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\f0\fs24 \cf0 Construction of Nicaragua canal begins\
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Nicaragua\'92s government says the $40bn canal will boost the economy but opponents are alarmed by the environmental impact of the waterway \'96 wider, deeper and 3.5 times the length of the Panama Canal\
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New airport\
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Lake Nicaragua \
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Brito locks\
\
Brito:New free-trade area\
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San Juan del Sur\
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COSTA RICA\
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NICARAGUA\
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Lake Atlanta: New 400-sq.km artificial lake created\
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Camilo locks\
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Punta Gorda\
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CARIBBEAN\
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50km 30 miles\
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NICARAGUA CANAL\
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New deep water ports\
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New tourist resorts\
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HONDURAS\
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NICARAGUA\
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COSTA RICA\
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PACIFIC OCEAN\
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PANAMA\
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CARIBBEAN SEA\
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Nicaragua Canal\
\
Panama Canal\
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Sea\
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Locks: Two sets of locks comprising three chambers each\
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Water-saving basins: Move ships between sea and lake level\
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Chambers\
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Lock gates\
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Lake\
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SIZE COMPARED \
\
Panama Canal (expanded)\
\
Nicaragua Canal\
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Length\
\
Width\
\
Depth\
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77km\
\
218m\
\
14m\
\
278km\
\
230m\
\
27.6m\
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MAX. CAPACITY\
\
PANAMA CANAL\
\
New Panamax\
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Length: 366m\
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TEU*: 12,000\
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NICARAGUA CANAL\
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Triple-E\
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Length:400m\
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TEU: 18,000\
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*TEU = Twenty-foot Equivalent Unit (container capacity)\
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Sources: HKND Group, Panama Canal Authority\
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words 188}