NATIONAL INTELLIGENCE SURVEY 77; PANAMA; MILITARY GEOGRAPHY

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• Collection: NIS
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP01-00707R000200080045-8
• Release Decision: RIF
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CONFIDENTIAL
77 /GS /MG
El
r
r
B"llu
PanaFy
l March 1974
NATIONAL IN
CONFOENTIAL
NO f ORE IGN DISSEM
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-IrmomInc-
F
PANAMA
CONTENTS
This chapter ipersedes the geographic cover-
age in the General Survey dated March 1970.
A. Location and description
1
1. Topography
1
2. Climate
5
B. Military geographic regions
5
1. Forested Panama and Southern High-
lands
5
2. Southwestern :,owlands and South
Central Lowlands
g
C Strategic area
7
D. Internal route
9
E. Approaches
9
1 Land
10
2 Sea
10
3 Air
10
CONFIDEN ITAL

W
FIGURES
page
Page
Fig. 1
Western highlands (p)'wto)
1
Fig. 5
Flat plains in south- central
Fig. 2
Dissected hills in the suthwest
Panama (p
4
4
photo)
Fig. 6
Canal Zone strategic area ma
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r
Fig. 3
Rugged highlands in southern
Fig. 7
Fig. 8
Panama photo)
Amphibious landing areas (table)
9
11
Panama photo)
2
Fig. 9
Climatic data (snap and
Fig. 4
Mangrove forest at the mouth of
graphs) oi
p f lows
12
the Rio Chepo photo)
3
Fig. 10
Military geographic factors map)
do
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Military Geography
A. Location and description (U /OU)
Pit nama� inclt:ding the Republic of Panama and
the U.S. cased Canal 7onc ---is at tilt. narrowest part
of the isthmus connecting North and Soutit America.
The Canal ;Gone isabout 500 nauticid miles vest of the
important oilfields in western Venezuela and is %vithirt
700 nautical rnilcs of Cuba. Pananla's MOST vaivable
resource has been its geographic location and the
subsc(1ur!nt construclion of tilt. Punarrta Canal. one of
the two most significant interoccan ship canals of the
world, '['!le canal is a vital factor in hemisphere
(lcferise and economic consideratlolls. it greatly
facilitates movement of naval and commercial vessels
between the Atlantic and Pacific Oce ;tlls,
"'Ire combined area of Panama (2(3,208 square
rn �acs) and the Canal Zone (553 square mil including
wetter areas) is about two thirds the area elf
Penttsylvarlia, The country has a maximum cast -tyest
cxicnt of about 4W tltiles' and at maxitntim north
south cxlant of 120 rnilcs. The population, t,640,600 is
shout one -tenth that of Pennsylvan �a (Pauatna,
1,504,000 and Cana! Zone, 46,600),
I. Topography
Densely forested highlands and plains comprise
about three- fourths of tilt. ckluutry; the retnaintier
't)istunccs me in statute rnilcs rmless aanlic:d rnilcs arc
siscific:ttly stated,
consists predominantly of cultF;ated orgrass-orscrub-
covered lowland plains (Figur(r lo, map at end of
chapt ^r).
Fast -ryes,' trending bands of rugged hills and
mountains (Figure 1), generally between 500 and
7,000 feel ahove sea level, cgelld almost unbmkcn
front the Costa Hirt border to Colombia. I�iighly
dissected hills and mountains rise aitruptly from the
narrow Caribbean coastal plain and form the drainage
divide between the Caribbean artd pacific. Ill the
southwest, a narrow spur of predorninaniiy rugged
hills (Figure 2) extends from the div �de to the Pacific.
The highlands forming tile divide am an ctlrrtosl
enrl"llotts he'( of high, rugged, steep -sided
mountains and hills elloracteri-red by steep, highly
dissected slopes, ticeply incised, narrow V shaped
valleys, and nearly continuous crests; perpendicular
sharp crested ridges are connnoll in the west.
I"evations increase from cast to west reaching a
maximum elevation of 11,400 feet near the Costa Rica
bonder-. [n general, elevations range from about 1,650
feet to 6,600 feel in the west to generally less than
1,900 feet in the cast. Adjaccu.t to and within the
Canal Zone, the divide is hisected Ilya predornitlantiv
rolling pill"' that ilia- S()me scattered dissected areas
and law hills. South of Santiago, a rugged group of
severely dissected, steep -sided hills and mountains
(Figure 3) rises steeply from the Pacific coast and
reaches a olaxinlnm cicyation of about 5,000 feet.
