Panama Nature
The name "Panama"
originated in pre-Colombian times and means "abundance of fish,
butterflies and trees".
Panama is a natural
land bridge that connects North and Central America with South
America. Consequently, Panama's tropical jungles and forests are
teeming with animal and plant species from both continents. More
bird species live in Panama than in North America. In total, there
are 954 indigenous bird species plus hundreds of migrating bird
species.
Panama is also home to
225 mammal species, 214 reptile species and 143 amphibious
species, as well as host to more than 10,000 plant species,
including 1,200 orchid varieties, 678 fern species and 1,500
varieties of trees.
Panama provides visitors with an abundance of protected areas.
More than 29 percent of Panama's land mass is given over to 15
national parks, a dozen forest reserves and 10 wild life
sanctuaries.
In the highlands, in the province of Chiriqui, you can see
quetzals, and in the jungles of Darien you can see the Harpy
Eagle, the national bird. The mountain chain (Cordillera) of Cerro
Azul, the humid forest regions of the Baru Volcano and the Cerro
La Vieja, as well as the famous Oil Pipe Road (Camino del
Oleoducto) in the National Park Soberania are all recognized as
world-class bird observation sites
The natural monument of Barro Colorado is a wild life sanctuary
used as a natural laboratory by the Smithsonian Institute.
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