The Republic of Panama, with a territorial extension of 78,200 square kilometers (30,193 sq.miles), is a tropical country with a wide variety of easily accessible habitats. The country also owns 1,518 islands, divided into 1,023 in the Caribbean and 495 in the Pacific. Panama is divided into 9 provinces which are subdivided into districtsl.
The Panama Canal considered the eighth wonder of the world runs approximately 51 miles from the Atlantic Ocean north entrance to the Pacific Ocean south exit. The Canal area has 1,432 km2 (553 sq. miles). An average of 13,000 ships cross the Canal annually, considering it an immense time saver when compared to the journey going around the tip of South America.
At this moment, about 32% of Panama’s land area is protected in 14 national parks, more than a dozen forest reserves and 10 wildlife refuges. Approximately 45% of the total surface of the country is covered by forests.
Panama has a tropical climate consisting of 2 seasons: Rainy Season from May to January and Dry Season from January to May.
Home to seven different, flourishing indigenous groups of people, Panama’s natural history and ethnically diverse culture makes us different from Costa Rica and several other countries in Central America. Ethnic groups such as the Kunas, Gnobe-Bugle, Teribes, Wounaans, Bri-Bri, and Bogotas have nanaged to conserve their customs and traditions to the present day. The government has created five large indigenous districts in order to provide them with protection. The Kunas are well know for their molas, a colored mosaic which constitutes true works of art, unique in the world. The Emberas and Wounaans are excellent workers of a precious wood, cocobolo, and carve a seed known as tagua, the vegetable ivory. The Gnobe-Bugle are best known for the chaquiras or adorned breastplates made of glass beadwork, as well as their sumptuous overdresses.
Our main language is Spanish, but English is a strong second. Due to our wide variety in our banking system and our currency being the U.S. Dollar, monetary transactions are not difficult.
The Isthmus of Panama is one of the most biologically diverse areas in the world. The rich biodiversity is due to the fact that it is a land-bridge between North and South America. Therefore, our resident avifauna is composed of a mix of birds (972 species) from both North and South.
Investigations account for 220 mammals, 354 reptiles and amphibians, 7 turtle species and 1500 types of butterflies. Panama is in a class of its own on the American continent for the beauty of its luxuriant vegetation, its abundant bird life, its many endemic orchids, the plentiful fishing, many spectacular beaches, its paradisiacal islands, as well as the different kinds of forest.
Due to the fact that Panama has the greatest biodiversity of the world, it is proudly the home of the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, the largest and most important investigation organization in the world.
PANAMA, BRIDGE OF THE AMERICAS – HEARTH OF THE UNIVERSE
