by Elizabeth Elia

Created on: September 16, 2009

Panama, or more officially known as the 'Republic of Panama', is the southernmost country in central America. The most commonly used language is Spanish, but English is used sometimes. There are many hundreds of thousands of plant species, like 678 different varieties of ferns, 1,200 different varieties of orchids, and 1,500 different varieties of trees. Multi world records have been set in Panama in the area of bird watching and fishing, there are more birds in Panama than in Canada and the United States combined. You can see the sun rise in the Pacific Ocean and set in the Atlantic, Panama is the only place in the world where you can see that. The Panama Canal Locks are drained every seven years to help clear all the debris that has accumulated. Panamanians loves this because many fish get caught there and provide food for the poor. Believe it or not but, the fine for killing a vulture is very much higher than the fine for killing an Eagle, Vultures eat roadkill and are subsequently deemed as more valuable. Panama City, the capital, is the only capital city that has a Rain forest within the city limits. There is an abundant amount of wildlife in Panama, amphibians, mammals, reptiles, and all sorts. Some of the many snakes include the Fer-De-Lance, Bushmaster, Hog-Nosed Vipers, Tree Vipers, "Jumping Snake", Tropical Rattlesnake, Godman's Viper, Corals, and Sea Snakes. Some amphibians include Panama golden frogs, the Red-eyed tree frog, Oophaga pumilio, Anole lizard, Spiny-tailed Iguana, Basilisk Lizard, and the Atlantic Hawksbill Sea Turtle. A few examples of mammals in Panama are the Southern Yellow Bat, White-nosed Coati, Jaguarundi, Darin small-eared shrew, Geoffroy's Spider Monkey, Gray Four-eyed Opossum, Brown-throated Three-toed Sloth, Northern Naked-tailed Armadillo, Nine-banded Armadillo, Pygmy (Silky) Anteater, Giant Anteater, Northern Tamandua, Talamancan Small-eared Shrew, Blackish Small-eared Shrew, and the Shaggy-haired Bat. Panama's flag is two white squares vertical from each other, one in the upper left hand corner and the other in the bottom left hand corner. A blue square is in the bottom left hand corner, vertical from a red square, top right hand corner.There is a single blue star in the middle of the upper left hand white square and a single red star in the bottom right hand corner white square. The national anthem, translated in English, is as follows;

Isthmus Hymn

CHORUS:
We finally attained victory
In the happy field of union.
With glowing splendour,
The new nation is illumined.

It is necessary to veil with a curtain
The Calvary and Cross of the past,
And for you to adorn the azure of your skies
With the splendid light of concord.
Progress fondly touches your homes,
In time with the music of a sublime song.
You see, roaring at your feet, two oceans
Which give direction to your noble mission.

CHORUS:
On your flower-covered soil,
Kissed by the warm breeze,
Warlike clamour has ended
And only brotherly love reigns.
Ahead, with spade and stone-mason's hammer!
To work, without more delay!
In this way we shall be the honour and glory
Of this fertile land of Columbus.

Learn more about this author, Elizabeth Elia.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.