Panama

"A man, a plan, a canal - Panama"

Panama gained independence from Colombia in 1903.

During The Seventies the country became a dictatorship under General Omar Torrijos. When he died on a mysterious plane crash, his "benevolent" dictatorship became a Banana Republic under the command of CIA pawn Manuel Noriega, who then became a despot rebel. His reign ended when the United States invaded in 1989, removing Noriega in an attack called "Operation Just Cause" the first use of the F-117A Nighthawk...destroying half the city in the process.

Since then, it's been a democracy.

Panama's most famous feature is the Panama Canal, fully under the control of Panama since 1999, although the US retains the right to intervene to ensure the free use of said canal if need be. The canal was built, at great expense of life (estimated at 27,500 for the two attempts), between 1904 and 1914, after a failed French attempt in the 1880s. It is a major shipping route for the obvious reason that one would otherwise have to go round Cape Horn instead, an area known for strong winds.

The canal's lock dimensions are a major factor in shipping design, with many ships built to "Panamax" size. However, modern ships tend to be large and the canal is now being widened.

Panama is well known as a "flag of convenience" for shipping, a status going back to the Prohibition era.

Panama in fiction:

• The Tailor of Panama

the Panamanian flag