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Visiting Panama

The Republic of Panama is a small country in Central America. It borders to the east with Colombia and to the west with Costa Rica. To the north, the Caribbean Sea washes its coasts and to the south, the Pacific Ocean.

The narrowest strip of land is the Isthmus of Panama, which is only 80 km. This is where the Panama Canal was constructed. Cities lie at either entrance of the Canal; to the north is Colón and to the south Panama City, the capital and largest city.

There are also many islands. You may find some of the best beaches here. The largest island is Coiba, in the Pacific.

For more tourist information, visit the following sites:

 

Islands and Beaches

Caribbean Sea

picture6.jpgBocas del Toro (Archipiélago de Bocas del Toro)

 

 

 

 

 

Colón (Portobelo and Isla Grande)

San Blas (Archipiélago de San Blas).

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Pacific Ocean

  • Gorgona
  • Coronado
  • San Carlos
  • El Palmar
  • Río Mar
  • Corona
  • Sea Cliff
  • Santa Clara
  • Playa Blanca
  • Farallón
  • Santa Catalina

The Panama Canal

The Panama Canal is a major ship canal that traverses the Isthmus of Panama in Central America, connecting the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. Construction of the canal was one of the largest and most difficult engineering projects ever undertaken.

Although the concept of a canal near Panama dates back to the early 16th century, the first attempt to construct a canal began in 1880 under French leadership. After this attempt failed and saw 20,000 workers die, the project of building a canal was attempted and completed by the United States in Panama in 1914, when the canal opened.

Since opening, the canal has been enormously successful, and continues to be a key conduit for international shipping. Each year more than 14,000 ships pass through the canal, carrying more than 203 million tons of cargo. By 2002 about 800,000 ships had used the canal altogether

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Panama City

Panama City has become one of the most important financial and touristic centers in the Americas, with more than 104 banks, and has become a hub for high-rise buildings eight of the ten tallest skyscrapers in Latin America, commerce and industrialization. The city enjoys five large multilevel malls and many five-star hotels. It is also a dense metropolis, a touristic hub, a trading area and a coastal city.

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The Old

Panama la Vieja

Casco Antiguo

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Diseño: Alexis Hevia y Adolfo Ríos
© 2010 IFMSA-Panama