At just under 76,000 square kilometres and with a population of just 3.3 million people, Panama punches way above its weight.
| Country: | Panama |
|---|---|
| Capital: | Panama City |
| Population: | 3,309,679 |
| Time Zone: | GMT -5 |
| Currency: | Panama Balboa and US Dollar |
It’s an important centre for international trade, a major shipping thoroughfare and a regional economic power.
Once reliant on an agricultural economy, the advent of the canal that links the Pacific and the Atlantic has brought prosperity to the country, although approximately 40 percent of the population still lives in poverty.
Panama is a nation of contrasts and is often overlooked by tourists in favour of Costa Rica or Guatemala. There are beaches and lush rainforests to explore and the Parque National Volcán Barú, is home to Panama’s only volcano. In Panama City check out Casco Viejo, a dilapidated area whose historic buildings and cobbled streets are slowly being restored to their colonial splendour, or hang out in any one of the many chic bars and restaurants on Calle Uruguay.
It’s definitely worth spending a fascinating few hours at the Panama Canal Museum at Miraflores Locks. The statistics are mind-boggling: the steel lock gates are two metres thick; the locomotive engines that manoeuvre the ships cost more than a million dollars a piece; it took more than 75,000 workers over ten years to complete the 82 kilometre (51 mile) waterway; and in 2008 14,702 vessels passed through – including the ten Clipper 07-08 yachts.
Now there’s a massive expansion project underway to allow even bigger ships to transit. You can watch the action unfold on the Panama Canal Authority’s live webcams.