Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Panama is just 50km wide at its leanest point, yet it separates two great oceans. The
Panama Canal, which is about 80km long, effectively divides the country into eastern
and western regions. Panama's two mountain ranges run along its spine in both the east
and the west. Volcán Barú is the country's highest point and only volcano.
Like all of the Central American countries, Panama has large, flat coastal lowlands
with huge banana plantations. There are about 480 rivers in Panama and 1518 islands
near its shores. The two main island groups are the San Blás and Bocas del Toro ar-
chipelagos on the Caribbean side, but most of the islands are on the Pacific side. Even
the Panama Canal has islands, including Isla Barro Colorado, which has a world-famous
tropical rainforest research station.
A Neotropical Companion
, by John Kricher, is an excellent book for learning about eco-
logy, evolutionary theory and biodiversity in the New World tropics.
Wildlife
The country's rich biodiversity owes a great deal to its geological history. Around 65
million years ago, North and South America were joined by a land bridge not unlike
what exists today. Around 50 million years ago, the continents split apart and remained
separate for millions of years.
During this time, unique evolutionary landscapes were created on both continents.
South America experienced an astonishing diversification of many species. The land
soon gave rise to many bird families (toucans and hummingbirds included), unique Neo-
tropical rodents (agoutis and capybaras) and groups such as iguanas, poison-dart frogs
and basilisks. In North America, which collided repeatedly with Eurasia, animal species
that had no relatives in South America (horses, deer, raccoons, squirrels and mice) flour-
ished.
The momentous event that would change natural history for both continents occurred
around three million years ago when the land bridge of Panama arose. Species from both
continents mingled: northern animals went south and southern animals went north. In the
lush forests and wetlands along the isthmus, the great variety of plant species created
ideal conditions for nourishing wildlife.
Today, the interchange of species between North and South America is limited to
winged migrations, though this annual event can be breathtaking to behold.