FIGURE 1. This maze of steep, deeply dissected mountains Is typical of mast of the
mountainous areas, Particularly in the western port of the country. Cresilines are short
and randomly aligned; most crests are sharp. Volleys are V- shaped, winding, and
deeply incised. The entire mass Is blanketed by dense broadleaf evergreen forests, (C)
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Plains comprise a large area of eastern Panama on the
Pacific side of the highland divide. The plains are
predominr.ntly rolling, with large areas of flat surfaces,
some areas of dissected surfaces, and a few scattered
low hills. Highly dissected, discontinuous hills and
mountains fringe the narrow Pacific coastal plain and,
in places, extend to the coast.
Dense broadleaf evergreen forests, in places
intermixed with broadleaf deciduous forests, cover
more than half of western Panama and nearlv all of
eastern Panama. The trees are commonly closely
spaced, are up to 10 feet in diameter, and have a dense
continuous canopy. The deciduous trees lose their
leaves gradually, and ne leaves continually repl. ce
those that have fallen; thus the forest canopy is fairly
continuous all year. The undergrowth is generally
sparse under the forest canopy but is more dense in
FIGURE 2. Low hills with rounded
to rugge J summit areas stretch from
the central part of the western
highlands southward to the Pacific
and form the Peninsula de las
Palmas. They are moder%itely dis-
sected, and narrow V- shaped
valleys prevail. Most elevations in
this hill area are less than 1,400
feet. Broadleaf evergreen brush
intermixed with broadleaf ever-
green forest cover most of the
area. (C)
FIGUkE 3. A complex mass of
deeply dissected hills and a few
small scattered areus of roiling
plains compose a large part of the
Peninsula de Azuero, south of
Santiago. The hills rise steeply
from narrow, twisting valleys or
adjacent plains to A- shaped crests.
Most of the area is less than
2,650 feet above sea level. Broad-
leaf evergreen forest cr broadleaf
deciduous scrub cover most of the
area. (C)
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clearings and along streams. The forests are
interspersed with small, scattered cultivated or grass
covered areas near the coasts and are fringed by
cultivated or grass and scrub in the southwest.
Numerous streams drain the highlands and plains.
They are generally short vnd swift, except in the
eastern interior plains. In the highlands, thev flow
through deep valleys less than 150 feet wide and have
rocky or gravelly bottoms. Stream levels fluctuate
greatly from season to season. Most streams are less
than 3.5 feet deep during the low -water period,
January through April, but many exceed this level
during the high water period, May through
December. In the lowlands, streams flow sluggishl
through shallow, meandering channels between 150
and 500 feet wide; a few exceed 500 feet in width.
They are generally more than 3.5 feet deep; however,
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during the low -water period, sandbars and gravelly
bottoms are exposed locally. Stream bottoms are
mainly composed of gravel and sand but are silty or
muddy near the river mouths. Mangrove swamps
(Figure 4) and marshes are extensive, particularily in
the southern coastal areas. They var in extent and
depth as river floodwaters encroach on low -lying land
and as tidal flooding occurs along the coast. Drainage
features in the Canal Zone have been altered so greatly
that artificial rather than natural drainage dominates.
The outstanding features consist of the canal, which
ranges between 300 and 500 feet in width, and two
manmade lakes. Flooding does not occur in the Canal
Zone because all drainage is controlled.
Flat to rolling plains are in the south central and
southwestern parts of the country. The south central
plains are predominantly rolling, and scattered,
roughly dissected plains are adjacent to the highlands.
Relativelv small, discontinuous flat plains fringe the
FIGURE 4. Mangrove forest at the mouth of the Rio Chepo.
The trees are approximately 100 feet tall and their trunks
measure about 1 %2 feet in diameter; the canopy is dense.
Organic ooze is common on the ground. (C)
MARSH
coastal margins (Figure 5). In the southwest, extensive
flat plains fringe the coast and merge into gentl
rolling plains in the interior. A relatively large area of
dissected plains flanks the adjacent highland in the
north. Low, lightly dissected hills are scattered
throughout the plains and a small hilly area parallels
the Costa Rica border in the southwest. Throughout
the plains, elevations range from sea level to about
1,300 feet; however, most of the area is less than 600
feet above sea level. The plains are predominantly
covered by a mixture of grassland and scrub,
interspersed with cropland. Large areas of the plains in
the southwest are under continuous cultivation.
