Panama
Panama (Spanish: República de Panamá) is a state between two continents, in Central America on the narrow Panama Isthmus that divides the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. The word “Panama” originally did not mean a hat at all, in one of the local Indian languages it means “fish place”. But “Panama hats” are not produced by Panama, but by Ecuador.
The area of Panama is 75.5 thousand km2. Administratively, the country is divided into 9 provinces and 3 autonomous regions (mosquito).
Along the west and east coasts of Panama stretch narrow plains and hilly terrain, between which are steep, dissected by valleys mountains with alpine plains. The highest point in Panama – Baru volcano. Geographic coordinates: 8.808, -82.543; Click to view on Google maps (aka Chiriki), 3475 m. The northern slopes of the mountain ranges are covered with dense evergreen forests, the southern areas are occupied by wet savannah. To the east of the Panama Canal stretches the edge of dense forests and swamps, almost unaffected by human activity. The Caribbean coast is formed by numerous lagoons, the Pacific coast is heavily indented and teeming with small islands and whole island groups.
Map of panama
Panama’s closest neighbors are Costa Rica in the west and Colombia in the east. From the north, the country is washed by the waters of the Caribbean Sea, from the south – the Pacific Ocean.
The capital of Panama is the city of Panama (Panama City) Geographic coordinates: 9, -79.5; Click to view the political, administrative and cultural center of the country on Google Maps.
Climate Panama
Yandex.Weather: Panama’s climate is subequatorial, hot and humid. Monthly average temperature fluctuates around the + 25–28 ° С mark all year round. The water temperature off the coast is around + 24 ° C all year round. Relatively dry season lasts from December-January to mid-April, rainy – from mid-April to December (maximum rain – from May to December). Rains are more intense in the foothills of the Caribbean coast, slightly less rain falls along the Pacific coast, where most large settlements are concentrated. Hurricanes are possible on the Caribbean coast.
Panama History
Historically, Panama was inhabited by Native American tribes. The first meeting with the Europeans took place in 1501, the Spanish discoverer Rodrigo de Bastidas became the discoverer. Columbus, exploring Panama in 1502, called it the New World. Panama was part of the colonial empire of Spain, in 1821 declared independence and became part of Colombia. The most important geopolitical significance Panama awarded the construction of the Panama Canal, linking the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. The construction of the canal was begun by the French in 1879, but the canal was completed by American engineering forces by 1914. It was with the support of the United States, in the hope of control of the canal, that Panama seceded from Colombia. The adjacent land channel was owned by the United States until 1999.
Features of Panama
Native American Indian representative
More than 3 million people live in Panama. Of these, about 70% are mestizos, blacks and mulattoes 14%, white 10% and Indians 6%. Almost 3/4 of Panamanians live in cities. Literate 91% of the population. Almost the entire population professes Christianity, about a seventh of Christians are Protestants, the rest are Roman Catholics. The official language of Panama is Spanish. English is common in tourist regions.
Panama is a democratic republic. The head of state and government is the president, elected in general elections.
Time in Panama is 9 hours behind Moscow in summer and 8 hours in winter.
The national currency of Panama is balboa (PAB), which is equal to 100 centessimo (centavo). The course is pegged to the US dollar: 1 balboa for $ 1. Paper balboa notes do not exist, their role is played by US dollars. See more about Panama money read more
Coin 1 Balboa, Panama
Type A American Socket Type B American Socket Electricity: Mains voltage is typically 110 V, frequency 60 Hz. Most sockets are American, two- and three-pin (types A and B).
When it comes to the sights of Panama, the first always remember the Panama Canal, a grandiose man-made structure that essentially separates North and South America. And we would like to propose on the contrary a unifying project, such as the Century Bridge.
Over 80 km above the Canal, over a kilometer-long bridge connects North and South America on the Pan American Highway.
Initially, it was possible to get from one side of the Canal to the other only by ferries or on drawbridges at the Miraflores and Gatun locks, but they could only be navigated until ships passed through the Canal. The construction of a permanent bridge was an urgent need, and the Americans (the United States controlled the Panama Canal zone), having invested $ 20 million, built the so-called “Bridge of the Americas” by 1962.
