$Unique_ID{COW02793} $Pretitle{246} $Title{Panama General Information} $Subtitle{} $Author{Embassy of Panama, Washington DC} $Affiliation{Embassy of Panama, Washington DC} $Subject{panama canal city spanish pacific isthmus country national degrees republic} $Date{1991} $Log{Table 1.*0279301.tab Table 2.*0279302.tab } Country: Panama Book: Introduction to Panama Author: Embassy of Panama, Washington DC Affiliation: Embassy of Panama, Washington DC Date: 1991 General Information Capital: Panama City Currency: Balboa Population: 2.3 million Independence Day: November 3 National hero: Tomas Herrera National flower: Holy Ghost orchid Geographical Position The Republic of Panama is located at the southeast extreme of the Central American isthmus that links North and South America. Its latitude is included between 7 degrees 12'09.4' and 09 degrees 37' 57.7" latitude North and its longitudes between 77 degrees 09'24" and 83 degrees 03'07" Greenwich Longitude West. The Isthmus of Panama, which lies on an east-west axis is bounded on the west by Costa Rica, on the east by Colombia, and faces the Caribbean Sea to the north and the Pacific Ocean to the south. Geography The country covers a total area of 77,082 square kilometers, is approximately 650 kilometers in length and varies in width from approximately 50 kilometers to 190 kilometers. The isthmus has quite a marked configuration. The highlands and mountain ranges lie mostly in the northwestern part of the country, the extinct Volcano Bury in the Province of Corridor reaches the highest elevation in the country at 3,475 meters above sea level. The eastern region consists mainly of vast expanses of jungle and tropical forests. The central section is mostly flat, while the low lands are found mostly in the South. Two main mountain chains form the backbone of the Isthmus, enclosing many fertile valleys and plains. Panama's coastline extends 2,857 kilometers, of which 1,160 border on the Caribbean Sea and 1,697 kilometers on the Pacific Ocean. Panamanian coasts are indented and scattered with islands. The most interesting islands belong to the Son Blas Archipelago in the Caribbean. These 365 islands range in size from small ones to large ones inhabited by hundreds of Indians. Taboga Island in Panama Bay and the Pearl Islands are the nucleus of the Pacific Ocean. There are two main river systems, with more than 500 rivers, of which 350 flow into the Pacific and the others into the Atlantic. Location Traveling south from the U.S. and Mexico to reach Panama you would pass through Central America: Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Costa Rica. On Panama's other border is Colombia in South America. Climate Panama's climate is pleasantly tropical, and temperatures are practically uniform the year round, from 73 degrees to 81 degrees in coastal areas. Nights are generally cool. In the highlands temperatures range from 52 degrees to 65 degrees at night. There are two seasons - rainy and dry. Rainy season from April to December usually means a shower a day. Seldom is an entire day rainy. Panama averages 65 inches of rain annually in the Pacific area and 120 inches in the Atlantic side. During the dry season (called "summer") the trade wind blow steadily. Fauna With two oceans washing its shores, Panama is rich in marine life. Lobsters, shrimp, clams and the following fish are plentiful: marlin (Panama is the black marlin capital of the world), sailfish, sawfish, porpoises, dolphin, tuna, bonito, wahoo, snook, corvina, mackerel, snapper, bass, trout, tarpon, shark, barracuda, etc. The jungle abounds with monkeys, tapirs, puma, jaguar, peccary, deer, wild pig, ocelots, agouti paca, armadillos, anteaters, sloths, and other animals native to the American tropics. There are over 850 native bird species, plus the numerous migrants from the north and south, making Panama a tourist haven for birds and a bird-watcher's paradise. The quetzal can be seen in Chiriqui Province. Flora All Panama is a garden where the flowering trees, especially from April to June, are a splendid sight. Among these are the golden shower, the lavander lagaestroma, the pink and yellow acacia, the red poinciana and the purple jacaranda. In addition a great variety of tropical flowers is always in bloom. During the months of December to July bougainvillea in many shades can be seen, while the purple and some reds flower all year round. Hundreds of orchid species abound. Lush leafy plants of many colors are also typical of Panama. Natural Resources Panama is rich in mineral resources, although only gold and manganese have been utilized. Copper will be mined in the near future due to the finding of large deposits. Limestone is used in the manufacture of Portland Cement and native clay supplies the brick, pottery and tile industries. The forests are a source of fine hardwood. The abundance of fish in the surrounding oceans gives Panama her name from an old Indian dialect. Religion The predominant religion is Roman Catholic. However, there is no prohibition against the practice of any religion, and churches of other denominations are to be found in the country. Population The population of Panama is approximately 2.3 million inhabitants which grows at a 3.5% rate, and the demographic density is 26.0 inhabitants per square kilometer. No provision is made in the census for counting the population by racial groupings, but it is estimated that almost 3/4 of the Panamanian people are of blended Spanish and Indian ancestry, or "mestizo". There are a few Negroes, whose ancestors were originally brought as slaves from Africa in the 16th Century, who live in the Perlas Islands. But most Negroes in the country are descended from workers who came from the West Indies during the building of the Panama Railroad and the Canal, and they are rapidly being assimilated into the general