The Panama Canal Zone, originally controlled by the United States, refers to the area surrounding the Panama Canal, an important shipping route that connects the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. Some synonyms for the Panama Canal Zone include the Panama Canal Area or Zone, the Canal Zone, and the Panama Canal Zone Territory. Other related terms that can be used include the Panama Canal Zone Treaty, which defined the transfer of control from the US to Panama, and the Panama Canal Expansion Project, which aimed to increase the canal's capacity for larger ships. Regardless of the terminology used, the Panama Canal Zone remains a crucial part of global trade and transportation.