Panama is a small Central American country located at the top of South America. It is a country rich with history and one of the most industrialized in Central America. It is filled with beautiful landscape, a mixture of culture, and real estate that is attractive to everyone. It is also the site of one of only eight Baha'i? Houses of Worship in the world.
The native heritage of this country stretches back over eleven hundred years. Some of the most beautiful pottery was created in the central villages of Panama and remains that have found in archaeological digs date them to be from a time period between 2500-1700 BC. Barriles holds a group of monolithic sculptures that are reminiscent of the people of the age, and there were probably close to 200,000 native peoples living in the country proper to the invasion of the Europeans in the 1500's.
Rodrigo de Bastidas was the first to discover Panama followed by Christopher Columbus, and at one time, Panama held control over Jamaica, the Cayman Islands, and others in the Caribbean that eventually were handed over to Colombian control. Another famous explorer, Balboa, became the first mayor of Panama City. For three hundred years, this small nation was under the control of Spain.
By 1821, Panama was ready to fight for its independence and joined other Central American countries to become part of the Republic of Columbia. This lasted a short time, though, and by 1830, Panama was its own free country under the rule of one of its military leaders. By the beginning of the 1900's, the United States and Panama had come to and agreement to work together economically and the Panama Canal was constructed, linking the Pacific and the Atlantic oceans.
One of the most famous Panamanians was General Manuel Noriega. Noriega held both the military and civilian government in the palm of his hands and secretly collaborated with President Ronal Regan to help fight the Contras in Nicaragua. He was brought up on drug-trafficking charges in the United States and is serving a 40 year sentence after being found guilty. The country was in both economic and political strife during this time, but pulled out of it to become one of the most beautiful and popular tourist spots in the world.
The current Panamanian government post Noriega has worked hand in hand with the United States to set up anti-narcotic legislation, investment treaties, and helping defend against international terrorism. The United States also turned all control of the Panama Canal over to the people, who are very excited about the widening of the canal to allow bigger vessels to go through. As a gesture of peace and alliance, the Panamanian government allowed the United States to reserve the right to intervene in a military aspect to protect the canal in the event of an attack.
With its rich heritage, a very famous canal, and flowing vistas of land, Panama is a great place to come to in order to simply get away. It's no wonder so many people have been retiring there.
