Panama’s Rainy Season
Panama Has Two Seasons - Rainy and Dry (www.costaricapages.com) These two seasons are often referred to as green season and brown season. Rain is an absolute necessity for this country to function properly. Because Panama is a narrow land bridge between two very large continents, there is a remarkably diverse array of plant and animal life. Most of the flora and fauna are found in Panama’s many tropical rain forests. Rain is essential for these species to survive. Rivers are an essential mode of transportation for many indigenous people living in Panama’s three comarcas (reservations). There are nearly 500 rivers in Panama that empty in to either the Caribbean Sea or Pacific Ocean. Especially in the province of Darien, canoes are a main mode of transportation for the locals. If the rivers dry up due to lack of rain, many of these people could be stranded.
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One of the most important reasons Panama needs an abundance of rain is for the 50-mile long canal to be operational. Without rain, the canal watershed cannot provide enough water for the passageway to be deep enough for ships to pass through or the locks to fill properly. The water needed for the canal to function is held in three lakes: Miraflores, Gatun and Alajuela. If the water levels in these lakes drops significantly, shipping could come to a halt. With every ship that passes through the canal, 56-million gallons of fresh water are flushed away.
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