{"id":8003,"date":"2021-06-14T04:00:40","date_gmt":"2021-06-14T04:00:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.smoketreemanor.com\/?p=8003"},"modified":"2021-06-14T16:20:00","modified_gmt":"2021-06-14T16:20:00","slug":"panama","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.smoketreemanor.com\/panama\/","title":{"rendered":"Panama"},"content":{"rendered":"

Introduction:<\/h2>\n

Panama, officially the Republic of Panama, is a transcontinental country<\/a> in Central America<\/a> and South America<\/a>, bordered by Costa Rica<\/a> to the west, Colombia<\/a> to the southeast, the Caribbean Sea<\/a> to the north, and the Pacific Ocean<\/a> to the south. The capital and largest city is Panama City<\/a>, whose metropolitan area is home to nearly half the country’s 4 million people.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Panama City Panorama<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Panama was inhabited by indigenous tribes before Spanish colonists arrived in the 16th century. It broke away from Spain in 1821 and joined the Republic of Gran Colombia<\/a>, a union of Nueva Granada<\/a>, Ecuador<\/a>, and Venezuela<\/a>. After Gran Colombia dissolved in 1831, Panama and Nueva Granada eventually became the Republic of Colombia. With the backing of the United States, Panama seceded from Colombia in 1903, allowing the construction of the Panama Canal<\/a> to be completed by the US Army Corps of Engineers<\/a> between 1904 and 1914. The 1977 Torrijos\u2013Carter Treaties<\/a> agreed to transfer the canal from the United States to Panama on December 31, 1999. The surrounding territory<\/a> was first returned in 1979.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Panama on the Globe<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Revenue from canal tolls continues to represent a significant portion of Panama’s GDP, although commerce, banking, and tourism are major and growing sectors. It is regarded as having a high-income economy. In 2019 Panama ranked 57th in the world in terms of the Human Development Index<\/a>. In 2018, Panama was ranked the seventh-most competitive economy in Latin America, according to the World Economic Forum’s Global Competitiveness Index<\/a>. Covering around 40 percent of its land area, Panama’s jungles are home to an abundance of tropical plants and animals \u2013 some of them found nowhere else on earth. Panama is a founding member of the United Nations and other international organizations such as OAS<\/a>, LAIA<\/a>, G77<\/a>, WHO<\/a>, and NAM<\/a>.<\/p>\n

History:<\/h2>\n

Pre-Columbian Period:<\/h3>\n

The earliest discovered artifacts of indigenous peoples in Panama include Paleo-Indian<\/a> projectile points. Later central Panama was home to some of the first pottery-making in the Americas, for example the cultures at Monagrillo<\/a>, which date back to 2500\u20131700 BC. These evolved into significant populations best known through their spectacular burials (dating to c. 500\u2013900 AD) at the Monagrillo archaeological site, and their beautiful Gran Cocl\u00e9<\/a> style polychrome pottery. The monumental monolithic sculptures at the Barriles (Chiriqui)<\/a> site are also important traces of these ancient isthmian cultures.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Cocl\u00e9 Pedestal Dish<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Before Europeans arrived Panama was widely settled by Chibchan<\/a>, Chocoan<\/a>, and Cueva<\/a> peoples. The largest group were the Cueva. The size of the indigenous population of the isthmus at the time of European colonization is uncertain. Estimates range as high as two million people, but more recent studies place that number closer to 200,000.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Embera Girl of Panama<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

When Panama was colonized, the indigenous peoples fled into the forest and nearby islands. Scholars believe that infectious disease was the primary cause of the population decline of American natives. The indigenous peoples had no acquired immunity to diseases such as smallpox<\/a> which had been chronic in Eurasian populations for centuries.<\/p>\n

Conquest to 1821:<\/h3>\n

Rodrigo de Bastidas<\/a> sailed westward from Venezuela in 1501 in search of gold, and became the first European to explore the isthmus of Panama. A year later, Christopher Columbus<\/a> visited the isthmus, and established a short-lived settlement in the Darien<\/a>. Vasco N\u00fa\u00f1ez de Balboa’s<\/a> tortuous trek from the Atlantic to the Pacific in 1513 demonstrated that the isthmus was indeed the path between the seas, and Panama quickly became the crossroads and marketplace of Spain’s empire in the New World. Gold and silver were brought by ship from South America, hauled across the isthmus, and loaded aboard ships for Spain. The route became known as the Camino Real, or Royal Road, although it was more commonly known as Camino de Cruces (Road of Crosses) because of the number of gravesites along the way.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Vasco N\u00fa\u00f1ez de Balboa<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Panama was under Spanish rule for almost 300 years (1538\u20131821), and became part of the Viceroyalty of Peru<\/a>, along with all other Spanish possessions in South America.<\/p>\n

Spanish authorities had little control over much of the territory of Panama. Large sections managed to resist conquest and missionization until very late in the colonial era. Because of this, indigenous people of the area were often referred to as “indios de guerra” (war Indians) who resisted Spanish attempts to conquer them or missionize them. However, Panama was enormously important to Spain strategically because it was the easiest way to transship silver mined in Peru to Europe.<\/p>\n

