The Panama Canal

The Panama Canal history dates back to the early explorers of America. The narrow land bridge between North and South America offered a unique opportunity to create a water passage between the Atlantic and Pacific oceans . The first settlers of Central America recognized the potential of the waterway and has since repeatedly outlined plans for its construction.
At the end of the 1800s were beginning to build serious , because of the huge advances in technology and the insistence of investors. France was the first to take the initiative to build a sea level canal , but failed , even after a lot of digging. The United States took advantage of this French effort which resulted in the present Panama Canal opened in 1914 . The Republic of Panama established its independence, by its separation from Colombia in 1903.
Today, the Panama Canal remains a profitable commercial enterprise and also remains critical maritime connection performance . The strategic location of the Panama Canal and its short distance between the Atlantic and Pacific oceans , has led for many years other attempts to copy the marketing route between the two oceans . Although among the initial plans being hatched an overland route that would connect the ports between the Atlantic and Pacific oceans , speculation about a possible canal goes back to the first European exploration in America.

Panama Old

Panama Viejo

The city was founded 15 August 1519 by Pedro Arias Dávila and other 100 inhabitants; at the time, it was the first permanent settlement on thePacific Ocean, substituting the two cities of Santa María la Antigüa del Darién and Acla. Two years later, in 1521, the settlement was promoted to the status of city by a royal decree and was given a coat of arms by Charles V of Spain, forming a new cabildo. Shortly after its creation the city became a starting point for various expeditions in Peru and an important base where gold and silver were sent to Spain.

In 1539 and 1563, the city suffered a number of fires which destroyed parts of it but did not impede the city's development. In 1610, the city reached a population of 5000, with 500 houses and convents, chapels, a hospital and the cathedral.

At the beginning of the 17th century, the city was attacked several times by pirates and indigenous people from Darién. On 2 May 1620, anearthquake damaged many buildings in the city. On 21 February 1644, the Great Fire destroyed 83 religious buildings, including the cathedral. At this time, there were 8,000 people living in the city.

In 1670, the city counted 10,000 inhabitants. On 28 January 1671, the Welsh privateer Henry Morgan attacked the city with 1,400 men marching from the Caribbean coast across the jungle. Morgan's force defeated the city's militia then proceeded to sack Panamá. Either Morgan and his army started a fire that burned the city or the Captain General Don Juan Pérez de Guzmán ordered the gunpowder magazines exploded. Either way, the resulting fire destroyed the city. Morgan's attack caused the loss of thousands of lives and Panamá had to be rebuilt a few kilometres to the west on a new site(the current one).

Because the sacking of Panamá violated a new peace treaty between England and Spain, Morgan was arrested and conducted to England in 1672. He proved he had no knowledge of the treaty. Instead of punishment, Morgan was knighted by King Charles II of England in 1674 before returning toJamaica the following year to take up the post of Lieutenant Governor.

Bayano lake

lago bayano provincia de panama

Bayano Lake is the second largest lake in Panama , the lake has an area of ​​352 square kilometers. It is home to an amazing variety of wildlife, including birds species seldom seen , Bayano Lake is one of the most fantastic treasures Panama but this is also one of the least known of Panama : Province east of Panama . Despite being only an hour and a half away from the City of Panama , for the vast majority of Panamanians is so unknown the beauty of Lake Bayano as for the thousands of tourists who come each week.

The vast majority of the land surrounding Bayano was reserved for local indigenous establishments and had to be flooded to create the lake. The Lake Bayano provides , at this time , the main source of income for local residents who harvest thousands of tons of tilapia fish for sale in the area and to foreign markets . Although it is a lake "artificial" , Lake Bayano has become a natural habitat for hundreds of species of birds and animals, including some that are found in very few places in the world