Home » Travel Panama

Travel Panama

Official Name of Panama: Republic of Panama
Government type in Panama: constitutional democracy
Capital of Panama: Panama
Primary Language in Panama: Spanish
Currency in Panama: balboa; US dollar

With US backing, Panama seceded from Colombia in 1903 and promptly signed a treaty with the US allowing for the construction of a canal and US sovereignty over a strip of land on either side of the structure (the Panama Canal Zone). The Panama Canal was built by the US Army Corps of Engineers between 1904 and 1914. On 7 September 1977, an agreement was signed for the complete transfer of the Canal from the US to Panama by the end of 1999. Certain portions of the Zone and increasing responsibility over the Canal were turned over in the intervening years. With US help, dictator Manuel NORIEGA was deposed in 1989. The entire Panama Canal, the area supporting the Canal, and remaining US military bases were turned over to Panama by or on 31 December 1999. Strategic location on eastern end of isthmus forming land bridge connecting North and South America; controls Panama Canal that links North Atlantic Ocean via Caribbean Sea with North Pacific Ocean.

---

---

Travel stories about Panama

More travel stories about Panama

---

Panama destinations

» Panama
» Panama City
» Panama City Beach, Florida, United States of America

   More Panama destinations