Panama, officially known as Republic of Panama, it is the southern-most country in the Central American continent. It is connecting North and South America, bordered to the west by Costa Rica and to the southeast by Colombia. It´s an ultimate adventure destination, because here you can see culture and nature practically undisturbed by globalization and development. This country offers great spots for Surfers and is hosting some surfing events. Panama was also named as one of the best places for retirement. A Great place to visit, so let´s start with some interesting facts and fun facts abaout Panama, so you can get a great overview and facts
Interesting Facts About Panama – General Facts And Panama History
The Capital and largest city of Panama is Panama City. It is the only capital city that has a rain forest within its city limits. It is a small country with a total population of only around 3.6 million and already 1.5 milllion people are living in Panama city. It has the lowest population in Central America.
Around 70% of the population is a mixture of Europeans and Native Americans.
The official language is spanish.
Panama has two independence days, first from Spain in 1821 and the second from Colombia 82 years later in 1903. (source)
Balboa is the official currency and it is fixed at parity with the U.S. dollar, which is used as the paper money in the country.
Panama was the very first Latin American country to adopt the U.S. dollar currency as its own.
Major Exports include refined Petroleum, Passenger and cargo ships, and the country is a Banana supplier. (source)
The Panama Canal was built by the US Army Corps of Engineers between 1904 and 1914. The canal generates around one-third of Panama’s whole economy. It is nowadays even considered as one of the 7 modern World Wonders.
Crazy but true more than 12,000 people died in the construction of the Panama Railroad.
Interesting Facts About Panama For Travellers – Panama Tourism And Things To Do
Panama has the most diversified wildlife of all the countries in Central America. There are species from north as well as South America.
Panama is located south of the hurricane alley, so is most of the time not affected by tropical storms or hurricanes.
This central american country has a huge coastline which is around 2.45km long.
In Panama grow 10,000 different plants species, including 1,400 varieties of orchids grow here, , 678 ferns and more than 1,500 varieties of trees. Panama has more than 976 bird species which is more than the United States and Canada together
Panama is the only place on earth where you can see the sun rise on the Pacific Ocean and set on the Atlantic Ocean
The oldest continually operating railroad is in located in Panama. The railroad travels from Panama City to Colon
Panama highest point is the Volcan Baru at 3,475m.
Panama hosts often many surfing championships, and the best time to surf is from May to October, good spots are in Santa Catalina, Pedasi and Venao beach.
El Valle de Anton the second largest inhabited volcano crater in the world is located in Panama – called El Valle de Anton
At its narrowest distance, only 80 kilometers is the land in Panama, which separates the Atlantic from the Pacific Ocean
Fun Facts About Panama – Culture And Funny Facts
If you thought the Panama Hat is made in this country, then youre wrong because it is really made in Ecuador.
Even though Panama is bordered by Colombia, there is no road that leads in to the neighbor country Colombia
Panama has the second largest duty free zone on the planet and also has the second largest registrant for offshore companies, right behind Hong Kong.
Ships traveling from New York to San Francisco and vice versa save almost 12,669km (7,872 miles) by using the Panama Canal instead of going all around the Cape Horn.
An unknown fact about Panama is that they set multi-world records in the area of bird watching and fishing. (I didn´t even know this sport exist)
Every year on October 21st, pilgrims from all over the country arrive in Portobelo to participate in the Festival de Cristo Negro (Black Christ Festival), this festival honors the 1.5m high statue of the Black Christ housed in the Iglesia de San Félipe. The exact origins of the statue are not known for sure, especially since all definitive church records were lost in the fire that followed Henry Morgan’s sacking of Panamá in the year 1671.
Panama´s Motto is: “for the benefit of the World”. A very nice one in my opinion.