Panama is a small country in Central America that has worldwide importance as a transportation center. It covers the Isthmus of Panama, a narrow strip of land that separates the Atlantic and Pacific oceans near the middle of the Western Hemisphere. The Panama Canal cuts through the isthmus, connecting the two oceans. Panama lies at the southern end of North America. It and the land north of it to Mexico’s southern border make up the part of the North America continent called Central America. Panama is a narrow country that curves from west to east. The Atlantic Ocean lies to the north, the Pacific Ocean to the south, Colombia to the east, and Costa Rica to the west. Indians were the first inhabitants of what is now Panama. Spaniards conquered the Indians during the 1500’s and rules Panama for about three hundred years. In 1821, Panama broke away from Spain and became a province of the nation of Colombia. In 1903, it rebelled against Colombia and became an independent nation. The United States played a major role in Panama’s history. It built the Panama Canal, which completed in 1914.
About 85 percent of Panama's people are Roman Catholics. Most of the rest of the people are Protestants. The Catholic Church plays an important role in Panama. Church services and celebrations are both religious and social events for many of the people.
Panama has three land regions-the Central Highland and coastal lowlands called the Atlantic Lowland and the Pacific Lowland. The Central Highland is a mountainous region. The country's highest peak, 11,401 foot Volcán Barú rises near the border. The coastal lowlands are narrow areas that lie along Panama’s Pacific and Atlantic coasts. The Pacific Lowland has much fertile farmland, which is located chiefly in the west. Panama’s Pacific coastline measures 746 miles. The Atlantic coastline is 397 miles long. About eight hundred islands that lie near the coasts are part of Panama’s territory.
* Taken from The World Book Encyclopedia. (Chicago: World Book, Inc.), pg 115-121.
Madonna of the Rocky Grotto
La Madone de la grotte rocheuse
Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519)
Date: 05/26/66; Scott: 466A
La Belle Jardinière
Sanzio Raphael (1483-1520)
Date: 05/26/66; Scott: 466B
Madonna of the
Rock Grotto
La Madone de la grotte rocheuse
La Belle Jardinière
Da Vinci and Raphael
Da Vinci et Raphael
Date: 05/26/66; Scott: 466C
Holy Family with Angel
La sainte Famille et un ange
Carlo Saraceni (1579-1620)
Date: 10/24/66; Scott: 471A
Adoration of the Magi
L'adoration des Mages
Albrecht Durer (1471-1528)
Date: 10/24/66; Scott: 471B
Madonna and Child
La Madone et ľEnfant
Orazio (1563-1639)
Date: 10/24/66; Scott: 471C
The Annunciation
L'annonciation
Peter Paul Rubens (1577-1640)
Date: 10/24/66; Scott: 471D
The Nativity
La nativité
Sandro Botticelli (1445-1510)
Date: 10/24/66; Scott: 471E
Christ at Calvary
Le Christ au Calvaire
Giambattista Tiepaso (1696-1770)
Date: 03/13/67; Scott: 476
The Crucifixion
La crucifixion
Peter Paul Rubens (1577-1640)
Date: 03/13/67; Scott: 476A
Pieta
La Pieta
Andres dei Sarto (1486-1531)
Date: 03/13/67; Scott: 476B
Body of Christ
Le Corps du Christ
Raphael Santi
Date: 03/13/67; Scott: 476C
Christ on the Cross
Le Christ en croix
Van der Weyden (1400-1464)
Date: 03/13/67; Scott: 476F
Madonna and Child
La Madone et ľEnfant
Rubens (1577-1528)
Date: 03/13/67; Scott: 476G
Madonna and Child
La Madone et ľEnfant
Ingres (1780-1867)
Date: 08/23/67; Scott: 479H
The Holy Family
La Sainte Famille
Michael Angelo (1475-1564)
Date: 01/10/68; Scott: 482
Adoration of the Shepherds
Adoration des bergers
Sckongauer (1430-1491)
Date: 01/10/68; Scott: 482F
Holy Family
La Sainte Famille
Raphael(1483-1520)
Date: 01/10/68; Scott: 482F
Christ with Mary
and Martha
Le Christ avec Marie et Marthe
Tintoretto (1518-1594)
Date: 01-10-68; Scott: 482G
Rest during the Flight
into Egypt
Moment de repos pendant la fuite en Égypte
Caravaggio (1573-1610)
Date: 01-10-68; Scott: 482G
Virgin and Child with
Harp Players
La Vierge et ľEnfant avec desjoueurs harpes
Hans Memling (1440-1494)
Date: 09/11/68; Scott: 488 F
Madonna and Child
La Madone et ľEnfant
Raphael (1483-1520)
Date: 1969; Scott: 496
Madonna and Child
La Madone et ľEnfant
Roberto Feruzi (1853-1934)
Date: 1969; Scott: 496A
Madonna and Child
La Madone et ľEnfant
Giovanni Bellini (1425-1516)
Date: 1969; Scott: 496B
The Annunciation
L'Annonciation
Portuguese School 17th century
Date: 1969; Scott: 496C
Madonna and Child
La Madone et ľEnfant
Anthony Van Dyck (1599-1641)
Date: 1969; Scott: 496D
Madonna and Child
La Madone et ľEnfant
Francesco Albani (1578-1660)
Date: 1969; Scott: 496E
The Adoration of the Magi
L'adoration des mages
Viennese Master (1469-?)
Date: 1969; Scott: 496F
The Adoration of the Magi
L'doration des mages
Anthony Van Dyck (1599-1641)
Date: 1969; Scott: 496G
Madonna and Child and Angel
La Madone et ľEnfant et un ange
Portuguese School 16th century
Date: 1969; Scott: 496H