The Isthmus of Panama is a small strip of mainland that links South America with North America, while separating the Caribbean Sea from the Pacific Ocean. There are several theories as to the origin of the name Panama, however the one most commonly accepted is that Panama in indigenous language, meant an “abundance of fish and butterflies”.

Geographic description

“The Bridge of the World” as this beautiful country is known, belongs geographically to Central America, but it is linked historically to South America and culturally to the Caribbean. It has an advantage due to its geographical position, which has allowed it to become, over the years, a center for commercial exchange.

It is located in the tropical zone of the North American continent. The country shares borders with the Caribbean Sea to the north, with the Pacific Ocean to the south, the Republic of Colombia to the east and the Republic of Costa Rica to the west.

The isthmus is very narrow (between 80 to 177 kilometers wide) and has the shape of a laying down “S”, accentuated by two arches. Panama City is the only capital city located on the coast in Central America and has 263 islands in the Pacific and 246 in the Caribbean.

The Pacific coast is the more extensive one of the coastal areas of Panama. Its continental platform is ample. The pacific shores are warmer, drier than the Caribbean Sea ones. Much of the Pacific coast has ample deep ocean depth at 50 kilometers from the shoreline. The salinity of the water generally decreases during the rainy season, chiefly at the Gulf of Panama. Its marine bottom tends to be soft, generally consisting of mud and sand. Its marine currents are predominantly towards the west. The tides are semi-daytime, predictable and extremes.

Most of the rivers in Panama are short, orient towards the Pacific coast. The biggest ones are: Charges, Changuinola, Bayano, Chiriqui, Chucunaque, Tabasara, Tuira, Cocle del Norte and Fonseca. October is the rainiest month thus providing Panamanian rivers with more water. Most of the land (87%) in panama is lowland; bellow 700 meters above sea level. They are known as “warm lands” and it is here where that the bulk of the population inhabit. Another 10% are “mild temperate lands”, with elevations between 700 to 1,500 meters above sea level.

The main mountain ranges traverses the entire country and are an extension of the Andes Mountains of South America. Their elevations diminish from west to east and the lowest peaks abound near the Panama Canal. This mountain range (main) divides the country into three big physical areas, the dry plains of the Pacific, the main mountainous region and the humid plains of the Caribbean.

Other points of elevations are found in the Azuero Peninsula, where they are low mountains and high hills. At the east of the country you find the San Blas, and the Maje, Sapo, Bagre and Pirre, with an average height between 600 to 800 meters. Bona and Otoque are islands with volcanic structure that are found at the Gulf of Panama.

There are nearly 40 volcanic structures in Panama, of which 26 are found at the main mountain range of western Panama.  Among the most studied volcanic structures are baru, the La Yeguada complex, Cerro Pando and Colorado-Tisingal. Volcanic activity in Panama is not extinct. Recent studies suggest that 500 years ago the Volcan Baru erupted and La Yeguada as recent as 360 years ago.

The Climate

Panama has mainly a tropical climate with an average temperature of 27 C.  It has lower temperatures more suitable for agricultural, located in the highlands of the Chiriqui Province and El Valle de Anton in the Cocle Province. There are two seasons: the rainy season (from May to November) and the dry season (from December until April). The average temperature is 27 C with lows of 21 C. The proximity of both oceans bears a great influence on the climate of the country. The Caribbean Sea is soaked by warm and rainy winds, while in the Pacific side has cooling ocean breezes.

Territorial Organization of Panama – political division

The Republic of Panama has 9 provinces, 3 “comarcas” (Indian reservations) with province status and 2 Indian comarcas with county status.

Provinces and their capitals

Bocas del Toro, Bocas del Toro

Chiriqui, David

Cocle, Penome

Colon, Colon

Darien, La Palma

Herrera, Chitre

Los Santos, Las Tablas

Panama, Panama

Veraguas, Santiago

Indigenous Comarcas with province status, and it´s capitals

Embera-Wounaan, Union Choco

Kuna Yala, El Porvenir

Ngobe-Bugle, Chichica

Indigenous Comarcas with county status

Kuna Madugandi

Kuna Wargandi

The provinces and comarcas are divided on a provincial level into 75 districts or municipalities and the later ones into 621 counties.

Population

In this nation a number of races mix, contributing to a very rich Panamanian cultural environment. Most inhabitants live in the provinces of Panama and Colon. According to the last census, the population grew in the last decade from 2,329,329 to 2,839,177 persons, which represents a population increase in 10 years of 509,848 persons.

Language

The official language is Spanish, but many in the service, banking and tourism business also speak English. Minority groups speak Italian, French, Greek, Chinese and Hindu, along with others.

Monetary system

The official currency of Panama, the Balboa has the same equivalence as the US Dollar.   Panamanian Balboa specie along with US paper money and specie are legal tender.

Governmental system

Panama is an independent and sovereign nation with an elected government through a democratic election. It has an ample legal frame, which provides security to nationals as well as foreigners.

Education

Panama invests a great amount of its budget in education. Its public and private schools are under the supervision of the Ministry of Education. The school system is divided into elementary school (first nine years), high school from 10 to 12 grade, and higher education at the university level.

Folklore

The provinces, Cocle, Herrera and Los Santos are the bastions of folklore for the country and have for centuries spread the catholic religious beliefs that Panamanian communities express with patron saints and religious festivities. Throughout this region of the country, we find picturesque little towns, which have become the loyal guardians of the local heritage of the area, with the sole purpose of making sure the traditions live on. A common tradition of every little town is to have the church located in front of the main plaza, according to the Spanish tradition.

The folkloric and artisan expressions of the country are appreciated through its music, dances and handicrafts (ceramics, hats, wood carvings, leather goods, and natural vegetable fiber objects). Of course, one cannot discuss folklore without mentioning “La Pollera”, our national typical dress, made mainly in the Los Santos province, which along with its gold garments and ornaments, form a beautiful compliment projecting the beauty of the Panamanian women.

The festivities are celebrated with the typical dances of the region, horse riding parades, religious expressions, peasant weddings, wagon driven by oxen parades, typical food stands, among other activities, and mixing everything with our Spanish inheritance and the local beliefs of each place.