Post-Colonial Panama:<\/h3>\n

In the 80 years following independence from Spain, Panama was a subdivision of Gran Colombia, after voluntarily joining the country at the end of 1821.<\/p>\n

The US intent to influence the area, especially the Panama Canal’s construction and control, led to the separation of Panama from Colombia<\/a> in 1903 and its establishment as a nation. When the Senate of Colombia rejected the Hay\u2013Herr\u00e1n Treaty<\/a> on January 22, 1903, the United States decided to support and encourage the Panamanian separatist movement.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Construction of Panama Canal 1907<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

In November 1903 Panama, tacitly supported by the United States, proclaimed its independence and concluded the Hay\u2013Bunau-Varilla Treaty<\/a> with the United States without the presence of a single Panamanian. The treaty granted rights to the United States “as if it were sovereign” in a zone roughly 16 km (10 mi) wide and 80 km (50 mi) long. In that zone, the US would build a canal, then administer, fortify, and defend it “in perpetuity”.<\/p>\n

In 1914 the United States completed the existing 83-kilometer-long (52-mile) canal.<\/p>\n

The strategic importance of the canal during World War II<\/a> caused the US to extensively fortify access.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Panama Canal Zone Controlled by the United States<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

From 1903 to 1968, Panama was a constitutional democracy dominated by a commercially oriented oligarchy. During the 1950s, the Panamanian military began to challenge the oligarchy’s political hegemony. The early 1960s saw also the beginning of sustained pressure in Panama for the renegotiation of the Hay\u2013Bunau-Varilla Treaty, including riots that broke out in early 1964, resulting in widespread looting and dozens of deaths, and the evacuation of the American embassy.<\/p>\n

Post-1970:<\/h3>\n

Meanwhile, Manuel Noriega<\/a>‘s military regime had fostered a well-hidden criminal economy that operated as a parallel source of income for the military and their allies, providing revenues from drugs and money laundering. Noriega also began playing a double role in Central America under the supervision of the CIA. While the Contadora group<\/a> conducted diplomatic efforts to achieve peace in the region, Noriega supplied Nicaraguan Contras and other guerrillas in the region with weapons and ammunition.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Manuel Noriega<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

United States President Ronald Reagan began a series of sanctions against the military regime. The United States froze economic and military assistance to Panama in the middle of 1987 in response to the domestic political crisis in Panama and an attack on the US embassy. These sanctions did little to overthrow Noriega, but severely damaged Panama’s economy.<\/p>\n

On February 5, 1988, General Manuel Antonio Noriega was accused of drug trafficking by federal juries in Tampa and Miami.<\/p>\n

In April 1988, US President Ronald Reagan invoked the International Emergency Economic Powers Act<\/a>, freezing Panamanian government assets in all US organizations. In May 1989 Panamanians voted overwhelmingly for the anti-Noriega candidates. The Noriega regime promptly annulled the election and embarked on a new round of repression.<\/p>\n

The United States government said Operation Just Cause<\/a>, which began on December 20, 1989, was “necessary to safeguard the lives of U.S. citizens in Panama, defend democracy and human rights, combat drug trafficking, and secure the neutrality of the Panama Canal as required by the Torrijos\u2013Carter Treaties.”<\/p>\n

Post-Intervention Era:<\/h3>\n

Panama’s Electoral Tribunal moved quickly to restore civilian constitutional government, reinstated the results of the May 1989 election on December 27, 1989, and confirmed the victory of President Guillermo Endara and Vice Presidents Guillermo Ford and Ricardo Arias Calder\u00f3n.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Guillermo Endara<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

During its five-year term, the often-fractious government struggled to meet the public’s high expectations.<\/p>\n

Geography:<\/h2>\n

Panama is located in Central America, bordering both the Caribbean Sea and the Pacific Ocean, between Colombia and Costa Rica.<\/p>\n

Its location on the Isthmus of Panama<\/a> is strategic. By 2000, Panama controlled the Panama Canal which connects the Atlantic Ocean and the Caribbean Sea to the North of the Pacific Ocean. Panama’s total area is 74,177.3 km2 (28,640.0 sq mi).<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Topographic Map of Panama<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The dominant feature of Panama’s geography is the central spine of mountains and hills that forms the continental divide. The divide does not form part of the great mountain chains of North America, and only near the Colombian border are there highlands related to the Andean system<\/a> of South America. The spine that forms the divide is the highly eroded arch of an uplift from the sea bottom, in which peaks were formed by volcanic intrusions.<\/p>\n

