Panama: Geography and Environment

Panama occupies the narrow isthmus connecting Central and South America, bordered by Costa Rica to the west, Colombia to the east, the Caribbean Sea to the north, and the Pacific Ocean to the south. The country's defining geographic feature is the Panama Canal, which cuts across the isthmus and connects the two oceans. Panama's terrain includes a mountainous interior spine, coastal lowlands on both sides, and the Darien region in the east, a remote area of dense rainforest bordering Colombia with no road connection to the rest of the country.

Panama has a tropical climate with high humidity year round, a wet season generally from May to December and a shorter dry season from January to April, particularly on the Pacific side. The Caribbean coast receives rainfall more consistently throughout the year than the Pacific side. Temperatures are relatively stable year round due to Panama's proximity to the equator, with cooler conditions found in the higher elevations of the western highlands near the border with Costa Rica.

Panama contains extensive tropical rainforest, particularly in the Darien region, which forms part of one of the most biologically diverse areas in the world and serves as a natural barrier between North and South America. The Panama Canal watershed is a critical protected area, since the canal's operation depends on rainfall and forest cover to maintain water levels in Gatun Lake. Panama has established a substantial network of national parks and protected areas, though deforestation, agricultural expansion, and infrastructure development continue to pressure its rainforests and biodiversity, particularly outside the canal watershed and Darien.