Panama — Capital, Flag and Country Facts

Explore Panama: capital Panama City, population, flag, geography, languages, history and culture.

Panama is in North America. Its capital is Panama City.

Climate

Tropical maritime; hot, humid, cloudy; prolonged rainy season May to January

Interior mostly steep, rugged mountains with dense tropical forest; coastal lowlands and rolling hills

The Panama Canal saves ships an 8,000-mile journey around South America.

Panama is the only place in the world where you can see the sun rise on the Pacific and set on the Atlantic.

The Panama hat actually originated in Ecuador, not Panama.

1501: Spanish explorer Rodrigo de Bastidas visits the isthmus

1821: Panama gains independence from Spain and joins Gran Colombia

1903: Panama separates from Colombia with US support

1914: The Panama Canal opens, connecting the Atlantic and Pacific oceans

1977: Torrijos-Carter Treaties signed to transfer canal to Panama

1999: Full control of the Panama Canal transferred from the US to Panama