DIGGING THROUGH HISTORY continued
dynamite to better excavate
them. With the dredging
process now moving forward
steadily, the Canal was
completed on July 29, 1914.
Originally almost 15 feet deep,
August wanted to deepen the
water to accommodate larger
ships. For the next two years,
he continued to deepen its
depth; the Canal was then
officially finished on April 10,
1916, finally reaching 25 feet.
Today the Canal is one of
Cape Cod's most recognizable
landmarks; it has approx-
imately 15,000 vessels going
through it each year with
about 1,100 acres of federal
land surrounding it. More
than 3 million visitors enjoy
activities such as fishing,
hiking, picnicking, biking,
and ship watching along
its shores.
e Cape Cod Canal opened with much fanfare
on July 29, 1914, a toll waterway put into
operation less than three weeks before the
Panama Canal opened. It bore only a slight
resemblance to the canal we know today.
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