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The quest for a direct waterway between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans is not new. Historical attempts to create a connection have either failed spectacularly or resulted in financial ruin for those involved. The French endeavor in the 1880s, which ultimately crumbled due to engineering setbacks and disease, highlights the perilous nature of such ambitious plans. Earlier, Scotland's early attempt to instigate trade routes in Darién (1698-1700) ended in disaster, leading to economic despair and national union with England.