The Panama Canal is a major shipping canal which cuts through the isthmus of Panama in Central America, connecting the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. The construction of the canal was one of the largest and most difficult engineering projects ever undertaken; it has had an enormous impact on shipping, because it removes the need for ships to travel the long and treacherous route via the Drake Passage and Cape Horn at the southernmost tip of South America. As many as 27,500 workers are estimated to have died during construction of the canal. Since opening, the canal has been highly successful and continues to be a key factor in world shipping.