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Archived Articles
Simeon Mitropolitski is a Canadian analyst, of Bulgarian origin, and a former syndicated columnist with the Bulgarian News Agency (BTA). He is the author of several hundred articles dealing with hot political and economic topics, both national and international.
He was part of the first group of Bulgarian intellectuals and students that began the opposition movement that finally put an end to the communist regime in this country in 1989, and in 1996-1997 participated in international observation teams during the elections in several Balkan countries - Romania, Albania and Bulgaria.
In 2002 Simeon and his family moved from Bulgaria to Canada where they live now in Montreal, province of Quebec. Simeon is a Master of Political Science from McGill University and a B.A. of Political Science and History.
Global Real Estate Project
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Nicaragua Canal May Become A RealityThere are three seaways between Atlantic and Pacific Ocean. The most common is the way through Panama Canal. The other two go either south of South America (Cape Horn passage) or north of North America ('northwest passage'). Latter two are not very convenient; the first one is already in a dire need of enlargement. Two new projects are on the drawing boards; one is for enlarging existing Panama Canal, the other one is for building a new canal going through Nicaragua. If accomplished 'Nicaragua Canal' will not only help boosting international trade, it may also benefit those investors wise enough buying cheap land along the project road(s). Nicaragua isn't at all an expensive country, and the land in its eastern provinces is particularly cheap. HistoryAs early as 1820s there were plans to link Atlantic and Pacific Ocean with a seaway and thus eliminating dangerous passages south and north of the Americas. Long before the French started making projects about digging a canal though what would later become Panama, there were serious plans to make such canal through Nicaragua. At least twice during 19th century these plans were in very advanced stage of designing. They were blocked each time because of civil wars and threats of regional wars. At the turn of the centuries the plans to build canal through Nicaragua were left to dust because of the Panama Canal works, first by French, later by Americans. But the 'Nicaragua Canal' project didn't die. During 1980s the Soviet Union, then a patron of the local Marxist government, sent engineers to make detailed plans of a canal that will be an alternative to the U.S.-controlled Panama Canal. The Soviets wanted a safe way of transporting their navy and nuclear submarines. These plans didn't materialize at that time because of the fall of the Soviet Union and the fall of the Marxist regime in Nicaragua.
Current situationWhen Panama Canal was built a century ago it could easily handle the largest ships in the world. Its significance for the U.S. war efforts during World War II was critical to the point that Japanese high commandment has decided to use kamikaze tactics for destroying the Pacific locks. The modern age of giant merchant ships however makes this canal look obsolete despite the constant renovating efforts. Currently Panama Canal can handle ships carrying no more than 4,000 containers; many modern ships can easily carry much more than 10,000. This requires adding transportation and loading costs. International trade suffers, and with it international economic development suffers as well.For years Panama has called for enlargement of the existing locks and why not for some parallel construction of new ones. These projects will cost billions; their accomplishment may take many years. The international trade is growing so rapidly that any new project may become obsolete in terms of passage capacity even before its execution is complete. Without any political motivation similar to that of 1980s the current Nicaraguan government is calling the world investors to help building a new passage linking Atlantic and Pacific Ocean. The tentative cost is estimated at $18 billion. The time for execution is set at 12 years.
If built, then where exactly?There are many possible roads for digging through Nicaragua. All experts agree that all possible roads will pass through Lake Nicaragua, one of the largest in Central America. The Pacific section will be very short, no more than 20 miles. The eastern section has two main options, following either Rio San Juan, bordering Costa Rica; or Rio Escondido plus digging additional canal across the jungle; both eastern options will be qt least 100 miles long. The terrain along Rio San Juan is easier for development, but there may be border disputes with Costa Rica; no such problems with Rio Escondido passage, but the digging there should go through a more difficult terrain. Unless Nicaragua is ready to allow Costa Rica sharing some of the future canal financial benefits, the new seaway if accomplished will most likely follow Rio Escondido between Atlantic Ocean and Lake Nicaragua.
 Map of Nicaragua with alternative roads for seaway. --------------------
See also the directory of companies providing real estate services in, and general real estate information of Nicaragua.
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