|Full name||Republic of Panama|
|Religion||Roman Catholic, Protestant, Islamic, Jewish, Baha'i, Buddhist|
|National Anthem||"Himno Istmeoo"|
|Newspaper||Critica, El Panama America, El Siglo, La Estrella de Panama, La Prensa, Capital Financiero, Dia a Dia|
|Places to Visit||Boquete, Panama City, Ingenio de Azucar Santa Rosa, Isla Grande, Panama Canal and many more interesting places are in Panama.|
|Transport||Airways: the national airline is called COPA. Frequent flights are avilable betweeb Miami and Panama.|
|Shopping||Leatherworks, necklaces that are patterned and beaded with Guaymi Indians; native dresses, jewelry, precious gems etc are found in this country in cheap price. You can also buy some local handicrafts such as wood carvings, ceramic works, papier mache, macrame, mahogany bowls and so on|
Introduction to Panama
Panama regained its independence from Colombia on 3 rd November in the year 1903. Visit this country and enjoy yourself to the most.
Physical Map of Panama
The land of Panama is full of mountain ranges, hills, highlands and plateaus. Coastal regions also cover a considerable portion of the country. The highest altitude of the country is the Volcan de Chiriqui peak that rises almost 3,475 meters above the sea level. The country bridges the gap between North America and South America.
Panama Location Map
Panama is located towards the southern region of the Central America. The neighboring countries are Colombia in the southeastern region and Costa Rica in the northwestern side. The Republic of Panama also shares its borders with the Caribbean Sea and the North Pacific Ocean.
Climate of Panama
You must gather some basic details about the climate of the place you are going to visit. The climate of Panama is basically tropical. The weather remains hot and wet throughout the year. You might also see cloudy sky.
However the mountainous regions are characterized for heavy rainfalls throughout the year. During the months between May and January, you may face rainy season. The dry spell continues from January to May.
Flora and Fauna of Panama
Flora: The Republic of Panama has a diverse plant life. Rainforest and savanna forest can be seen in the land of Panama. Towards the coastal regions, you will find evergreen trees. On the other hand if you go towards the Pacific side, you will find the semi-deciduous plants. Besides that, several species flowers are also found. Holy Ghost orchid is the national flower of the country.
Fauna: the fauna of the country is also rich with various species of animals. Some of these are anteater; bat, armadillo, deer, coati, opossum, raccoon, tapir, peccary, rare species of monkey etc are found in the forests of the country. Besides that, reptiles like alligators are also found in the coastal regions. Various species of birds can also be seen.
People of Panama
The total population of the Republic of Panama is almost 3,191,319. Mestizo is the largest population in the country. The mestizo people are originally derived from the Amerindian and white people. The other minorities of the country are Amerindian and West Indian, white and Amerindian. Spanish is the official language of the country. However, English is also widely spoken in various regions of Panama.
Art, Culture and Music of Panama
Art: In Panama, various forms of art are practiced. The molas, appliqué works, designer textiles etc are very popular here. Basketry and woodcarvings are also common in Panama. Besides that, leatherworks, Guaymí Indians necklaces and so on are also made in various corners of the country.
Culture: Panama has a diverse culture. You will find six Indian cultures in this country. Folklores are very famous in Panama. Several dance forms have also been adopted from various races of the country.
Music: Music is very much appreciated in Panama. The different forms of music in this country are salsa, reggae, merengue, vallenato etc. However the local music of Panama such as charts, folklores is also popular here.
Flag of Panama
The flag of Panama is very colorful and it bears symbolic significance of the country. The flag contains total three colors. There are total four rectangles in the flag. The rectangle in the upper corner of the hoist side is white and it features a blue star. The rectangle in the lower corner of the hoist side is colored in blue. Similarly the rectangle in the upper corner of the fly side is red and the rectangle in the lower corner of the fly side of the flag is white, bearing a red star in the center.
Currency of Panama
Balboa is the official currency in Panama and USD ($) is the paper currency, which has acceptance all over Panama and the rate of paper currency is 1.00 PAB = 1.00 USD. PAB is the ISO4217 code of Balboa. The coins of Panama are made of the same metal used in America. The coins are of the same shape and size as the American coins. The exchange rate of Balboa is fixed at 1:1 in relation to the US dollars. Exchange of currency is not required for travelers with U.S. Dollars. The currency and traveler's checks are exchanged at hotels, banks, and exchange shops and in the international airports of the country. Best rates of exchange are offered by bigger banks but black marketers needs to be avoided. American Dollars is widely circulated in Panama though Balboa remains the official currency of Panama.
Industries of Panama
The industries of Panama mainly consist of mining, manufacturing and construction activities. Industries in Panama have recorded a substantial growth over the years. Like in 1990s it has generated a growth of 7% and in 2000 it accounted for 17% growth in GDP.
In recent years, Panama has experienced an increase in construction projects. Both the government and private sectors have made large investments for constructing roads, bridges and ports. So there has been an increase in the demand for finished wooden products and materials for construction. In order to meet this demand the production of these commodities has risen significantly.
In the year 2000, construction activities have risen to 7.5%. At present, Panama manufacturing accounts for 8% of GDP. In the country there are many food processing units and plants engaged in producing sugar, clothing, hats, soap, shoes, edible oils, ceramics, furniture and alcoholic beverages. Other products manufactured here are cement and chemicals.
The mining industry of Panama has shown the potential for significant growth in the recent years. Besides, the Panamanian oil refinery has shown its potential of producing 60,000 barrels every day. Thus Panama Industry has shown significant growth in the country's economy.