Can You Ken a Canal? Trivia Quiz

Answer: The discovery that mosquitoes spread malaria and yellow fever

Col. William C. Gorgas, appointed sanitation officer of the canal in 1904, knew that mosquitoes spread malaria and yellow fever, thanks to the recent discoveries of Dr. Carlos Finlay and Dr. Walter Reed. He put netting or screens in workers' housing, sprayed insecticide where mosquitoes bred and removed sources of standing water, until mosquito-born diseases were almost gone from the area. Still, over 5,000 American workers died doing the dangerous work, but the number was far less than the 22,000 lost by the French.

Answer: Diverting the river would prevent the Sudd swamp from controlling floods

The canal would channel the water of the White Nile past the Sudd swamp directly into the main Nile. Proponents of the canal in the 20th century considered the water wasted when it spread out and evaporated in the swamp. Many now feel that the swamp is ecologically necessary to absorb potentially damaging floodwaters and they fear that the canal would also draw water from the surrounding area, lowering water tables, harming fisheries and having other negative impacts.

Answer: Erie Canal

The Erie Canal opened up easy transportation from Albany on the Hudson River in eastern New York State to Buffalo and the Great Lakes in the western portion. The Hudson River's connection with New York City meant merchandise could travel far into the Midwest completely by water from New York City. Mule-pulled canal boats transported tons of freight, until engine-driven canal boats took over, but increasing competition from railroads and trucks finally made the canal unprofitable in the 20th century, despite improvements. Thomas S. Allen wrote the song "Low Bridge" (1905) about the canal's heyday and it has been recorded many times with many variations.

Answer: The pound lock

Qiao Weiyo's invention allowed canals to consist of relatively level pools of water, with steps in between, avoiding the rapids of flowing rivers. To change elevation, a boat entered the "pound" or compound of the lock and a gate was closed behind it, while another was partially opened in front. Water flowed in or out the front gate, to equalize the height of the water in the compound.

The front gate could then be fully opened and the boat could continue onto the next section of the canal at a different elevation.

Answer: He sneaked ahead of her waiting yacht in the dark

The night before the opening, Captain Nares piloted the HMS Newport in the dark, without lights, to the head of the line of waiting vessels so he could be the first through the canal. He was officially reprimanded for doing so, though privately the British cheered his skill and audacity.

Answer: Loch Ness

The canal was built to provide employment in the Highlands. Completed in 1822, it took so long to build, mainly because of its remote and rugged location, that it was no longer needed for its main purposes. Iron-hulled ships powered by steam were too big for the canal, which had been planned for older wooden ones. Napoleon had been defeated in 1815, so the Royal Navy was no longer concerned with a safer shipping route.

When Queen Victoria enjoyed the canal in 1873, tourism interest increased and gradually the canal became the pleasure route it is today. Tales of the Loch Ness Monster along the route haven't hurt either.

Answer: Water buses for transporting people on the canals

Vaporetti (singular vaporetto) are like buses, except they run on the canals. They are engine powered, can carry many people, and have regular routes and stops. A rider can purchase a ticket for a single trip or for unlimited use for a day.

Answer: Gongoozlers

..."GONE for days can GOOGLE"... Did you catch the clue? The origin of the odd word "gongoozlers" is uncertain but it might come from "gawn" and "gooze," which both mean "to stare" in Lancashire slang. The Grand Union Canal was created by the merger of Regent's Canal and the Grand Junction Canal in 1929 to try to keep profitable for freight traffic, but now pleasure boating dominates.

Answer: It dried up most of the Aral Sea, leaving dust storms and a ruined fishing industry

The canal and other smaller ones diverted the two rivers that fed the Aral Sea, and by 2007, the sea was one tenth of its original size. The remaining water was too salty for fish and the surrounding dry sea bed contained chemicals from agriculture and weapons testing, making dust storms dangerous for nearby residents. Restoration projects have helped refill some of the sea since its low point.

Answer: The Watergate Hotel

The Watergate Hotel in Georgetown, Washington, D.C., famous for the break-in that cost Richard Nixon the Presidency, was most likely named for the gate-like structure at the end of the canal. No longer used for boating, the canal is now a National Park with a 184.5-mile towpath enjoyed by joggers, hikers and bikers. During the 19th and early 20th centuries, it carried coal to Washington to fuel the city.