Numerous streams d -ain the adjacent highlands and
flow sluggishly across the south- central and
southwestern plains in broad, meandering channels.
Most streams are less than 250 feet Nvide, although a
few major streams are as much as 500 feet wide at their
mouths. Although depths of most principal streams are
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I FIGURE 5. Discontinuous areas of flat plains are common along the southern coasts.
t These plains near Aguadulce are nearly featureless; valley bottoms are less than 35
feet below the broad interfluves, and most slopes are less than 3%. Grasslands dotted
with patches of low evergreen and deciduous forest and deciduous scrub cover the
f
plains. (C)
6
more than 3.5 feet, sandbars and gravelly bottoms are and depth during the high water period and during
I visible, in places, during the low -water period. Near high tide.
the highlands, bottoms consist largely of gravel and Settlements and transportation lines are coneen-
sand, but downstream they are principally composed trated in the Canal Zone and its environs and in the y
of sand, mud, and silt. Swamps, primarily mangrove, southwest; in other parts of the country, settlement is 4 v
x and marshes fringe most of the coastal areas and sparse or nonexistent. The larger cities are at the
extend inland along the lower courses of man termini of the Panama C,111,11 and a
provide storage in(]
streams. The swamps and marshes increase in extent servicing facilities for its activities. Other urban
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communities, located mostly in southwestern Panama,
are small and serve primarily as regional agricultural
marketing or distribution centers. Generally, in the
urban areas, commercial and industrial establishments
are so intermingled with dwellings that few purely
residential sections exist. The larger cities have a grid
street pattern and consist of one- to two story, closely
spaced buildings constructed of concrete, brick, or
wood with tile or galvanized -iron roofs. The principal
streets are generally surfaced and two lanes wide. In
the smaller ur'.�an communities, buildings are
generally one story and of brick or wood construction
and have tile, galvanized -iron, or thatched roofs.
Rural dwellings are constructed largely of adobe.
Highways, although sparse, comprise the only
integrated transportation network in Panama. The
Inter- Arrierican Highway and a transisthmian road,
the Boyd- Roosevelt Highway, which serve the only
two significantly populated sections of the country,
are surfaced and in generally good Condit ,)n.
However, most of the feeder roads leading into the
Infer- American Highway are unsurfaced and become
impassable after heavy rains, Single -track 3'0" -gage
rail lines serve small areas in the northwest and
southwest, and a single -track 5'0" -gage rail line
augments the transportation facilities in the Canal
Zone. Inland waterways, with the exception of the
Panama Ca.tal are generally utilized for local
movement only and are relatively insignificant.
2. Climate
Panama has a tropical climate characterized by a
prolonged rainy season, May through December, and
a short dry season, January through April (Figure 9,
chart at end of chapter). Weather conditions during
these seasons are influenced chiefly by the
Intertropical Convergence Zone, located near Panama
during the rainy season, and by the strength of the
northeasterly trade winds, strongest and most
pronounced over the area during the (Iry season. In
most of Panama, temperature and relative humidity
are uniformly high all year and have only small to
moderate diurnal variations. Rainfall is plentiful,
averaging between 50 and 150 inches per year over
most sections, and occurs mostly as showers.
During the prolonged rainy season, the frequent,
often heavy, showery precipitation is the principal
cause of restricted visibility. Rainfall occurs on about
15 to 25 days per month, while the frequency of
thunderstorm days ranges from more than 20 per
month in parts of the interior to mostly 5 to 15 per
month elsewhere. A thunderstorm maximum usually
occurs in July, August, or September. Cloudiness is
extensive and skies frequently become cloudy to
overcast, especially ;luring the afternoon.
The shorter dry season is marked by negligible to
light rainfall, which occurs on 10 days per month or
less in moss sections, and by a reduced number of
thunderstorms, generally less than 3 per month.
Except for haze aloft and for cloud development along
windward slopes, visibility is generally good and skies
are clear to partly cloudy.