population. There are also some East Indians and Chinese. But the important thing is that all these ethnic groups live together harmoniously, and work together for Panama's growth and development. There is no racial discrimination in Panama. Language The official language is Spanish. In the principal cities many people speak or understand English. Minority groups speak Italian, French, Greek, German, Chinese Hindustani, etc. [See Table 1.: Principal Cities] The Capital of the Republic is the city of Panama, on the Pacific Coast, in Panama Bay. It is considered the political, administrative, educational and commercial city where most of the urban population is concentrated. Currency Panama's currency is the silver Balboa, named after the discoverer of the South Sea. It is on a par with the United States dollar and is divided into 50, 25, 10, 5 and 1-cent coins. There is no national paper currency, but the United States dollar circulates throughout the country. Flag The Panamanian flag is divided into four quarters. The upper one next to the staff is white with a blue star in its center; the other one is red; the lower one next to the staff is blue and the fourth, white with a red star in the center. Political Organization The Republic of Panama is divided for administrative purposes into nine provinces and an Indian Territory (San Blas), inhabited by indigenous Indians. The Provinces are divided into 66 districts or municipalities, and further subdivided into 505 regional electoral units known as corregimientos, which constitute the political bases of the state. The provinces (the names of the respective capitals are shown in parenthesis) are: Bocas del Toro (Bocas del Toro); Cocle (Penonome); Colon (Colon); Chiriqui (David); Darien (La Palma); Herrera (Chitre); Los Santos (Las Tablas); Panama (Panama); Veraguas (Santiago). Government System Panama is a unitarian and independent state. The system of government is republican, democratic and representative. It is composed of three branches - Legislative, Executive and Judicial, which function separately but harmoniously. Public power comes from the people; it is exercised by the government through the distribution of functions with the harmonic collaboration between the Legislative, Executive, and Judicial branches. The Executive power is vested in the President and two Vice Presidents of the Republic who exercise power jointly with a Cabinet of 12 Ministers of State appointed by the President. Presidents and Vice Presidents are elected for terms of 5 years and may not succeed themselves. The Legislative function is exercised through the National Legislative Assembly. The Legislators are elected for terms of 5 years by direct vote and are eligible for re-election. The Judicial power of the Republic is vested in the Supreme Court of Justice and lesser courts and magistrate's courts as established by law. History The Isthmus of Panama was discovered in 1501 by Rodrigo de Bastidas and Vasco Nunez de Balboa, who had a leading part in the establishment of Santa Maria La Antigua del Darien in 1510, the first permanent settlement on the mainland of the Americas. In 1502, Columbus explored the Caribbean coast of Panama, claiming the land for the Spanish Crown. In 1513, Vasco Nunez de Balboa set out on his journey across the Isthmus, which ended with his discovery of the Pacific Ocean. The provincial governor Pedro Arias Davila (Pedrarias) moved the seat of government to the Pacific coast and established the town of Panama in 1519. The town grew in importance and was made the seat of Spain's third Royal Audiencia in 1538. With the conquest of Peru, the Isthmus of Panama assumed great importance because of its position on the route of the Spanish galleons. From early in the sixteenth century, Nombre de Dios, Vera Cruz, and Cartagena were the only three ports on the mainland authorized by the Spanish Crown to trade with the homeland. The Spaniards used Panama City to transport gold and silver from Peru to Portobelo and then to Spain. So Panama City developed into a major Spanish colonial city. Unfortunately its famous riches attracted the attention of Henry Morgan and his pirates who swooped down on the original Panama City in 1671, virtually destroying the city while sacking it. The fabulous ruins of Panama Viejo (Old Panama) are well worth a visit. For two hundred years it was a focal point of commerce in the New World and was one of the principal seats of colonial administration in Spanish America until 1739, when it was put under the jurisdiction of the Viceroyalty of New Granada (later to become the Republic of Colombia). In 1819 Venezuela and Colombia, freed from Spanish rule, united as the "Republic of Greater Colombia"; Panama declared its independence and joined the Confederation under the name of the Department of the Isthmus in 1821. Although the Confederation was dissolved in 1830, Panama remained part of Colombia until 1903, except for brief intervals when secessionist movements led the people to seek autonomy. The most successful of several was led by Panama's national hero Tomas Herrera in 1840, after which the country maintained its independence for thirteen months. Panama seceded from Colombia and proclaimed its independence on November 3, 1903. Soon afterward, Panama signed a treaty with the United States for the construction of the Canal, one of the greatest engineering feats in history, opened to worldwide shipping in 1914. [See Table 2.: The history of Panama falls into the following periods] Culture Panamanians have long been subjected to a wide variety of cultural influences through continuous contact with both transient and immigrant foreigners. Although they have accepted certain ideas, habits, tastes, and economic patterns, the underlying culture is the original traditional Hispanic one. Since the birth of the Republic, the