Panama facts & history in
brief
Map of Panama
Panama is a small Central American country and
significant transportation centre.
A narrow strip of land that curves from west to east
between the Atlantic and Pacific oceans, at the southern
end of North America, with Colombia to the east, and
Costa Rica to the west and covers an area of 78,200
square kilometres.
The Panama Canal was built and was finished in 1914
to connect the two oceans.
Thousands of ships use the canal each year, to avoid
a long trip around South America.
Panama plays a important role in world transportation
system.
Mountains cover much of Panama's interior, and there
are jungles and swamps in the east.
Panama City is the country's largest city and capital.
Mestizos (people of mixed American Indian and white
ancestry) and mulattos (people of mixed black and white
ancestry) make up more than two-thirds of the population
of Panama.
Most of the rest of the people of Panama are of unmixed
American Indian, black, or white ancestry.
Spanish conquistadors conquered the native Indians in
the 1500's and ruled Panama for about 300 years.
In 1821, Panama broke away from Spain and became a province
of Colombia.
In 1903 Panama became an independent nation.
The United States played a major role in Panama's history
since independence.
Many of its civilians and soldiers moved to Panama to
build, supervise, guard, operate, and maintain the canal.
They lived and controlled a special area bordering the
canal called the Panama Canal Zone in exchange for payments
to Panama.
In 1979 a treaty transferred the control of the canal
of the Canal Zone and in 1999 the whole canal to Panama.
Panamanian ship taxes and wages are low and many merchant
ships from many countries find it convenient to sail
under the Panamanian flag.
Panama is a constitutional republic, with universal
franchise at 18 years of age or older.
The president and the National Assembly is elected to
a five-year term by the people.
A Cabinet assists the president in carrying out the
operations of the government.
The National Assembly makes the country's laws.
The country is divided into nine provinces, that are
subdivided into municipal districts.
The president appoints a governor to head each province.
The people elect district mayors and councils.
Population of about 25 million and as most other countries
more than half the population live in the larger urban
areas.
Panama City lies near the Pacific end and Colon is at
the Atlantic end of the Panama Canal.
The two cities are active centres of commerce, trade,
and transportation, with modern, high-rise office buildings,
hotels, night-clubs and bars.
The Panama Canal and the 16-kilometre-wide area that
was formerly called the Panama Canal Zone lie between
Panama City and Colon.
Over the years, the people, called Zonians, established
communities that resemble United States towns and suburbs
in this area, like Balboa and Cristobal.
Many Panamanian farmers wear straw hats while working,
these hats, although made in Panama, are mistakenly
called Panama hats.
The real Panama hats are made in Ecuador.
They received the name Panama hats during the 1800's,
because Panama was a centre for the shipment of the
hats to other countries.
Panama's Indians, are proud of their colourful costumes,
especially women wear brightly coloured garments with
elaborate embroidery.
They also wear a ring that hangs from the nose and large
metal discs for earrings.
Rice is the basic food of most Panamanians.
Many of the people cook rice with beans to make a dish
called guacho.
Tortillas (flat breads made from maize or wheat flour)
are another favourite food.
Coffee and beer are popular beverages.
Music is a favourite form of recreation in Panama.
Soccer is also popular.
Panama's official language is Spanish and spoken by
nearly all the people.
About 95 per cent of Panama's people are Roman Catholics.
The law requires children to attend school between the
ages of 7 and 15.
Panama has two universities, both in Panama City.
About 90 per cent of Panama's adults can read and write.
Swamps and jungles cover much of Panama east of the
canal.
Many wild animals live in Panama, including jaguars,
ocelots, pumas, monkeys, and parrots and other tropical
birds.
Pine trees are abundant in Panama's mountains and banana
plants and cacao trees are grown in many parts of the
country.
The country's highest peak, 3,475-metre Volcan Baru.
Panama has a warm, tropical climate that varies little
from season to season.
The lowlands average about 27 °C. Mountain ranges about
19 °C.
The Panama Canal is the most important single
factor in the country's economy.
But agriculture employs more people than does any other
single economic activity.
The economy operates as a free enterprise system.
The Panama Canal Commission, collects tolls from ships
that pass through the Panama Canal.
The Panama Canal also directly and indirectly provides
jobs for many Panamanians.
Panama's chief manufactured products are beer, cement,
and cigarettes, processed food, including fish, fruit,
milk, and sugar.
An oil refinery located near Colon processes crude oil
from other countries into petroleum products.
Bananas are the chief cash crop, also sugar cane, coffee,
and tobacco.
Shrimp and Anchovetta (a small fish that is ground into
fish meal) are the most important product of the local
fishing industry.
There are large copper deposits near Colon and David,
but they are undeveloped.
Panama is a major centre of international transportation
by sea and air.
About 12,000 ships pass through the Panama Canal yearly.
The transfer of the Panama Canal and the Panama Canal
Zone presents challenges to Panama.
The canal's operation and maintenance requires many
technical skills.
Panamanians must be trained in the skills to run the
canal efficiently.
In 1983, General Manuel Antonio Noriega became head
of the military and Panama's most powerful leader.
In 1987, Noriega was accused him of election fraud in
the 1984 election, of killing a political opponent,
and of corruption.
The Panamanian President Delvalle dismissed Noriega
from his military command, but Noriega supporters forced
the president from office.
The U.S. government imposed economic sanctions against
Panama and asked for Noriega's resignation.
In 1989, Guillermo Endara, a politician opposed to Noriega,
won the presidential election, but it was declared invalid
by the Panamanian government.
Later a group of Panamanian soldiers tried to overthrow
Noriega, but failed.
In December 1989, Panamanian soldiers killed a United
States marine lieutenant.
President George Bush ordered troops into Panama to
overthrow Noriega.
He surrendered early 1990 and later a U.S. court found
Noriega guilty of trafficking in cocaine and he received
a 40-year prison sentence.
Civilian democratic rule returned to Panama since.
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