Panama Flag over Cuna Indians Mola N.N 1998
The Republic of Panama,
is a privileged Nation. Strategically located. Divides the North from the
South American Continent and unites the Atlantic with Pacific Oceans by
virtue of that Inter-oceanic wonder of the world, known as the Panama
Canal..
Quoting and unknown author:
“Panama is more than a
Canal,
it
is the Bridge of the World and the Hearth of the Universe”
Nick Nell Macías Ó 1999
Prologue
Through The years, I have
helped many a students, to prepare reports and projects regarding the
Republic of Panama, Including my own children, grandchildren and their
friends. For this reason, I decided to put all these material together and
write this “Reference Manual” so students can use it at all levels, as well
as any individual that may want to take a quick glance at the Republic of
Panama.
The source of this
material has been written many times in different ways. What I have done, is
to organize and compile this information in such a way that will be easy to
read, follow through and acquire a very general knowledge of the Country as
a hole.
It is very important to
understand, that in order to make an in-depth study on any subject outlined
here, one must proceed to research books and reports written regarding any
particular area of interest. There are multiple sources available, many of
them written since the 15th century.
The
Other reason is my love for the Country.
Even though I have spend
most of my life in the United States of America, becoming a Citizen,
raising my children here, loving and respecting everything that means
America, there is also something inside me that urges me to look beyond
these borders.
It is an inner force that
urges me to narrate and let other people know about Panama, its history,
anecdotes, beauty, potential, its roll in the world, and its possibilities
to go about its business on her own, free and with out the protection of
Uncle Sam.
On December 31, 1999, USA
relinquished the Canal and the adjacent land on either side of the Canal. It
was almost 100 years since Panama became and independent Republic, people
must understand that now this Nation, will begin to develop its own
personality and expand from its enriched past to a great Nation is destined
to be.
I write here to compile
part of history and anecdotes, satisfying this way my life long desire to
honor Panama, the country where I was born.
A brief Outline
A COUNTRY IS BORN.
Rodrigo de Bastidas, is the first known man
to have seen the land now called Panama, the year was 1501. The Spanish
Crown divided the newfound land into two large provinces, Nueva Andalucía
(to the East) and Veragua (to the West). Panama was part of this province,
which was governed by Diego de Nicuesa.
Panama became very important to the Crown
and remained loyal to Spain, regardless of rebel activities and
pronouncement of independence by other nations under the leadership of
General Simon Bolivar. Finally, on November 28, 1821 Panama became
independent and voluntarily joined to “The Great” Colombia.
The country was ignored by Colombia, so
Panama decided to gain its independence and sent Dr. Manuel Amador Guerrero
to Washington, to seek the cooperation of the United States. In exchange,
Panama gave the US assurances that a new treaty regarding the construction
of the canal, was to be negotiated favorably with the new Republic.
Colombia was reluctant to proceed with the one proposed by the US.
The help requested, was granted. On November
3, 1903, Panama declared its independence from Colombia, and the new
Republic of Panama was born. More facts about the independence latter in
this book.
LOCATION
The Republic of Panama is located in the
American Continent, between the meridians 77o and 83o (Occidental latitude),
and between parallels 7o and 10o (Latitude North). The “S” shaped Isthmus of
Panama, joints North and South America. It is part of Central America, even
though in Panama it is considered independent from the Central region, and
calls them “Central America and Panama”.
Panama
is an Isthmus 50 miles wide at the narrowest point, also the narrowest piece
of land between the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans in the American Continent.
The shortest distance across the isthmus is 31 Miles, stretching from the
mouth of Rio Nergalá (Necategua, which flows into the Golf de San Blas), on
the northern (Caribbean shore), to the mouth of the Rio Bayano on the
Pacific coast. Lengthwise it extends about 390 miles from the Costa Rica
frontier to Colombian border. Total area is 75,517 km2 or 29,157 Square
miles. This includes 558 square miles (1,390 Km2) of the Canal Zone, which
reverted to Panama on December 31st. 1999. (See Torrijos-Carter
Treaty)
HOW
BIG IS THIS COUNTRY?
There
have been several figures quoted as the total area of the Republic Of
Panama, encyclopedias, school texts, advertising, etc. The area went
anywhere from74, 470 Km2 to 79,665 Km2. In late 1980, a new study was
completed, and the area determined to be 75,517 km2. This is also the
current area registered at the Tomas Guardia Institute of Cartography, which
is the maximum authority in this field in the Republic of Panama.
The
whole country area is bit smaller than South Carolina in the US (80,432
Km2), Scotland (78,772 Km2), Austria in Europe (83,849 Km2) and the United
Arab Emirates (83.600 Km2). The State of Florida in the US is twice its
size. Fits in the State of California US 5.4 times, in The Republic of
Colombia 15 times, in Brazil 112.7 times and in the United States fits 126
Times. However the Central America neighbors of El Salvador, fits in Panama
3.5 times and Costa Rica 1.5 times.
ITS BORDERS
To the North the Caribbean Sea, South the
Pacific Ocean, To the East is the Republic of Colombia, and West the
Republic of Costa Rica. The Victoria-Vélez treaty of 1924 settled the Border
with Colombia, the limits with Costa Rica were settled in 1941, when after
long discussions, the Treaty of Arias-Calderón Guardia was signed and
ratified.
