CLIMATE OF PANAMA, 



019 



Those in the vast semicircular Gulf of Panama also rest, like tlie isthmus itself, 

 on a marine bed less than 25 fathoms deep. Here the larger islands form with 

 over 100 islets the so-called Pearl Archipelago, although their pearl fisheries have 

 long been exhausted. 



Climate. 



The climate of the province of Panama presents some slight transitions 

 between those of the north-western isthmuses and the neighbouring South 

 American continent. The mean annual temperature of 78° to 80'^ Fahr. is some- 

 what higher on the xVtlantic side, which is due to the warmer marine currents of 



Fig. 144.— Gulf of Panama. 

 Scale 1 ; 3,5ou,000. 







v. 



â 



West oF Greenwich 80° 



78- 



Deplhs. 



OtolO 

 Fathoms. 



10 to 50 

 Fathoms. 



50 to 5(X) 

 Fathoms. 



500 Fathoms 

 and upwaids. 



60 Miles. 



the Caribbean Sea. But throughout the year the extreme range of temperature 

 never exceeds 30°, the limits being 65° and 95° Fahr. 



Under the influence of the neighbouring continent the prevailing trade winds 

 set regularly rather from the north than the north-east. They daily increase in 

 force with the heat of the sun, then gradually fall, and often leave the nights 

 perfectly calm. Between May and November these northern currents are replaced 

 by the vcndavales, or south-eastern monsoons. 



The Atlantic seaboard is exposed to the sudden squalls which are so dangerous 

 to shipping in the Gulf of Mexico. The isthmian region is also occasionally 

 visited by cj^clones, such as that of October, 1865, which swept over Colon, the 



