Panama

Panama is a narrow country in Central America. It connects North America to South America. The famous Panama Canal lets ships pass between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. Panama is a bridge between two continents.

Land and People

About 4 million people live in Panama. The capital is Panama City, a modern city with tall skyscrapers. The country has tropical rainforests, mountains, and beautiful islands. It is very warm and rainy.

Culture and Fun Facts

The Panama Canal is one of the greatest engineering projects ever built. Panamanians enjoy salsa music and festivals. They eat rice with chicken, beans, and fried plantains. The country is home to many colorful frogs and birds.

Fun Facts

• The Panama Canal saves ships from sailing 8,000 extra miles around South America.
• Panama is the only place where you can see the sun rise over the Pacific and set over the Atlantic.
• Panama is home to more bird species than the United States and Canada combined.

Did You Know?

The Panama Canal took over 10 years to build and opened in 1914. About 14,000 ships pass through it every year. The canal uses locks that work like water elevators to lift and lower ships between the oceans.