Panama

What is Panama known for? - Corien Dijsselbloem

Panama. Home of the eighth wonder of the world. While growing up, all my history textbooks always mentioned “The Panama Canal”, but I never knew how big a deal it was until I moved to Panama, 2 and a half years ago. The Panama Canal is a ship canal that connects the Atlantic and Pacific Ocean together. It all started in 1513, when Vasco Nunez de Balboa discovered the isthmus, and it was until 1881 when a French company ran by Ferdinand de Lesseps started digging a canal across Panama. De Lesseps’ plan originally consisted of making a sea level canal, but due to the difficulty of the excavation process, a canal with locks was the only option left for a successful canal. After gallons of sweat, hundreds of cases of dengue, deaths and many other factors, the Canal was finally completed in 1913, but officially opened in 1914. The canal has changed Panama completely. Not only has it changed Panama, but it changed the whole world. Before the canal, ships had to sail all the way around South America in order to get from the Pacific to the Atlantic and vice versa. It allows the ships travels to be way shorter and saves companies from spending millions of dollars more. Last year, the canal celebrated 100 years of excellence. The canal is the top tourist attraction in Panama, where visitors can explore it more through the museum, or actually raveling through it! But besides The Canal, Panama attracts many young and elder people because of its beautiful beaches, towns, parks, plazas, museums, and many other locations. Many people chose to retire in Panama because the cost of life is affordable, it feels like summer year round, a large amount of the population speak English, and there are many job opportunities. People love visiting Panama not only to see its landmarks but because Panama is the happiest country in the world. Visiting Panama should definitely be in everyone’s bucket list in order to spend a wonderful vacation, that will make you want to stay and not go back home.