Panama

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Panama

Panama is a Central American country that lies on the narrow bridge of the Isthmus of Panama, which connects North and South America. The tropical country, which embraces the isthmus and more than 1,600 islands off the Atlantic and Pacific coasts, is famous as the site of the Panama Canal, which cuts through its central part. It is also well known for its natural beauty, its diverse flora and fauna, including several hundred species of birds and trees, and its vibrant music and culture. Despite its rather small size, Panama has a wide variety of landscapes and habitats, including tropical rainforests, savannahs, cool mountain forests, mangrove-covered tidal lands, coral reefs and beaches. Due to its ancient role as a land bridge across which species migrated between continents, the isthmus is home to a rich mix of flora and fauna. As a consequence of this interchange, the wildlife of Panama includes mammals like sloths, anteaters and armadillos, which originated from South America, as well as jaguars, tapirs and deers, which originated from North America. Panama's rich fauna also includes several species of giant sea turtles, which nest on the beaches. In addition, few similar areas have a larger number of resident and migratory bird species. Around one-sixth of the country's territory is covered by national parks and reserves. The parks of Panama are famous for their lush tropical rainforests and abundance of wildlife. In the Darién region in eastern Panama, a national park was established in 1980 and was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List the next year.