A Canal, Sloths, and UNESCO Heritage

Isthmus, a narrow strip of land connecting two larger land masses, bounded by water. The most famous of these is the Panama. Connecting Central America to South America. Though narrow, 30 miles at its thinnest, it has profound effects. When it formed approximately 60 million years ago, it altered the ocean currents and changed climates. By separating the Atlantic and the Pacific Oceans, the warm water from the Caribbean flowed north as the Gulf Stream, raising the temperature in Europe around 10 degrees. The Atlantic also became saltier than the Pacific, these differences had profound effect on the ocean currents.
It was roamed through pre-historic people and was discovered by Rodrigo de Bastidas in 1501 and explored by Columbus on his voyage in 1502. The first person to cross the isthmus was Vasco Nunez de Balboa in 1513. This paved the way for Spanish gold from the west coast of South America to be transported to Spain quicker.
Gold was originally loaded on galleons and traveled around the southern tip of South America before turning to Spain. It was a longest and treacherous voyage. By shipping to the north by sea, then by land across Panama and reloaded, the journey was shortened by months. Of course pirates took notice of this route and the ports were raided quite often.
During the mid 19th Century several attempts were made to construct a canal across the isthmus. Many ideas were proposed, including a sea-level canal that would require MASSIVE excavations though the mountainous central portion. The French started a canal in 1880. After 13 years and approximately 22,000 deaths, the French abandoned the construction.
In the early 1900s the United States resumed construction after helping Panama break off from Columbia. The canal officially opened on August 15, 1914 with the passage of the cargo ship Arcon. The completion of the canal reduced the trip from New York to San Francisco by more than half.
The cost of passage is based on the ship's size and schedule. The daily schedule allows ships to enter both ends of the canal to Gatun Lake during the morning. The flow reverses in the afternoon allowing ships to exit the lake and continue on their journey. Ships on a tight schedule pay a premium, such as cruise ships. The Disney Magic paid over $330,000 in May of 2008. The least paid was $.36 by American Richard Halliburton for swimming the length of the canal in 1928. The highest fee for jumping line was for the tanker Erikoussa, $220,300. If it had waited its turn in line(7 days), the passage would have been $13,430.
Lying in the tropics, Panama, offers diverse plant life and animals. One of the most interesting is the sloth. Yes the term for dirty is an actual animal. While it is very slow moving while in trees, it is even slower if on the ground. Its grayish-brown coat is usually inhabited by insects and algae, a tiny micro-system of its own.
At the western end of the canal is Panama City. There is a historic, colonial section of the city and a modern section to the south. The architecture of the colonial section has earned it the designation of a UNESCO World Heritage site. And it contrast greatly with the gleaming towers of the modern area. Be careful wandering the streets of the colonial section, the cobblestones are uneven and falls are common. Also on the western end of the canal is the Bridge of the Americas. The Pan-American highway crosses the canal at his point.
Damron Vacations can help plan your Panamanian Escapade. It offers hotels on Gatun Lake and in Panama City. While down there, do not forget to pick up a Panamanian Hat(even though they are from Ecuador).