Northerly or northeasterly surface winds prevail
throughout the year except in the mountain sections,
where winds are deflected by topographic features,
and is the southwest, where winds are quite variable
during the rainy season. Wind speeds are generall
light, rarely exceeding 25 knots. However, strong gusts
occur in some mountain passes and in association with
thunderstorms.
B. Military geographic regions (C)
Differences in terrain afford a basis for dividing the
country into four military geographic regic ris�
Forested Panama, Southern Highlands, Southwestern
Lowlands, and South Central Lowlands (Figure 10,
map at end of chapter). The combination of
environmental enuditions within the Forested Panama
and Southern P`g"lands regions would have a
relatively uniform effect on military operations, but
there would be marked differences between these
regions and the Southwestern Lowlands and South
Central Lowlands regions.
1. Forested Panama and Southern Highlands
These regions consist of the predominantly forested
highlands and plains comprising about 75% of
Panama. The broadleaf evergreen and deciduous
forests covering most cif the regions are extremely
dense, continuous, and have an almost complete
canopy. Flanking the forested highlands in the
southwest and sou'll are hills and mountains
predominantly covered i>v brush, scrub, and grass and
having scattered areas of cultivation. Extensive areas
of swanip and marsh fringe both the Catibbean and
Pacific coasts. Settlements and transportation lines are
concentrated in the Canal 'Lone and its environs.
Elsewhere, the regions are extremel sparsely
populated, and large areas, especially in eastern
Panarna, are virtually uninhabited.
Conditions are largely unsuited for large -scale
conventional ground operations in these regions.
Vehicular cross country movement and offroad
dispersal would be extremely difficult or precluded in
most places by dense forest, steep slopes, or swamps
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and marshe. The only existing avenues for movement
would be the limited road network that serves the
Canal Zone and its environs. Several low capacity
bridges and, in places, sharp curves and steep grades
would impede onroad movement, and many of the
unsurfaced roads become impassable after heavy
rains. The construction of roads would be difficult.
Heavy grading and blasting and much cut and fill
would be required in the highlands, and road
alignments would be extremely restricted. Throughout
the regions, extensive clearing and grubbing would be
necessary and constant maintenance would be
required to prevent the regrowth of vegetation. The
region is well suited for the construction of
underground installations. The rugged hills and
mountains provide numerous sites for the construction
of tunnel -type installations, and the thick soils
covering most of the plains, hills, and lower mountain
slopes provide many sites for the construction of
bunkers and hasty ground fortifications. Access to
most potential construction sites in these regions,
however, would be extremely difficult. The dense
forests provide excellent concealment from air and
ground observation. Additional concealment from
ground observation and cover from flat trajectory fire
would be provided by the rugged terrain.
The regions are unsuited for airborne and airmobile
operations. Because of the rugged terrain and dense
vegetation there are virtually no sites for parachute
operations, and sites suitable for helicopter operations
are limited to a few areas of low cultivation and
grassland. The few existing airfields constitute the best
areas for most operations and the only suitable areas
for landings of assault -type aircraft. The largest
airfields are concentrated in the Canal Zone or within
25 miles east of the Zone; other airfields are mostly
small, unpaved facilities that would require constant
maintenance. Sites suitable for the construction of
large airfields having unrestricted runway orientations
and approaches are limited to a few widely scattered
flat plains. Elsewhere, excessive slopes preclude the
construction of all but the smallest airfields.
The coasts of these regions are poorly suited for
amphibious operations. Although there are many firm
sandy beaches, nearshore and, along the Caribbean
coast, offshore approaches are partly obstructed by
reefs, rocks, shoals, sandbars, extensive mudflats,
islands, and islets. Many of the beaches on the Pacific
coast are usable only at high water. Exits inland would
be precluded in most places by swamps, marshes, and
densely forested lowlands or hills. The few existing
transportation facilities are suitable only for local
movement.
