The
Republic of Panama is a country located in lower Central
America. It has a population of nearly 3 million people and a
land area of 29, 760 sq mi (77,081 sq km). Panama lies on the
Isthmus of Panama and links Central and South America (see
maps). Neighboring countries are Cost Rica in Central America
and Columbia in South American. The famous Panama Canal
bisects the country to provide an important water passage for
sea vessels traveling between the Caribbean and Pacific
Oceans. The capital of Panama is Panama City. The second
largest city is Colon, a major port and the third largest city
is David in the western part of Panama.
The Republic of Panama has a population of about 3 million
people. The large majority of the population is Roman
Catholic. Most of Panama's people live in urban areas. The
population of Panama is mainly mestizo, which is a mix of
indigenous and Spanish descent. A large number of other
immigrants, such as Chinese are also included in this
category. Of the remaining population about 14% are of African
descent, 10% Spanish descent, 5% mixed African and Spanish
descent and 6% indigenous. There are seven main indigenous
groups that remain the: Kuna; Ngöbe-Buglé; Emberá; Bribri;
Wounaan; Naso (also known as the Teribe); and Bokotá. A large
population of immigrants from many parts of the world live in
Panama and there are also very high levels of international
trade due to the presence of the Panama Canal. Therefore, the
country of Panama often referred to as a cultural 'melting
pot'.
Panama is a constitutional republic. The president of the
Republic holds executive power and is popularly elected for a
five-year term. The president is unable to serve two
consecutive terms. The current president of Panama is Martin
Torrijos.
The Republic of Panama has a long and varied history.
Archeological evidence suggests that people have been living
in Panama for at least 11,000 years. It is thought that the
first people living in Panama resided by the Pacific Ocean and
fished in the mangrove swamps and estuaries in these
regions.
Panama was densely inhabited by different indigenous
peoples before the arrival of the Spanish. The first Europeans
to sight Panama in 1501 were led by the Spanish explorer
Rodrigo de Bastidas, Twenty years later Panama City was
established. In the year 1821, Colombia which included Panama,
gained independence from Spain. And Panama became a state of
Gran Colombia (which at the time included Colombia, Bolivia,
Ecuador, Peru and Venezuala).
In 1846 Colombia signed a treaty which allowed the US to
build a railway across Panama. With the support of the USA,
Panama declared independence from Colombia in 1903 and agreed
to the development of a canal zone which would be under US
control. In 1977 a new treaty was signed which allowed Panama
to take control of the Canal from the US in the year 2000. In
the 1980's there was significant political instability when
Panama's military head, General Manuel Noriega was indicted by
the US under drug charges. The US invaded Panama and took
Noriega and tried and convicted him in the US.
Panama's economy is mostly service-base with services on
offer such as banking, tourism, trading and commerce. About
one quarter of the land in Panama is used for agriculture. A
large proportion of cattle are grazed on the upland savannas
and some subsistence crops, such as maize, sugarcane, rice and
coffee are grown. Bananas are the largest exports in Panama.
Following this are exports of shrimp and fish products, sugar,
clothing and coffee. A significant amount of trade is with the
US.
In terms of money, the Republic of Panama uses the US
dollar. Some of the prices in Panama tend to be slightly more
than in other parts of Central America, but still cheaper than
the US and many parts of Europe. A large number of banks are
based in Panama City.
Tourism
in the Republic of Panama is rapidly growing. Its
fascinating nature and culture allures a wide range of
travelers. There are many activities for tourists to partake
in, such as hiking, surfing, snorkeling, diving, rafting, spa
and remedial treatments, and much more. Additionally there are
many events throughout the year, such as musical concerts, art
exhibitions, sporting events, and festivals (see
calendar).
There is a growing number of expatriate people choosing to
live and retire in Panama. A large proportion of these people
come from the US, Canada and Europe. Many of these expatriates
choose to live in Panama because of the easy way of living,
safety, reasonable prices of health care, tax exemptions and
enticing retirement visa entitlements.
In Panama you can access a range of newspapers, receive
cable television and wireless internet in many parts of the
city. There are also two online expatriate
newspapers/newsletters available.
Local food in Panama is largely meat based with beans, rice
and corn based dishes. Local food is available at very cheap
prices. Panama City has a reputation for having some very high
quality restaurants serving a wide range of delicious
international cuisines from Indian and Peruvian, to French and
Japanese.
We hope this page was helpful for information on the
Republic of Panama. Please see our related links for further
information or visit our FAQ. This site will be updated
regularly so we he hope you will visit again
soon.
Please contact
us for more information or for any services relating to
visiting or traveling to Panama. Please also visit
our Panama Forum to post your questions and comments.
  
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