Background &
History:
With
Colombia: By virtue of the
independence of Panama from Colombia, both countries started negotiations to
determine its geometric border. The commission finished the task when Mr.
Nicolás Victoria Jaén (Plenipotentiary Minister of Panama) and Dr. Jorge
Vélez (Chancellor of Colombia) signed the agreement on August 20, 1924, at
Bogotá, the Capital of Colombia.
The
“line” starts at Cape Tiburon in the Caribbean Sea, following the mountains
of Aspavé to a location on the Pacific Ocean (Between “Punta” Cocalaito and
Ardito). The demarcated border length is 263.2 Kilometers. This task started
by Dr. Belisario Porras (1924) ended with out any incidents, during the
administration of Dr. Juan Demóstenes Arosemena.
With
Costa Rica: Defining the border
limits was a very difficult event. In 1900 the president of France Mr.
Emilio Loubet was appointed referee to mediate between the then sovereign
state of Colombia and Costa Rica. He ceded an area called Coto occupied
mostly by Panamanians to Costa Rica, and the Sixaola area, occupied mostly
by Costa Ricans to Colombia. Costa Rica appealed this decision. Colombia had
her hands full due to the Civil war being fought in the Country and could
not follow through with the argument.
In 1910
Costa Rica - and now Panama - accepted the limits set by Loubet involving
the Pacific side, however not so the limits on the Atlantic side. Mr. Edward
D. White of the US Supreme Court ceded to Costa Rica not only the disputed
area (Sixaola), but also granted a large portion of the maritime zone by
moving the limit from the previously accepted “Point Mona” to the mouth of
the Sixaola River, obviously Panama objected. In 1921, the US ordered Panama
to accept the White ruling, otherwise, by “any means possible’ they would
act to enforce the White ruling.
Panama
then, requested that the border case be transferred and decided by the
International Court of Justice. Costa Rica objected and in February 21, 1921
invaded the Coto region, which was promptly recaptured by the Panamanian
army.
To
intimidate the Republic of Panama, the US dispatched two heavily armed navy
ships (The cruiser Sacramento and the battleship Pennsylvania). There was no
way out and Panama accepted the terms dictated by White, which favored Costa
Rica.
This
was one of the many direct interventions by the US regarding the New
Republic of Panama. Forcing to accept this border prompted the then
Chancellor of Panama Mr. Narciso Garay to write his famous statement
denouncing the injustice and the intimidating violence used to accomplish
the territorial limits of both nations.
The
limits were finally drawn and accepted in 1941 known as the Arias-Calderon
Guardia Treaty. It follows the Sixaola River and its affluent River Yorkin,
going to Cerro Pando and the rapids that separate the water that flows into
the Dulce Gulf in Costa Rica from those that run to Chiriqui Viejo, down to
Punta Burica by the Pacific Ocean. Demarcated length is 245 kilometers.
GEOGRAPHY
LANDSCAPE
The
landscape consists of three different areas. Lowlands lying in
altitudes below 700 meters (2,310 ft), occupy roughly 87% of the territory; Temperate zone,
located between 700 meters 1500 meters (4,950 ft) and covers about 10% of
the territory; and the Highlands
laying above 1,500 meters (4950 ft) which occupies about 3%. Temperate and
Highlands are generally considered the same, unless making a detailed study
of the country.
The
surface itself is divided into two geological groups, the Highlands or
mountains of volcanic origin, and the Lowlands, which are the plains, and
small hills that are of a sedimentary nature.
High Lands: Are found at
altitude anywhere from 700 meters (2,310 ft) to 3,475 meters (11,468 ft). It
comprises of:
a)
Central Mountain (Cordillera
Central),
which runs from the Border with Costa Rica’s Talamanca Mountain, to the
center of the Isthmus. In this range is located the highest mountain
in Panama, the Barú Volcano - elevation of 3,475 meters (11,468 ft)
b)
North Eastern Mountain Arch
(Arco Oriental del Norte) which are the
Mountains of Portobelo, San Blas, Tacarcuna and Mamoní (Cordillera
deSan
Blas and Serranía del Darién)
c)
Southeastern Mountain Arch
(Arco Oriental del Sur)
Formed by the Mountains of Chimán, Rio Congo and Darien (Serranía
del Pirre y del
Sapo).
d)
Massif Of The South (Macisos del Sur)
laying between the provinces of Veraguas and Los Santos.
Low
Lands are the low elevation
plains, located below the 700 meters (2,310 ft), mainly around the
coastline.
a)
Northern plains
(Llanuras Del Norte), in the northern
provinces of Chiriquí and Panama, and the Caribbean region.
b)
Southern plains
(Llanuras Del Sur) comprise the plains of
the southern portion of the provinces of Chiriquí, Veraguas and Coclé.
c)
Central Plains are the
plains and hills of the central Isthmus of Panama.
d)
Eastern Depressions
(Depressions Orientales), are the low lands
around the Bayano, Chepo and Chucunaque Rivers.
