THE CARIBBEAN AREA — PANAU 



FISHERY RESOURCES 



Character of the Coasts 



Panama has long coastlines, both on the Caribbean and on the Pacific, On the Caribbean 

 side the coast extends about /V80 miles £rom the Colombian border, at Cape Tiburon, to the 

 Costa Rican border at the Rio Sixaola. The Pacific coastline extends from the Colombian 

 border, near Point Cocalito, to the Costa Rican border at Burica Point — a distance of about 

 770 miles. 



Caribbean Coast 



From Cape Tiburon the shoreline trends northwestward to Brava Point, thence almost due 

 westward to lianzanillo Point. From ManzaniUo Point it courses west-southwestward to Buppan 

 Bluff and then north-westward to the Costa Rican frontier. The shape of the coastline, then, 

 is like an "S" when viewed from east to west. 



The coastal characteristics are quite varied. In some sections there are miles of sandy, 

 surf -swept beaches; and in other areas the shore is faced with high cliffs. Some sectiMis 

 are impenetrable mangrove swamps. Coral ledges, reefs, and heads are common for practically 

 the entire length of the coast. There are many isolated rocks and a few islands. 



From Puerto Escoces to San Bias Bay, a distance of about 100 miles, there are many small 

 cays and rocks. The Mulatas Archipelago and Holandes Cays in this secticsi sweep around to 

 the northwestward and westward at a considerable distance from the main coastline. The cays 

 are mostly low, flat, sandy, and thickly wooded; they lie in clusters, separated by navigable 

 channels leading to secure anchorages all along the shore. Some of •the cays have springs of 

 good water and convenient spots for landing and careening small craft. Holandes Cays, the 

 principal off-lying cays, are about seven miles in extent and their eastern end lies about 

 18 miles eastward of San Bias Point, 



The Gulf of San Bias is six miles wide at the entrance and it indents the shoreline 

 about six miles. Numerous creeks and rivers discharge into the Gulf but their entrances 

 are obstructed by bars. There are a number of small islands off San Bias Point — among them 

 is Porvenir, a famous tourist attraction. From San Bias Point to Colon there are a number 

 of small bays and coves and also some small isolated rocks and shoals . There has been some 

 commercial activity in this region in connection with planting coconut palms. Limon Bay is 

 the Caribbean entrance to the Panama Canal, Cristobal-Colon, on this Bay, is the principal 

 population center on the Caribbean coast of Panama, From Limon Bay, the coast is fairly 

 regular with sand beaches, rocky areas, and cliffs. Off the shoreline are numerous small 

 ledges — in places forming a barrier reef. Between the Chagres River outlet (near Limon Bay) 

 and Punta de Coaita (8° A8' N. 81° 15' Tf), a distance of about 80 miles, a heavy surf breaks 

 continually and there is no sheltered anchorage and no safe landing, except in native boats 

 under favorable circumstances and at spots known to coasters and fishermen. Mosquito Gulf is 

 a shallow bight taking in most of the coast from Plantation Bay to Cape Valiente. It offers 

 no protection for it is open for the entire distauice. An island, Escudo de Veraguas is 

 located in the western part of the Gulf and this is almost surrounded by a small bank with 

 heavy coral growth. 



The Chiriqui lagoon, a large indentation on the coast, is 30 miles in length from east 

 to west, 12 miles wide at the center, five miles at its eastern end, and 10 miles at its 

 western extremity. It offers secure anchorage for all types of vessels. Tiger Channel, the 

 main entrance, is open to the northward and is three miles wide between Toro Cays and Water 

 Cay; southward of this line the shoals are numerous and the deep channels between them are 

 comparatively narrow, but there is no bar. The shores of Chiriqui Lagoon, for the most part, 

 are low and svvamp but there are a few sandy beach areas. The north side of the Lagoon is 

 fringed with detached shoals and coral heads. A number of creeks enter the Lagoon and some 

 are navigable for small canoes. Chiriqui Grande is the principal settlement and there are 



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