Gulf of Panama
| Gulf of Panama | |
|---|---|
| Waters | Pacific Ocean |
| Land mass | Isthmus of Panama |
| Geographical location | 8 ° 6 ′ N , 79 ° 19 ′ W |
 |
|
| width | 250 km |
| Greatest water depth | 220 m |
| Islands | Pearl Islands |
| Tributaries | Panama Canal |
The Gulf of Panama ( Spanish Golfo de Panamá , English Gulf of Panama ) is a large bay on the Pacific side of Panama .
At its widest point, the bay is around 250 kilometers with a maximum depth of 220 meters. The Gulf of Panamá is connected to the Caribbean by the Panama Canal . In the bay there are other small golf courses such as the Gulf of Parita or the Gulf of San Miguel as well as a number of smaller islands such as the Isla del Rey in the Archipelago of the Pearl Islands .
The gulf is formed on the west side by the Azuero peninsula and on the east side by the Panamanian province of Darién .
The Gulf of Panama produces a warm ocean current whose influence on the vegetation reaches as far as the Galapagos Islands .
The Gulf of San Miguel and the story of discovery
The Gulf of San Miguel is the setting for a chapter in the history of European discovery . On September 25, 1513, Vasco Núñez de Balboa was the first European to see the Pacific from the American continent. He was on an expedition to the legendary "Goldland" . Four days later he took a few steps into the sea at the mouth of the Saban River and, when he noticed salty sea water , took possession of the "mar del sur" ( South Sea ) for his king.