezing tempe ... Show More
1 h
Feb 2025
The Aswan High Dam
In 1970, one of the world’s largest infrastructure projects opened in Aswan, Egypt. It was a dam that harnessed the power of the Nile River, the longest river in the world. The dam provided electricity for half of the country and tamed the annual floods, a regular feature on the ... Show More
16m 53s