Terrain conditions in these regions are excellent for
irregular force operations. The dense forests provide
excellent concealment from air and ground
observation and would permit clandestine movement
of small groups of personnel with a minimum chance
of detection. The rugged hills and mountains would
provide additional concealment from ground
observation as well as afford excellent cover from flat
trajectory fire. In most places the only possible means
of cross country movement would be on foot;
vehicular movement would be confined almost
entirely to the very few roads. The population and
transportation lines are concentrated in the Canal
Zone and its environs. Elsewhere, the population is
extremely sparse and many areas are virtually
uninhabited. Food supplies would be difficult to
obtain in these sparsely populated areas. The only
source of supply would be from small, scattered
agricultural areas and the Canal Zone. Fish and edible
wild plants are abundant; however, wild game is
generally scarce in densely forested areas. Fresh water
is generally available from perennial streams. Timber
for shelter materials is abundant, but firewood may be
scarce in some areas. Irregular force personnel would
be subjected to numerous detrimental physiological
and psychological aspects in these region. The tropical
climate with heavy rainfall and high temperatures and
humidity is both depressing and enervating, slowing
physical activity and creating health problems.
Diseases and infections develop rapidly, and materiel
is subject to rot, mildew, and corrosion. Dangerous
plants and animals, insects, and .allergenic plants are
widespread. The predominantly heavily forested
coasts and rugged, forested borders are mostly
unpatrolled and could be clandestinely penetrated by
small groups with little difficulty.
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2. Southwestern Lowland; and South- Central
Lowlands
These regions consist of the large, discontinuous
coastal plains along the Pacific coast. The plains are
predominantly flat to rolling with scattered areas of
roughly dissected plains and sonic low hills. 'file
central plains are mostly scrub- or grass covered, and
there are scattered areas of cultivation. L arge areas of
the Southwestern Lowlands are tinder continuous
cultivation. Extensive areas of swamp and marsh
fringe the coasts. Most of the population., settlements,
and transportation lines of Panama, outside of the
Canal Zone and its environs, are located in these
regions.
In these regions, conditions are, for the most part,
suitable for large -scale conventional ground
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operations, Onroad rnoverncnt is possible all year on
the Inter American Higlwc,y -nd on the surfaced
roads leading to the highwa However, most roads
that intersect this highway are of earth and are
impassable after heavy rains. Offroad dispersal and
cross- country movement of vehicles would be feasible
but would be restricted in direction by numerous
streams and severely hindered in the roughly dissected
areas. Cross- country vehicular movement would he
precluded in the areas of swamps and marshes. In
most of the region, the construction of roads would
involve only minor construction problems. Road
alignments would be generally unrestricted, and only
light grading and clearing would he required.
Extensive drainage facilities and much fill would be
required in the areas of swamp and marsh. There are
numerous sites suitable for the construction of bunkers
and hasty ground fortifications in the predominantly
thick, well drained soils of the regions. The generally
low relief, however, affords few sites for the
construction of tunnel -type installations. Oppor-
tunities for cover and concealment are limited in these
regions. Some cover from flat trajectory fire and
concealment from ground observation would he
provided by surface irregularities aril steep
streambanks� Additional limited cover from flat
trajectory fire and concealment from air and ground
observation would be prov ;ded by some structures in
the scattered towns and villages.
The regions are generall well suited for airborne
and airrnobde operations. There are numerous good
sites suitable for parachute and helicopter operations
in the grass and cultivated plains. The regrouping of
personnel and retrieval of supplies would he easy, and
landings and takeoffs of helicopters would be
unrestricted. There are also many suitable sites in the
scrub- covered plains; however, the size of most sites
would be limited. There are few existing airfields
suitable for the landings of assault -type aircraft. The
two largest airfields are south of David and northeast
of Rio Hato;' other airfields are small and tnpaved
and would require constant maintenance. The
construction of airfields would, for the most part,
involve only minor construction problems. Runwav
orientations and air approaches would be getu.rally
unrestricted in the flat plains but would be restricted
Ic.cally in the areas adjacent to the dissected plains and
highlands.
rhese regions are, for the most part, unsuuiled for
amphibious operations. There are many sandy
beaches, but nearshorc and offshore approaches to
'For diacritics on place name~ sec the list or names on the apron
of the Military Geographic Factors map and the neap itself
large parts of each region are partly obstructed by
mudflats, shifting sandbars, rocks, reefs, shoals,
islands, and islets. ;Movement inland would be
precluded along most of the coast b extensive areas of
marsh and swamp. Elsewhere, muddy soils during the
wet season and the general Luck of developed
transportation facilities leading inland seriously hinder
exits from the beaches.
