|
|
|
World > North America > Panama
 |
Panama |
Introduction:
|
Explored and settled by the Spanish in the 16th century, Panama broke with Spain in 1821 and joined a union of Colombia, Venezuela, and Ecuador - named the Republic of Gran Colombia. When the latter dissolved in 1830, Panama remained part of Colombia. With US backing, Panama seceded from Colombia in 1903 and promptly signed a treaty with the US allowing for the construction of a canal and US sovereignty over a strip of land on either side of the structure (the Panama Canal Zone). The Panama Canal was built by the US Army Corps of Engineers between 1904 and 1914. In 1977, an agreement was signed for the complete transfer of the Canal from the US to Panama by the end of the century. Certain portions of the Zone and increasing responsibility over the Canal were turned over in the subsequent decades. With US help, dictator Manuel NORIEGA was deposed in 1989. The entire Panama Canal, the area supporting the Canal, and remaining US military bases were transferred to Panama by the end of 1999. In October 2006, Panamanians approved an ambitious plan to expand the Canal. The project, which is to begin in 2007 and could double the Canal's capacity, is expected to be completed in 2014-15.
|
| Official name: |
Republic of Panama |
| Capital: |
name: Panama
geographic coordinates: 8 58 N, 79 32 W
time difference: UTC-5 (same time as Washington, DC during Standard Time) |
| Government type: |
constitutional democracy |
| Population: |
3,242,173 (July 2007 est.) |
| Languages: |
Spanish (official), English 14%; note - many Panamanians bilingual |
| Official Currency: |
Panamanian Balboa (PAB)
Current Panamanian Balboa Exchange Rates
Historical Panamanian Balboa Exchange Rates
Chart Panamanian Balboa Exchange Rates |
| Currency code: |
PAB |
| Area: |
total: 78,200 sq km
land: 75,990 sq km
water: 2,210 sq km |
| Climate: |
tropical maritime; hot, humid, cloudy; prolonged rainy season (May to January), short dry season (January to May) |
|
Map of Panama
|
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
|
|
-
-
-
-
-
|
|
|
|
|
