Travel Friends & Friends Panama 01

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~Travel Friends & Friends 1~

Panama

Panama is the southernmost country of Central America and the whole of North America. Connecting North and South America, it is bordered by Costa Rica to the west, Columbia to the Southeast (although there is no road to Columbia), the Caribbean to the North and the Pacific Ocean to the south. The capitol is Panama City. Panama was inhabited by several indigenous tribes prior to settlement by the Spanish in the 16th century. The Panama Canal was built between 1904 and 1914. Total transfer of the canal from United States control was completed on December 31st, 1999. The revenue from canal tolls represents a large portion of Panama's economy. It has a fast growing economy and a lot of construction along the coastline. The only Population that live along the water are the old fishermen (large Asian) as they are thought of as lowly and no one but fishermen desire water front property. Much of the residential area is being replaced with business and the people are moving further out into the country side to live and drive to the City to work. Panama still lacks many of the things you might expect such as mail boxes. Yearly you have to reapply for a post office box. If you don't get one, monthly you go to each individual place (electric, water etc.) and pay your bill. They have only had car insurance available for one year now. If you pay your taxes, medical services are available free although you often wait o a list for surgery etc. and college is available for very low fees under $100. Panama is a country of lush rain forest and diverse wildlife. *** I do my best to identify pictures I take, but sometimes I just can't get the correct name.

Gamboa Rain Forest Resort