Terrain conditions in these regions are poorly suited
for irregular force operations. The limited oppor-
tunities for concealment from air and ground
observation and co from flat trajectory fire would
severely restrict clandestine movement of small groups
of personnel. In addition, cross country movement of
conventional forces is generally fair and conventional
helicopter and parachute operations are possible over
wide areas. Food supplies are available from numerous
small farms and plantations; however, edible plants,
fish, and small game are limited. Plentiful fresh water,
although biologically contaminated, is available only
during the wet season. During the dry season, fresh-
water supplies are scarce. Timber for shelter materials
and firewood is generally lacking. Irregular force
personnel would be subjected to detrimental
Physiological and psychological aspects in these
regions as in the adjacent forested highlands and
plains. The limate is only slightl less enervating, and
there are only a few dangerous plants and animals.
The mostly unpatrolled coasts of these regions are
largely fringed by extensive areas of swamp and -marsh
and could be penetrated by small groups with little
difficulty.
C. Strategic area (C)
The Canal 'Lone and its environs comprise the only
strategic area in the Republic of Panama (Figure
The strategic area contains the Panama Canal and the
installations necessary for the maintenance and
defense of the canai. The part of the strategic area
within the Republic contains the political, industrial,
commercial, telecommunications, and cultural enters
of the country. The two metropolitan areas, Panama
City (Figure 7) and Colon (1970 population 412,400
and 70,700, respectively), and the Canal Zone (1970,
�16,600) contain -17% of the total population of the
country. "'he Panama Canal is of vital importance to
the Republic because the industrial and commercial
activities of the strategic area are in large part
dependent upon the existence of this waterway� Most
of the installations in the strategic area are
concentrated near Cristobal (on the Caribbean) and
Balboa (on the Pacific), the terminal points of the
Ih
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APPROVED FOR RELEASE: 2009/06/16: CIA- RDP01- 00707R000200080045 -8

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0
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Road T 1 Airfield Al
Petroleum refinery
I Railroad v Lock Powerplant
r Landing beach Fort i2 Satell;te Communication ground station
0 5 30 15 20 25 Statute Miles
0 5 10 15 20 25 Kilometers
FIGURE 6. Canal Zone strategic area (C)
canal and the largest prrts in Central America. The
installations inclr.lde tile. various facilities for
international commercial shipping, as well as U.S.
naval facilities, military installations for air and
ground defense of the canal, administrative and
military headquarters, extensive billeting and storage
facilities, and most of the industrial installations in the
available for about 3,080,000 barrels, of which about
1,070,000 barrels is crude storage. Other significant
facilities at seven sites scattered throughout the C anal
Zone provide storage for about 5,800,000 barrels of
refined products. The largest powerplant in the
country (116,000 kilowatts) is also located in the Bahia
Las Minas area. The strategic area i5 the control center
0
Republic. Industrial development is limited rnainly to for the nationwide wire and radio telecornrrlunications
I food processing and to the manufacture of network. International tclecomnnmications traffic is
construction material.. An oil refinery, with a capacity routed through nearby radio communication stations
of 75,000 barrels per day, is located near Colon in the and the satellite ground station about 10 miles
Bahia Las Minas area; petroletlin storage facilities are nol:hcast of Panama City. An international submarine
8
I
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-Irmo me rnc.
ass;, 6 r**t..r3 r:
cable lwi *rrinates in the Canal 'Lone, near Colon.
Within Colon is an important 100 acre, enclosed, free
port zone. Of the six most important airfields in the
strategic area, three are military airfields in the Canal
Zone and three are civil airfields northeast of Panama
C;ty. Tocumen International Airfield, one of the civil
facilities, handles the largest volume of traffic and is
one of two airfields in the country open to
international traffic. It has complete overhaul and
repair facilities and is to be expanded in the near
future.
Other important areas ire David and Puerto
Armuelles:
NAME
IMPORTANCE
David
Transportation and market center.
8 82
International airfield nearby. Esti-
mated population 43,000. Petro-
leum storage facilities for 38,900
harrels of refined products.
Puerto Arnmelles
POA on Pacific coast. Terminus of
8-17'N., 82
r rilroad from David. Small air-
field nearby. Estimated population
13,000. Petroleum storage facilities
for 48,000 barrels, of which 5,000
barrels is crude storage.
