Panama

Importance, relief and other aspects:

The country of Panama is very important and firstly just because it has the Channel with the same name, with its 80 km long, that makes the connection between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans facilitating the transfer of goods from a part to another. This is the narrowest country in Central America with a mountainous relief, where the coast areas at a low level are covered by a fertile terrain. The country has over 400 rivers. The maximum width of this country is approximately 200 km and the minimum is approximately 80 km near the Panama Channel.

It has obtained the independence over Spain in 28 November 1821 and over Colombia in 03 November 1903. The highest peak is Baru volcano with its 3.475 m height. The largest tropical forests that cover a huge part of the territory exists in the eastern part toward the border with Colombia where the well known Panamericana highway interrupt giving homeland to numerous species of fauna and flora. The beautiful coast has many gulfs and lagoons.

Economy, Panama Channel, name and agriculture:

The largest part of country’s economy is concentrated on the Channel that connects the two main oceans, built between 1881 and 1914 when it was inaugurated. If this channel wouldn’t exist the ships carrying goods from a part to another would have to go around the South American continent for more than 12.000 km. (Find more journeys on blog.worldlifetimejourneys.com) The channel was built by U.S.A. and it’s totally controlled by the Central American country only from 1999. The country has one of the largest shipping in the world and its name came from the indigenous people’s language meaning An abundance of fish. The local people are involved in agriculture, cultivating corn, bean, rice, banana, coffee trees, sugar cane and others on its fertile soil, but fishing is another important activity, because the surrounding waters are rich in different fish species and especially shrimp. Visit Panama!

Ships crossing Panama Channel