Bocas del Toro District

Bocas del Toro District
—  District  —
Bocas del Toro District
Location of the district capital in Panama
Coordinates:
Country  Panama
Province Bocas del Toro
Capital Bocas del Toro
Area
 • Total 154.1 sq mi (399 km2)
Population (2000)
 • Total 9,916
Time zone ETZ (UTC-5)

Bocas del Toro District is a district (distrito) of Bocas del Toro Province in Panama. The population according to the 2000 census was 9,916.[1] The district covers a total area of 399 km². The capital lies at the city of Bocas del Toro.[1] Major industries include tourism and agriculture.

Contents

Administrative divisions

The district is divided administratively into the following corregimientos:

Bocas del Toro, Bastimentos, Cauchero, Punta Laurel and Tierra Oscura

Climate

Bocas del Toro is a coastal location with a tropical climate. The area does not have a predictable dry season. The driest times are late August to mid-October, February, and March.[2] Bocas del Toro is humid. Thundershowers and heavy rain are common. Normal temperatures are consistent all year (Hi: 83-90, low: 71-75). Due to its low latitude, sunrise is around 6 AM, and sunset is around 6 PM local time. These times vary slightly during the year. Weather data is collected at Bocas del Toro "Isla Colón" International Airport:

Climate data for Bocas del Toro, Panama
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Average high °F (°C) 87
(31)
89
(32)
90
(32)
89
(32)
86
(30)
85
(29)
84
(29)
84
(29)
84
(29)
83
(28)
83
(28)
84
(29)
85.7
(29.8)
Average low °F (°C) 71
(22)
73
(23)
74
(23)
75
(24)
74
(23)
73
(23)
73
(23)
73
(23)
73
(23)
72
(22)
72
(22)
72
(22)
72.9
(22.7)
Source: Weather Underground [3]

Transportation

The district consists of the Bocas del Toro Archipelago and a coastal mainland area. Ferries, water taxis, and private boats provide transportation to many locations. Buses connect boat docks and mainland commununities to adjacent districts and the rest of Panama. Bocas del Toro "Isla Colón" International Airport provides passenger and cargo flights to Panama and Costa Rica. Roads are usually dirt or gravel. Larger highways may be paved.

Infrastructure

Bocas del Toro is a rural district. Schools and medical clinics operate around the district. Sanitation is limited. Water filtration and treatment facilities are non-existent in most communities. Sewage treatment is non-existent. The government is working on building more infrastructure in rural areas.

References

  1. ^ a b "Districts of Panama". Statoids. http://www.statoids.com/ypa.html. Retrieved April 10, 2009. 
  2. ^ Frommer's Panama (2E, 2009), ISBN 9780470371831.
  3. ^ "Bocas del Toro". Weather Underground. http://www.wunderground.com/NORMS/DisplayIntlNORMS.asp?CityCode=78793&Units=english. Retrieved 2009-05-29.