Panama, map of Panama

Brief information about the country

Official name:  Republic of Panama

Location: Central America, bordering both the Caribbean Sea and the North Pacific Ocean, between Colombia and Costa Rica

Total area: 78,200 sq km

Population: 3,242,173 (July 2007 est.). Ethnic groups: mestizo (mixed Amerindian and white) 70%, Amerindian and mixed (West Indian) 14%, white 10%, Amerindian 6%.

Capital: Panama City
 
Principal cities: 9 provinces: Bocas del Toro, Chiriqui, Cocle, Colon, Darien, Herrera, Los Santos, Panama, San Blas, and Veraguas.

Climate: tropical maritime; hot, humid, cloudy; prolonged rainy season (May to January), short dry season (January to May)

Official language: Spanish

The political structure: constitutional democracy. President and vice presidents elected on the same ticket by popular vote for five-year terms

International organization participation: UN, UNESCO, WTO.

How to get there: Ports and terminals are in Balboa, Colon, Cristobal.

Time zone: 9 hours behind Moscow time.

Currency: balboa (PAB); 1 PAB = 1 USD

Religion:  Roman Catholic 85%, Protestant 15%.

National Holiday: Independence Day, 3 November (1903) (from Colombia)

The reference web-site “Wikipedia”