Map of Panama

Like all of Central America, the native Indian population of Panama was all but destroyed by the disease and powerful weapons inflicted on them by the Spanish during their aggressive colonization.

As the Spanish regional power increased, Panama became the launching point for invasions into South America, and most of the treasure mined (stolen) by the conquistadors in Bolivia and Peru was sent back to Panama for transport to Spain.

Treasures shipped across the Caribbean became a strong magnet (an easy mark) for pirates (and over time) to reduce their increasing losses, the Spanish Crown decided to transport the gold and silver south, around the southern tip of South America, on a long (but safe) journey back to Spain.

With little strategic value remaining for Spain, Panama was ignored. When neighboring Colombia gained its independence from Spain in 1821, Panama became a province of that new country.

With US backing, Panama seceded from Colombia in 1903, and promptly signed a treaty with the US allowing for the construction of a canal and the US sovereignty over a strip of land on either side, to be called the Panama Canal Zone.

Ignoring the tragic attempt by the French to build the canal in the late 19th century, the US Army Corps of Engineers successfully constructed it between 1904 and 1914, a feat that revolutionized ocean-going shipping, even to the present day.

Understandable unhappiness by Panama on its major asset being controlled by a foreign land, an agreement was signed in 1977, calling for the complete transfer of the Canal from the US to Panama by the end of 1999.

In the mid-1980s General Manuel Noriega took control of Panama, and during his messy 5-year dictatorship, democracy disappeared, the economy was severely damaged, drug trafficking from South America increased, and the population lived in fear of further repression.

With US help, Noriega was deposed in 1989. The entire Panama Canal, the area supporting the Canal, and remaining US military bases were turned over to Panama on December 31, 1999.

Read more about Panama here.

Latitude/Longitude: (Capital City)
8° 58' N, 79° 32' W

Relative Location:
Panama is positioned in both the northern and western hemispheres. Located in North America on the southern edge of the Central America isthmus - a somewhat narrow strip of land that connects North and South America - the country is bordered by Colombia, Costa Rica, the Caribbean Sea and Pacific Ocean.

Land Areas
Land: 29,340 sq miles (75,990 sq km)
Water: 853 sq miles (2,210 sq km)
Total: 30,193 sq miles (78,200 sq km)
Coastline: 1,547 miles (2,490 km)
Land Area of all countries

Landforms: The most dominate features of Panama are the forested, volcanic-in-origin, mountains that extend from its Costa Rican border to Colombia, South America. Significant ranges include the lengthy Central Mountains, as well as the San Blas, Talamanca and Tabasara.

The sandy beach coastlines of Panama merge into forested lowlands that rise into the foothills of the inland mountain ranges.

The eastern third of Panama (the Darien province) is a sparsely populated land of rain forest, rivers and swampy lowlands bordered by high mountain peaks. The Darian Gap, fronting the border with Colombia, is an inhospitable, almost impassable thick jungle.

The northern coastline is ringed by the hundreds of small islands that form the Bocas del Torro and San Blas Archipelagos. Significant islands along the southern coastlines include the Pearl Islands (of Survivor fame), and Taboga, Cebaco and Coiba.

Hundreds of rivers drain the land, mostly small; significant ones include the Charges, Chepo, Chucunague, San Pablo, Santa Maria and Tuira.

Highest Point: Volcan Baru - 11,401 ft. (3,475 m)
Lowest Point: Pacific Ocean - 0 ft. (0 m)

Land Divisions: 9 provinces and 1 territory; the provinces include Bocas del Toro, Chiriqui, Cocle, Colon, Darien, Herrera, Los Santos, Panama and Veraguas; the territory is San Blas (Kuna Yala).

Attractions: Panama is replete with points-of-interest for any type of traveler, including tropical rain forest tours, isolated mountain retreats, wonderful beaches, some of the planet's best bird-watching opportunities, historical sites, numerous national parks, as well as countless fishing, scuba diving, snorkeling, surfing and white-water rafting venues.

At the top of Panama's major attraction list is the Panama Canal, and the Miraflores Locks, the best place to watch the international commerce in action; Darien National Park and its thousands of bird and plant species; Panama City and its Bolivar Plaza, National Theater, Metropolitan Cathedral, Presidential Palace and Summit Biological Garden; Portobelo Fortress rain forest area; San Blas and Bocas del Torro archipelagos, and the Pearl Islands.

Country Dialing Code: 507
Electricity: Panama uses 120 volts AC (60 HZ)
Panama Hotels, Tours and Travel Information
Electrical adapters, products and tips
Travel Warnings here

PASSPORTS - TRAVEL VISAS:

NOTE: Before making your travel plans to any worldwide destination, we strongly recommend you authenticate important details regarding all passport and visa requirements. The experienced people at Travel Visa Pro can answer all of your questions!

Panama (Complete) info on the (GDP) economy, imports and exports, natural resources, government, population, military, transportation, and more
Consulate of Panama (Houston, TX)
Panama Photos at TrekEarth.com
Panama Tourism
Panama Tours
Panama Travel Guide
Panama Canal