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Panama Facts

 * Location: Borders Caribbean Sea and North Pacific Ocean
 * Population: 3,309,679
 * Climate: Tropical Maritime-Hot Humid Cloudy
 * Terrain: Rugged mountains with dissected upland plains

Natural Hazards

 * The common natural hazards that occur in the Darien Area of Panama are severe storms and forest fires.
 * Severe storms can devastate land and properties of people in any area.
 * Forest fires can harm the interests of people who may farm or use the forest as a means of agriculture and farming.
 * Due to the frequency of fires, the economic value of the Panama Canal is at risk for economic trade and passage.
 * [[image:geo140lbstatebjet/123.jpg align="center" caption="Red dots indicate fire activity in Panama" link="http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/NaturalHazards/view.php?id=11227"]]

Physical Processes
The Isthmus of Panama was formed by the collision of the Central American and South American plate. With the Panama Canal sitting along the Central American and South American tectonic plates, they create a convergent plate boundary. Due to the pressure building up around the fault lines, seismological activity is a possibility. In historical records, scientists have shown that the two plates have remained dormant for centuries. Therefore, causing large amounts of stored potential energy in the area. Every 300-900 years, the Limon-Pedro Miguel fault lines that surround the Panama Canal, witness a catastrophic earthquake. The most recent quake took place in 1621 (around 400 yrs. ago) and according to scientists, the Panama Canal is due for a massive earthquake.

Preparation:
The best way to overcome a natural disaster with the minimal amount of damage is possible is to be prepared. Of course one cannot wait on their toes 24/7 waiting for a natural disaster to hit, but you can prepare yourself in a different way that can offer you peace of mind. One can make sure that their homes are always up to code, and are natural disaster safe. Houses that have been eaten by termites, or that weren’t built to code are more like to have more damage in the event of a natural disaster, than houses that are maintained and up to code. Another way one can be prepared during the event of a natural disaster such as an earthquake, is to make sure that you have an earthquake kit handy at all times such as one for your house, car, school, and office. A small collection of non-perishable food and water that can last you and your family at least a week should be stored in an easily accessible place that your family knows about. This is because stores may be closed for a while after an earthquake strikes. Also be sure to include the typical first-aid items such as Band-Aids, disinfectant liquid or wipes, gauze, wrapping, cotton, etc. Make sure that you are regularly checking your earthquake kit to make sure that nothing has expired. Having emergency light sources such as flashlights with extra batteries, or candles with waterproof matches, just in case the electricity in your area is out these will come in handy. It is also a good idea to have a battery operated radio to make sure that you are being kept up to date with your surroundings during this time. It is always better to be safe than sorry.

Interesting Links
media type="youtube" key="p5e3u9-Rz_o" height="315" width="420"Panama Canal History Sources: "Earthquakes." //Ready.gov//. 2012. Web. 19 Apr. 2012. . "Panama Facts." //Panama Facts and Information//. Info Please. Web. 19 Apr. 2012. . "Panama." New Standard Encyclopedia. 20 vols. Chicago: Standard Educational Corporation, 1991. "Panama and Panama Canal." Lands and Peoples. 7 vols. U.S.A.: Groiler Incorporated, 1991.

[|Earthquake Crossword Puzzle]