D. Internal route (C)
The internal route (Figure 10, map at end of
chapter) provides the easiest avenue of movement
from the land approach southeast of Corredor, Costa
Rica, and from the amphibious landing area al-out 25
Miles southwest of the Canal 'Lone to the trategic
area. The route crosses mostly flat to rolling plains,
although surfaces are dissected in many places. The.
plains are covbred mainly by grassland or scrub and
cropland, but swamps and marshes are extensive in
parts of the route. Tramportation facilities consist of a
road, part of the Inter American Highway, and, in the
extreme southwest, a railroad. The road is concrete
surfaced, two lanes, and in good condition.
Landslides, washouts, and many sharp curves and
steep grades would hinder onroad movement. The rail
line is single track and 3'0" gage. During the dry
season, offroad dispersal and cross country movement
generally would be unrestricted in the flat to rolling
plains but would he severely hindered or precluded by
steep slopes in dissected areas and, in places, by
swamps and marshes. During the remainder of the
year, muddy ground would preclude offroad dispersal
and cross country movement locally.
E. Approaches
The perimeter of the country totals about 1,935
miles. Land boundaries extend approximately 390
miles, mostly across forested hills and mountains. Both
land boundaries are demarcated and unfortified. The
Canal Zone is a 10 -mile -wide strip, dividing the
Republic of Panama into two nearly equal parts. A
Panamanian enclave, Colon, is on the Caribb +pan
coast of the Canal Zone (Figure 10, map at end of
chapter). (U /OU)
The boundary with Costa Rica, about 225 miles�
traverses, for the most part, densely forested hills and
mountains. In the north, it is across a densely forested
plain and in ']lost of the south an open forested or
cultivated plain. The Rio Sixaola marks the boundary
in the extreme north. The boundary with Colombia is
165 miles long and is mostly across densely forested
hills and mountains. (U /OU)
The Caribbean coastline, 345 miles, has few
irregularities and is backed by a predominantly rolling
FIGURE 7. Panama City occupies a nearly flat coastal
strip at the southern entrance to the Panama Canal.
The principal business section is intermixed with govern-
ment and residential buildings. Structures are up to
10 %tories and are of reinforced concrete or wood and
masonry construction. (C)
9
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orif ni�u 0 T &Nm
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1
to hillocky plain. Extensive areas of fresh -water
swamp or marsh fringe the shore in the extreme west.
The Pacific coastline, 1,000 miles long, is indented b
numerous bays and gulfs. The predominantly low
coast is interrupted by hills in the central and extreme
eastern sections. Extensive areas of swamp, mostly
mangrove or marsh, fringe much of the chose and, in
the east, border estuaries that extend far inland.
Panama claims territorial jurisdiction over waters
within 200 nauticai miles of its shores. (U /OU)
1. Land (C)
Overland approach to Panama is severely hampered
or precluded by the perennially large Rio Sixaola,
dense forest, and rugged highlands. Cross country
movement over the borders is virtually impossible.
Developed transportation facilities cross only the
Costa Rica border. The principal facilities consist of a
section of the Inter- American Highwav, a rail line in
the southwest, and a short rail line in the northwest
that lacks connections with ether parts of either Costa
Rica or Panama. The approach from Costa Rica
extends across open to densely forested plains and
contains a road that is gravel surfaced and two lanes
wide. There are few possibilities for offroad dispersal
or cross country movement.
2. Sea (C)
S^a approaches to both the Caribbean and Pacific
coasts are partly obstructed. Offshore approaches are
mostly deep and clear along the western half of the
Caribbean coast but are channelized and partly
obstructed by reefs, rocks, shoals, and islets in the
eastern half. Nearshore approaches to the entire coast
are partly obstructed by rocks, shoals, sandbars,
stretches of fringing coral reef, islands, and islets.
Nearshore bottom material consists of sand, mud,
shell, and coral reef; bottom gradients vary from flat
to steep. 'rides are diurnal and have a range of about 1
foot. Surf 4 feet or higher occurs infrequently in all
months on protected shores and up to 53% of the time
January through March, on exposed shores. There are
many beaches consisting mainly of firm sand along
the Caribbean coast, but few have feasible exits.
Beach gradients are moderate to mild in the low -water
to high -water zone, and are generally steep in the
high -water zone. Movement inland would be severely
hampered or precluded by dissected, densely forested
plains that back most of the shore and, in the west, by
extensive areas of fresh -water swamp or marsh.
