Global - Technology - Review

Panama occupies the isthmus that joins Central and South America, and is most famous its canal. Completed in 1914, the 48 mile waterway takes ships between the Atlantic and Pacific via six locks, and is now under Panamanian control. There are plans to build further locks to increase the traffic. Today Panama has a democratic government after years of dictatorship led to the U.S. invasion of 1989. The country has a mountainous spine, thickly forested in the region of the Darien Gap, which supports a rich diversity of species in the tropical climate. The Coiba National Park, an isolated island site, has coral reefs as well as rare macaws and monkeys. Panama City has many skyscrapers and Central America’s busiest airport. The Old City was the first European settlement on America’s Pacific coast, and contains many ancient buildings. Dance, a fusion of African, Native American and European styles, is an important element in the culture, celebrated in many local festivals. Panama City holds a Christmas parade in which the national costume the Pollera is worn, a long ruffled cotton dress of Spanish origin. Baseball is the national sport, while Panama’s most famous sportsman is boxer Roberto Duran.