Located at the intersection between North and South America, and the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans…

Panama is known as the “Hub of the Americas”.

Panama has a rich and diverse history. Spanish conquistadors arrived in Panama in the 16 ^th century. Panama gained its independence from Spain in 1821, and joined Columbia. In 1903, with the backing of the United States of America, Panama seceded from Columbia allowing the construction of the Panama Canal. In 1914 Americans and thousands of workers from numerous countries completed the ten year exceptionally large and most difficult engineering project of the Panama Canal. This canal connects the Pacific and Atlantic oceans thereby substantially reducing the distance ships have to travel. In 1999 the Panama Canal was transferred from the US to Panama. Panama is a major global transportation hub. In 2016 the canal was enlarged.