THE CARIBBEAN AREA — PANAMA 



narrow-gTiage railroads used in connection with the banana plantations in the region. The 

 only developments are those of large fruit con^janies. Depths in the Lagoon lam to about 

 20 fathoms. 



Almirante Bay is northward of the western end of Chiriqui Lagoon and it extends about 

 15 miles from east to west, and 13 miles from north to south. The shores are very irregular 

 and nxanerous islands lie in the southeastern part. It possesses excellent accoairaodations for 

 almost any type of vessel and safe anchorages are available. The shores of the Bay are very 

 fertile and have been developed by banana companies. The eastern and western sides are verj' 

 low, swampy, and densely wooded. Several small streams enter the south-western and western 

 parts of the Bay, but these are navigable only for a short distance by small canoes. 

 Columbus Island, Provision Island, and other smaller islands form the northeast margin of 

 the Bay, Boca del Toro, between Columbus Island and Provision Island is the principal 

 entrance, and the channel varies from 3/^+ to l/^ mile in width, with depths up to 13 fathoms. 

 The tovm of Bocas del Tore is the capital of the province of the same name and it is located 

 on the north coast of Almircinte Bay on a peninsula forming the southeastern extremity of 

 Columbus Island, It owes its importance to the banana shipping trade, Bocas del Drago is 

 a northern entrance to Almirante Bay and it is narrow and tortuous. The town of Almirante is 

 located on the west side of Almiraoite Bay at the head of Ambrosio Bight, It is the hesd.- 

 quarters of the United Fruit Con55any and is the exporting point for bananas. Narrow guage 

 (36 inch) railroads give some access to the interior plantations. There is a concrete wharf 

 and other shipping facilities. 



From Almirante Lagoon, the coast trends northwestward to the border. There is a dark 

 sandy beach, fringed by reefs upon which the sea breaks with considerable violence. The 

 whole of the interior is swampy and there is an extensive fresh-water lagoon called Sanssm. 

 This is deep enough for canoes and it is said to connect with the Rio Changuinola (seven miles 

 northwest of Tirbi Point) and the Rio Sixaola (14- miles northwest from Tirbi Point). 



The winds and the weather of this coast are affected considerably by the migration of 

 the equatorial belt of calms. This belt reaches its southern-most point in February when it 

 extends along and just south of latitude five degrees north. During the months of January 

 to April* inclusive, this calm belt, although moving slowly northward, remains south of 

 Panama, and the trades blow with great strength and constancy from north and northeast. 

 This period is known as the dry season. 



As the belt of calms moves slowly northward, the trades are frequently replaced by calms 

 and light variable winds. The transition month is iiay, when the rainy season begins. During 

 the latter part of June the trades regain some of their strength due to the increased pressure 

 over the North Atlantic, and, although this effect is quite pronounced over most of the 

 Caribbean, it is ^ery slight in this region. 



As pressure over the Atlantic weakens in August and September, calms and light winds are 

 agsdn frequent. Tnen, as winter approaches, the belt of calms slowly retreats southward to 

 be replaced again by the trades. 



Near the coast the prevailing winds are influenced by local land and sea breeze effects. 

 It appears that if the prevailing wind is onshore, as it is over most of the area, it will be 

 strengthened toward midday by the sea breeze and weaKened in the earlv morning hours by the 

 tendency to develop a land breeze. If the prevailing wind is not directly onshore but at an 

 angle with it, the effect ma/ be not only a weakening but also a turning or deflecting of 

 the wind. 



For example, at Colon where the coast extends northeast-southwest, all winds are deflect- 

 ed to the west or northv/est during the afternoon under the influence of the sea breeze; under 

 the influence of lower temperatures over the land during the night and early morning, norther- 

 ly component winds will tend to shift through north toward northeast and southerly winds will 

 back through southwest and south through southeast. 



During the middle of the rainy season, westerly winds are frequent along the coast. 

 These winds are known as "vandavales". In general, wind velocities are highest during the 

 dry season, a secondary maximum appearing usually in July. 



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