nation's artists, writers, and intellectuals have developed an outstanding national culture. Panamanians identify their population as being composed of a Spanish-speaking majority, largely of Spanish and Indian descent, and minority groups of Antillean Negroes and Indians. The modern cosmopolitan capital, Panama City, is a blend of Spanish colonial charm, modern progress, and the bazaar atmosphere of the Orient. In addition to being the political and cultural center of the country, it is also the leading commercial center. Panama City is situated at the Pacific terminal of the Canal. Outstanding religious structures of Spanish colonial times are the Cathedral with its painting of the Virgin of the Rosary by Murillo, and the Church of San Jose, famous for its golden alter saved from destruction by the pirate Morgan when a resourceful monk painted it to look like wood. On the grounds of the Presidential Palace, graceful snow-white egrets stroll about the Moorish courtyard, which is ornamented with columns studded with mother-of-pearl. Las Bovedas (The Vaults) are the dungeons under the sea wall built to defend the city from attack. The Spanish governors kept political prisoners in the dungeons. Santo Tomas Hospital and the Social Security Hospital are among the best equipped institutions of their kind in Latin America. The National University of Panama, one of the most modern cultural centers in the Hemisphere, is an autonomous institution and provides free tuition. Panama City, in fact all of Panama, is famous for its pre-Lenten Carnaval. Religious parades and festivals make Holy Week a colorful spectacle. One sees many women wearing the beautiful national costume, the pollera, consisting of a voluminous skirt richly embroidered and a lovely blouse trimmed with exquisite lace; the men also wear native dress. Colon, Panama's chief Atlantic port situated at the entrance of the Canal, is a great international commercial center and free trade zone. The sector known as Cristobal is primarily engaged in loading and unloading the vessels of all nations that line its piers. Romantic Portobelo, overlooking a beautiful harbor sheltered by rugged hills, was a colonial stronghold and chief port-of-call for Spain's treasure fleet in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. Outside of Panama City and Colon, the majority of Panamanians live in the region west of the Canal and south of the mountain divide in thousands of scattered villages, hamlets, and isolated farms. A growing network of access roads is now linking this region with the National Highway, the Panamanian sector of the Pan American Highway System which runs between Panama City and David, the country's third largest city. David, in the extreme western part of the country, is the capital of prosperous Chiriqui Province, a region of extensive forests, rich soil, fine grasslands, and plantations. Puerto Amuelles is the Pacific port of this region. The Caribbean region west of the Canal is a sparsely inhabited area of virgin forests, except for banana and cacao plantations near the Costa Rican border and farms in the vicinity of Gatun Lake. Most of the Eastern Panama and all of Darien Province to the Colombian border constitute a vast reservoir of land and dense jungle only partially explored. The Cuna and Choco Indians live in the southwestern part of Darien Province and still retain their ancient tribal customs, languages, and mode of living. The Cuna Indians, who inhabit the San Blas Islands off the northern Caribbean coast, have an interesting social organization and unique handicrafts. Panama Canal "Crossroads of the World" The possibilities of a waterway linking the Atlantic and the Pacific in this region had been well appreciated for four centuries before anyone started to dig. Spain's King Carlos V ordered a survey of the canal route in 1524 but it was presumably decided that cutlasses would not be adequate for the job. The French started a canal in 1880 under de Lesseps, builder of the Suez Canal, but after 20 years of struggle with the jungle, disease, financial problems and the sheer enormity of the project, they were forced to give up. In 1903 Panama seceded and the U.S.A. signed a treaty in which the concession for a public maritime transportation service across the Isthmus was granted. The following year, the U.S.A. purchased the French canal company's properties for $40 million and began to dig. On August 15th, 1914 the U.S. cargo ship "Ancon" made the first transit. The story of this gigantic task is best told in the book "The Path Between the Seas" by David McCulloch. The story is also told dramatically in the murals of the rotunda of the Administration Building at Balboa Heights. To see the Canal at work - every year handling more than 13,000 bluewater ships, under the flags of about 70 nations - go to the spectator stands at Miraflores or Gatun locks, bilingual commentators there are brimful of information and statistics. The Panama Canal is still one of the engineering wonders of the world - the "moonshot" of the Wright Brother's days. Even by today's standards it is awesome to see a container ship gliding through massive locks and past a rain forest. Put the canal in the context of turn-of-the-century technology and the feat of its construction is staggering. The Canal is about 50 miles long and ships are lifted 85 feet in three lockages as they cross the Isthmus. The journey through the Canal takes about 8 hours and a ship is normally in Canal waters between 14 and 16 hours. The average toll for ships using the Canal is about $26,000 but many save about ten times this figure by eliminating the journey around the Horn. Record tolls: the QE 2 which recently transited for $99,065.22 and Mr. Richard Halliburton who swam the Canal in 1926 and was charged 36 cents after his displacement tonnage was calculated.