Offshore and nearshore approaches to the Pacific
coast are partly obstructed by rocks, reefs, shoals,
10
islands, at of islets. Nearshore approaches are also
partly obstructed by fringing reefs, shifting sandbars,
and extensive mudflats. Nearshore bottom material is
composed of sand, mud, rock, shell, and gravel; flat to
mild bottom slopes are common. Tides are
semidiurnal and have spring ranges of 9 t to 16 feet.
Surf 4 feet or higher can be expected to occur
infrequently on protected shores and up to 20% of the
time on exposed shores. Beach materials are sand,
mud, pebbles, and rocks. Gradients on the beaches are
flat to steep in the low -water to high -water zone and
are predominantly steep to moderate in the high -water
zone. Exit from the beaches would be precluded in
most places by mangrove swamps and marshes or
densely forested, highly dissected terrain. Transpor-
tation facilities leading inland sure virtually
nonexistent along most of the coast and are generally
inadequate where they do exist. The amphibious
landing areas shown on figure 10, map at end of
chapter, provide access to the strategic area or to the
internal route leading to the strategic area. Detailed
information on the 'amphibious landing areas is
presented in Figure 8.
3. Air (U /OU)
There are four air approaches' to Panama. The
northern approach is over the Caribbean Sea, t!tc
eastern over Colombia, the southern over the Pacific
Ocean, and the northwestern over Costa Rica and
southern Nicaragua.
Rugged mountains in the eastern and northwestern
approaches are hazards to low flying aircraft. Crests
are generally less than 9,000 feet above sea level;
however, several peaks in the northwest are over
10,000 feet, and a few in the cast exceed 12,000 feet.
The highest is in the eastern approach and rises to
nearly 18,000 feet. Weather conditions in general are
Most favorable over the Pacific and least favorable
over land approaches. Over all approaches,, weather
conditions are usually favorable in December through
April, and hazardous conditions occur most often in
May through November. Winds aloft are light and
easterly throughout the year below 25,000 feet. Above
25,000 feet, winds remain easterly during June
through November and westerlies prevail in December
through May. Mean speeds are mostly less than 40
knots.
Dining the period May through November in all
approaches, the principal weather hazards are
'Discussion zones for air approaches exh approximateh 2W
nautical miles hevond the borders of Panama.
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APPROVED FOR RELEASE: 2009/06/16: CIA- RDP01- 00707R000200080045 -8

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CONFIDENTIAL
extensive convective cloudiness (averaging 70% to
90%) which is accompanied by frequent rain showers,
moderate to severe turbulence, and the increased risk
of severe icing above 15,000 feet, the mean height of
the freezing level. Convective cloudiness and
thunderstorm activity tend to be most pronounced
during the afternoon over land and at night over
water. Thunderstorm activity, another major hazard,
is at a maximum at this time of year, occurring on 5 to
15 days per month in all sections and up to 20 days per
month in some areas. Thunderstorms are especially
severe over and near mountainous regions where
vertical development often reaches heights of 50,000
to 60,000 feet. Visibility is generally good but may be
restricted for brief periods during rain showers and
thunderstorms. Tropical storms infrequently affect the
12
northern approaches and cause widespread, multi
layered cloudiness, strong winds, severe turbulence,
and heavy rainfall.
During the period December through April, weather
conditions are largely improved by the decrease in
convective cloudiness, 30% to 50 and thunderstorm
activity, generally less than 10 per month in all
sections and less than 5 per month in some areas.
Vertical cloud development is usually limited to 6,000
feet and seldom extends above 20,000 feet, thus
reducing the likelihood of severe turbulence and
aircraft icing. Shower acti pity is sporadic and widely
scattered, and good visibi: ty prevails most of the time.
However, occasional .gold fronts penetrate the
approaches from the north, causing low ceilings, low
visibility, and squ, Ilv conditions for brief periods.
NO FOREIGN DISSEM
CONFIDENTIAL
T
E 1J 4 A Y.
i t ror
APPROVED FOR RELEASE: 2009/06/16: CIA- RDP01- 00707R000200080045 -8

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APPROVED FOR RELEASE: 2009/06/16: CIA- RDP01- 00707R000200080045 -8

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APPROVED FOR RELEASE: 2009/06/16: CIA- RDP01- 00707R000200080045 -8

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