Geography

Area

Climate

characterized by a tropical maritime climate; experiences high temperatures, humidity, and cloud cover; features an extended rainy season from May to January, followed by a brief dry season from January to May

Terrain

the landscape consists predominantly of steep, rugged mountains interspersed with dissected upland plains; coastal regions are marked by rolling hills

Land use

Location

located in Central America, bordered by the Caribbean Sea to the east and the North Pacific Ocean to the west, positioned between Colombia and Costa Rica

Coastline

2,490 km

Elevation

Irrigated land

394 sq km (2022)

Map references

Central America and the Caribbean

Land boundaries

Maritime claims

Natural hazards

the Darien region occasionally faces severe storms and wildfires

Geography - note

holds a strategically significant position at the eastern end of the isthmus, creating a land bridge that connects North and South America; the Panama Canal, which it controls, links the North Atlantic Ocean with the North Pacific Ocean via the Caribbean Sea 

Natural resources

natural resources include copper, mahogany forests, shrimp, and hydropower

Area - comparative

slightly smaller in area than South Carolina

Geographic coordinates

9 00 N, 80 00 W

Population distribution

the population is primarily concentrated in the central region of the country, especially near the Canal, with a significant number of residents also found in the western area around David; the eastern third of the nation is largely uninhabited

Major lakes (area sq km)