Isthmus of Panamá

The isthmus of Panamá is a narrow band ground being between the Caribbean Sea and the Pacific Ocean, connecting the South America and the North America. It was formed 3 million years ago during the Pliocène. It is in the nation of the Panamá, and is cut into two by the Canal of Panamá. As much of Isthmus S, it is a place of great strategic importance.

Geology

The formation of the isthmus during pliocene (there are 5 - 1,8 million years) results from a change in the circulation of the oceans leading to what is now called the Gulf Stream.

Various evidence suggests that the creation of this ground mass and that the hot and wet climate which followed on Europe results from the formation of an Arctic layer of ice and contributed to the Glaciation during the Pléistocène which followed.

The many geological changes which occurred in the area made isthmus of Panamá a mixture of géotypes marine, sedimentary and magmatic; this returned the construction of the difficult channel of Panamá.

Biosphere

The Panamanian biosphere is strewn with fauna and flora coming at the same time from North America and the South. For example, one finds more than 500 species of birds on the isthmus. The tropical climate encourages also the proliferation of coloured species: insects, snakes, fish and reptiles. Divided in its lognuor by an assembly line, the climate of the isthmus is generally wet on its Atlantique side but watch a clear division between dry season and rain season on the Pacifique side.

Source

Zh-min-nan: Panamá Tē-kiap

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