d from Washington, DC by the Office of Insular Affairs,
US Department of the Interior
Flag description: the flag of the US is used
@Palmyra Atoll:Economy
Economy - overview: no economic activity
@Palmyra Atoll:Transportation
Highways: much of the road and many causeways built during World War
II are unserviceable and overgrown
Ports and harbors: West Lagoon
Airports: 1 (1999 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (1999 est.)
@Palmyra Atoll:Military
Military - note: defense is the responsibility of the US
@Palmyra Atoll:Transnational Issues
Disputes - international: none
______________________________________________________________________
PANAMA
@Panama:Introduction
Background: With US backing, Panama seceded from Colombia in 1903 and
promptly signed a treaty with the US allowing for the construction of
a canal and US sovereignty over a strip of land on either side of the
structure (the Panama Canal Zone). The Panama Canal was built by the
US Army Corps of Engineers between 1904 and 1914. On 7 September 1977,
an agreement was signed for the complete transfer of the Canal from
the US to Panama by 1999. Certain portions of the Zone and increasing
responsibility over the Canal were turned over in the intervening
years. With US help, dictator Manuel NORIEGA was deposed in 1989. The
entire Panama Canal, the area supporting the Canal, and remaining US
military bases were turned over to Panama on 31 December 1999.
@Panama:Geography
Location: Middle America, bordering both the Caribbean Sea and the
North Pacific Ocean, between Colombia and Costa Rica
Geographic coordinates: 9 00 N, 80 00 W
Map references: Central America and the Caribbean
Area:
total: 78,200 sq km
land: 75,990 sq km
water: 2,210 sq km
Area - comparative: slightly smaller than South Carolina
Land boundaries:
total: 555 km
border countries: Colombia 225 km, Costa Rica 330 km
Coastline: 2,490 km
Maritime claims:
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate: tropical maritime; hot, humid, cloudy; prolonged rainy season
(May to January), short dry season (January to May)
Terrain: interior mostly steep, rugged mountains and dissected, upland
plains; coastal areas largely plains and rolling hills
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: Volcan de Chiriqui 3,475 m
Natural resources: copper, mah
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