Panama is known as a transit country because of the Panama Canal. While the country is known for its famous canal, its natural attractions include birdwatching tours, white-water rafting, and snorkeling. Panama, a Central American country located on the Isthmus of Panama, the narrow land bridge that connects North and South America. This tropical nation, which encompasses the isthmus and more than 1600 islands off its Atlantic and Pacific coasts, is known for being the headquarters of the Panama Canal, which crosses its section average.
It is also known for its natural beauty, for its varied plant and animal life, including hundreds of species of birds and trees, and for its vibrant music and culture. Panama is located in Central America, bordering the Caribbean Sea and the Pacific Ocean, between Colombia and Costa Rica. It is mainly located between latitudes 7° and 10° N and longitudes 77° and 83° W (a small area is located west of 83°). On the one hand, Panama is home to one of the largest rainforests in America.
With more than 60% of the nation covered in forest, there are many national parks and designated reserves that the public can access. Delve into one of these immaculate biodiversity treasures, where lush vegetation, squeaky howler monkeys, sloth sloths, exotic birds and much more await you. Panama also has a sizeable Chinese and Indian (Indian) population that worked on the canal during its construction. In 1538, the Royal Audience of Panama was established, initially with jurisdiction from Nicaragua to Cape Horn, until the conquest of Peru.
The enormous 166-square-mile Gatun Lake is an artificial lake that is also part of the Panama Canal system. In Charco Azul, Chiriqui (Pacific) and Chiriqui Grande, Bocas del Toro (Atlántico), near Panama's western border with Costa Rica, there are excellent deepwater ports capable of housing large VLCC companies (very large crude oil transporters). Philippe Bunau-Varilla, a French engineer and lobbyist, represented Panama even though the president of Panama and a delegation had arrived in New York to negotiate the treaty. Although, in recent decades, many members of the community have opted for urban life elsewhere in Panama, a sizeable population of Emberá maintains their homes in the jungle tropical.
On October 1, 1968, Arias Madrid assumed the presidency of Panama with the promise of leading a government of national union that would end the prevailing corruption and pave the way for a new Panama. Panama was under Spanish rule for almost 300 years (1538-182) and became part of the viceroyalty of Peru, along with all other Spanish possessions in South America. Panama is home to Tocumen International Airport, the largest airport in Central America and the hub of Copa Airlines, Panama's flag carrier. With the independence of Colombia, which once controlled Panama, from Spain, Panama became another stopping point, this time for ocean migrants heading to California's gold fields.
Before the arrival of Spanish colonists in the 16th century, Panama was inhabited by several different indigenous tribes. Its capital and largest city is Panama City, whose metropolitan area is home to almost half of the country's more than 4 million inhabitants. From 1903 to 1968, Panama was a constitutional democracy dominated by a commercial-oriented oligarchy. Rodrigo de Bastidas sailed west from Venezuela in 1501 in search of gold and became the first European to explore the Isthmus of Panama.
Outside of Panama City, regional festivals are held throughout the year with local musicians and dancers.
