“the Panama Canal Expansion Project and Its Influence in the Metropolitan Region of Panama City”
“The Panama Canal Expansion Project and its Influence in the Metropolitan Region of Panama City”
Jose Joaquin Lim Cardenas PLAN 762 Metropolitan Regional Planning Pratt Institute May 2, 2012
Table of Contents
Introduction .................................................................................................................................3
The Expansion of the Panama Canal ..........................................................................................6
Panama City Metropolitan Region .............................................................................................10
Conclusion ................................................................................................................................15
Bibliography ..............................................................................................................................17
2
Introduction
To set up the context, a brief overview of Panama’s history will be presented. Panama is located on the narrowest and lowest belt of the continent. It is midway between the landmasses of North and South America. This has made Panama a major regional and global transit hub for travelers by sea, land and air. This strip of land, which is 700 km long by 100 km wide, is made up of an isthmus that was created when the oceans separated about three million years ago. This is quite recent in geological terms. The Isthmus of Panama has always served as a bridge between the two major continental masses. Before the first Hispanic settlers, the native population was uniformly distributed along the coast and fluvial communication routes. With the arrival of the Spaniards, this bridge function was slightly modified as a shortcut between to oceans. The territory was then organized along the Trans-isthmian route and on the base of two terminal cities. Panama City and “Nombre de Dios”, both founded in 1519, were the first terminal cities. Due to many pirate attacks
Jose Joaquin Lim Cardenas PLAN 762 Metropolitan Regional Planning Pratt Institute May 2, 2012
Table of Contents
Introduction .................................................................................................................................3
The Expansion of the Panama Canal ..........................................................................................6
Panama City Metropolitan Region .............................................................................................10
Conclusion ................................................................................................................................15
Bibliography ..............................................................................................................................17
2
Introduction
To set up the context, a brief overview of Panama’s history will be presented. Panama is located on the narrowest and lowest belt of the continent. It is midway between the landmasses of North and South America. This has made Panama a major regional and global transit hub for travelers by sea, land and air. This strip of land, which is 700 km long by 100 km wide, is made up of an isthmus that was created when the oceans separated about three million years ago. This is quite recent in geological terms. The Isthmus of Panama has always served as a bridge between the two major continental masses. Before the first Hispanic settlers, the native population was uniformly distributed along the coast and fluvial communication routes. With the arrival of the Spaniards, this bridge function was slightly modified as a shortcut between to oceans. The territory was then organized along the Trans-isthmian route and on the base of two terminal cities. Panama City and “Nombre de Dios”, both founded in 1519, were the first terminal cities. Due to many pirate attacks
Bibliography: 1. Eduardo Tejeira Devis, comp. “Panama, an Architectural and Landscape Guide”. Sevilla: Junta de Andalucia, Panama: Instituto Panameño de Turismo, 2007. 2. Proposal for the Expansion of the Panama Canal. Panama Canal Authority, 2006. 3. Category III Environmental Impact Study, Panama Canal Expansion Project - Third Set of Locks. URS Holdings, Inc. Chapters 7, 8 and 11. July, 2006 4. Ricaurte Vasquez. “Remodeling the Panama Canal: Master Plan for Modernization and Global Market Appeal”. TR News 231, 2004. 5. Eduardo Tejeira Devis. “The City, its Inhabitants and its Architecture”. Edit. Angel Morua Achiaga. Panama: United Nations Development Programme PNUD, Ministry of the Presidency Office of the Old Quarter, City: Territory for Innovation, 2003. 6. Marquez, Ana Lucia. Panama Canal Authority (ACP) Engineer. Interviewed April 15, 2012 17