The mountain range of the divide is called the Cordillera de Talamanca<\/a> near the Costa Rican border. Farther east it becomes the Serran\u00eda de Tabasar\u00e1, and the portion of it closer to the lower saddle of the isthmus, where the Panama Canal is located, is often called the Sierra de Veraguas. As a whole, the range between Costa Rica and the canal is generally referred to by geographers as the Cordillera Central<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The highest point in the country is the Volc\u00e1n Bar\u00fa<\/a>, which rises to 3,475 meters (11,401 feet). A nearly impenetrable jungle forms the Dari\u00e9n Gap<\/a> between Panama and Colombia where Colombian guerrillas and drug dealers operate and sometimes take hostages.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
La Palma, Dari\u00e9n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

This and unrest, and forest protection movements, create a break in the Pan-American Highway<\/a>, which otherwise forms a complete road from Alaska<\/a> to Patagonia<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Economy:<\/h2>\n

Panama’s economy was among the fastest growing and best managed in Latin America. The Latin Business Chronicle<\/a> predicted that Panama would be the fastest growing economy in Latin America during the five-year period from 2010 to 2014, matching Brazil’s 10 percent rate.<\/p>\n

Panama’s economy, because of its key geographic location, is mainly based on a well-developed service sector, especially commerce, tourism, and trading. The handover of the Canal and military installations by the United States has given rise to large construction projects.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Panamax Ship in Miraflores Locks<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

A project to build a third set of locks for the Panama Canal A was overwhelmingly approved in a referendum on October 22, 2006. The official estimated cost of the project is US$5.25 billion, but the canal is of major economic importance because it provides millions of dollars of toll revenue to the national economy and provides massive employment. Transfer of control of the Canal to the Panamanian government completed in 1999, after 85 years of US control.<\/p>\n

Copper and gold deposits are being developed by foreign investors, to the dismay of some environmental groups, as all of the projects are located within protected areas.<\/p>\n

Since the early 20th century, Panama has with the revenues from the canal built the largest Regional Financial Center (IFC) in Central America, with consolidated assets being more than three times that of Panama’s GDP. The banking sector employs more than 24,000 people directly.<\/p>\n

Transportation:<\/h2>\n

Panama is home to Tocumen International Airport<\/a>, Central America’s largest airport. Additionally there are more than 20 smaller airfields in the country.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Tocumen International Airport<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Panama’s roads, traffic and transportation systems are generally safe, though night driving is difficult and in many cases, restricted by local authorities. This usually occurs in informal settlements. Traffic in Panama moves on the right, and Panamanian law requires that drivers and passengers wear seat belts, and airbags are not mandatory. Highways are generally well-developed for a Latin American country.<\/p>\n

Currently, Panama City has buses known as Metrobuses, along with two Metro<\/a> lines. Formerly, the system was dominated by colorfully painted diablos rojos<\/a>; a few remain, and are mostly used on rural areas along with “chivas<\/a>“.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Diablos Rojos<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

A diablo rojo is usually customized or painted with bright colors, usually depicting famous actors, politicians or singers. Panama City’s streets experience frequent traffic jams due to poor planning for now-extensive private vehicle ownership.<\/p>\n

Flag of Panama:<\/h2>\n

The flag of Panama was made by Mar\u00eda de la Ossa de Amador<\/a> and was officially adopted by the “ley 48 de 1925”. The Panamanian flag day is celebrated on November 4, one day after Panamanian separation from Colombia, and is one of a series of holidays celebrated in November known as the Fiestas Patrias.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Flag of Panama<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The first flag proposed in 1903 consisted of thirteen horizontal stripes of alternating red and yellow, with a blue canton containing two golden suns, joined by a narrow line to depict the oceans to be united by the Panama Canal<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Proposed Flag of Panama<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

However, this was not accepted by the Panamanian leader, Manuel Amador Guerrero<\/a>, whose family designed a new flag.<\/p>\n

The stars and quarters are said to stand for the rival political parties, and the white is said to stand for the peace in which they operate. Blue was the color of the Conservatives and red was the color of the Liberals.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The flag of Panama was made by Mar\u00eda de la Ossa de Amador and was officially adopted by the “ley 48 de 1925”. The Panamanian flag day is celebrated on November 4, one day after Panamanian separation from Colombia, and is one of a series of holidays celebrated in November known as the Fiestas Patrias.<\/p>\n

The first flag proposed in 1903 consisted of thirteen horizontal stripes of alternating red and yellow, with a blue canton containing two golden suns, joined by a narrow line to depict the oceans to be united by the Panama Canal. However, this was not accepted by the Panamanian leader, Manuel Amador Guerrero, whose family designed a new flag.<\/p>\n

The stars and quarters are said to stand for the rival political parties, and the white is said to stand for the peace in which they operate. Blue was the color of the Conservatives and red was the color of the Liberals.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":8459,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"default","ast-site-content-layout":"","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"default","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"default","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[32,71,59,5,6,7,30,60],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.smoketreemanor.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8003"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.smoketreemanor.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.smoketreemanor.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.smoketreemanor.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.smoketreemanor.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=8003"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.smoketreemanor.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8003\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.smoketreemanor.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/8459"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.smoketreemanor.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=8003"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.smoketreemanor.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=8003"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.smoketreemanor.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=8003"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}