Most Nicaraguans favor the construction of a transoceanic canal across the country, according to the results of a poll released by M&R Consultants on Thursday.

The opinion poll showed that 78.5 percent of those inquired support the construction of the huge canal across Nicaraguan territory, given the expected economic benefits it will bring to the country.

Furthermore, 65.7 percent of the respondents viewed the canal as a serious project that should be built if studies prove it to be feasible, and 65.4 percent believed that the canal will bring benefits, with 49.5 percent confident of seeing many benefits.

To further define the forms of these benefits, the respondents were asked how they imagined the canal would affect Nicaragua.

In response, 51.7 percent said the project would boost Nicaragua's economic development, while 47.8 percent considered that it would create more jobs.

In terms of environmental concerns, 48.4 percent of those polled stated that the canal would help to preserve Lake Nicaragua.

The vast lake in the middle of the country will be crossed by the canal for a length of 105 kilometers.

The poll collected the opinions of 1,720 people from 50 municipalities across the country, according to the technical data sheet.

The plan to build a rival of the Panama Canal was the brainchild of the Chinese entrepreneur Wang Jing. If completed, it would stretch 278 kilometers long, 3.5 times the length of the Panama Canal, with a depth of 27.6 meters.

Reactions to the idea are divided between supporters, who said it will break Panama's monopoly of transoceanic shipping, and critics who believe the canal will do harm to the environment.