panama

=Panama=

__Fast facts__
Capital City: Panama City Population: 3,320,000 Area: 75,517 square kilometres Languages: Spanish, English Currency: Balboa and U.S. dollar Head of country: HE Martin Torrijios Nationality: Panamanian

__Location__
Panama is the southernmost country in central America. It connects North America with South America. Columbia to the south and Costa Rica to the north borders Panama while the Pacific Ocean, Carribean Sea and the Gulf of Panama surround it. The Panama canal joins the Pacific Ocean and the Atlantic Ocean. Panama's coastline in 2,490 km long.

__Geographical Features__
The interior is mostly steep, rugged mountains and upland plains whereas the coastal areas are largely plains and rolling hills. The highest point in Panama is Volcan Baru which is 3, 475 m high. South Carolina is slightly bigger than Panama.

__Climate__
Panamanian weather is pleasantly tropical throughout the year. Nights are usually cool. The average temperature is 27 degrees C. Panama has two weather seasons: rainy and dry. The former stretches from March to December. The natural hazards are occasional severe storms and forest fires in the Darien area.

__Economy__
Some exports are coffee, shrimp and lobster, cotton, tobacco, bananas and clothing. Panama sells $7.481 on exports and buys $8.734 on imports. Some of the imports they buy are capital goods, foodstuffs, consumer goods, chemicals. Panama's major trading partners are the U.S., Swedan, Spain, Netherlands, Antilles, Japan, Mexico and Columbia. The industries in Panama are construction, brewing cement and other construction materials and sugar milling. Their natural resources are copper, mahogany forests, shrimp, hydropower. The GDP total in Panama is $27,551 and the GDP per capita is $8,200.

__Government__
The legal system is based on the civilian legal system, judicial revision of legislative acts in the Supreme Court. Panama has 9 provinces and 1 comarca. Panama is a representative democracy with three branches of government: executive and legislative branches, vote for 5-year terms, and an independent appointed judiciary. The executive branch includes a president and two vice presidents. The legislative branch consists of a 72-member unicameral Legislative Assembly. The judicial branch is organized under a nine-member Supreme Court and includes all tribunals and municipal courts. Everyone over the age of 18 is required to vote, although those who fail to do so are not penalized.

History
Panama was settled by the Spanish in the 16th century. In 1819, under the leadership of Jose de Fabrega, it declared its independence from Spain. It then joined Simon Bolivar's Republic of Gran Colombia (1819-1831). When this dissolved in 1830, Panama became a province of New Granada.

On 3 November 1903, Panama broke off from Colombia. The United States, as the first country to recognize the new Republic of Panama, sent troops to protect its economic interests. The 1904 Constituent Assembly elected Dr. Manuael Amador Guerro, as the first constitutional President of the Republic of Panama.