The Isthmus of Panama is a narrow strip of land that connects North and South America. It is located at the southern end of Central America and is about 48 miles (77 kilometers) wide at its narrowest point. The Isthmus of Panama is a key shipping route, and it is also the site of the Panama Canal. The Panama Canal is a 48-mile (77-kilometer) artificial waterway that connects the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. It was built between 1904 and 1914, and it is considered one of the most important engineering feats in history. The Panama Canal has had a profound impact on global trade and transportation. It has shortened the distance between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans by thousands of miles, and it has made it possible for ships to travel between the two oceans without having to go around the Cape of Horn or the Strait of Magellan. The Panama Canal has also had a significant impact on the economy of Panama. It is a major source of revenue for the country, and it has helped to create jobs and boost economic growth.

Here are some other examples of how people have changed narrow pieces of land that divide two bodies of water:

* The Suez Canal is a 120-mile (193-kilometer) artificial waterway that connects the Mediterranean Sea and the Red Sea. It was built between 1859 and 1869, and it is the oldest and longest man-made canal in the world. The Suez Canal has had a significant impact on trade between Europe and Asia, and it has helped to make Egypt a major shipping hub.

* The Corinth Canal is a 4-mile (6.4-kilometer) artificial waterway that cuts through the Isthmus of Corinth in Greece. It was built between 1881 and 1893, and it connects the Gulf of Corinth to the Saronic Gulf. The Corinth Canal has shortened the distance between the two gulfs by about 200 miles (320 kilometers), and it has made it possible for ships to travel between them without having to go around the Peloponnese peninsula.

* The Kiel Canal is a 61-mile (98-kilometer) artificial waterway that connects the Baltic Sea and the North Sea. It was built between 1895 and 1914, and it is the busiest artificial canal in the world. The Kiel Canal has shortened the distance between the Baltic Sea and the North Sea by about 400 miles (640 kilometers), and it has made it possible for ships to travel between them without having to go around the Jutland peninsula.

These are just a few examples of how people have changed narrow pieces of land that divide two bodies of water. These canals have had a significant impact on trade, transportation, and the economies of the countries in which they are located.