Canal Zone

The Panama Canal Zone was a designated strip of territory surrounding the Panama Canal, established as an American-controlled zone from 1903 to 1979. It served as the administrative and military base for the United States to operate, maintain, and defend the canal, which is a vital waterway connecting the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. The Zone included military installations, ports, and infrastructure, and was governed primarily by U.S. authorities. In 1979, sovereignty over the territory was gradually transferred to Panama as part of treaty agreements, leading to the cessation of the Zone's American administrative control.