Bocas del Toro District

Bocas del Toro District
District
Bocas del Toro District

Location of the district capital in Panama

Coordinates: 9°20′N 82°15′W / 9.333°N 82.250°WCoordinates: 9°20′N 82°15′W / 9.333°N 82.250°W
Country  Panama
Province Bocas del Toro
Capital Bocas Town
Area
 • Total 167.3 sq mi (433.2 km2)
Population (2012)
 • Total 16,185
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 2012 census was 16,815.[1] The district covers a total area of 433.2 km². The capital lies at the city of Bocas del Toro.[1] Major industries include tourism and agriculture.

Administrative divisions

The district is divided administratively into the following corregimientos:

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

2012 Census Info:

Table of Islands

NrIsland Capital Other Cities Area (km²) Population[lower-alpha 1]
1 Cauchero Mainland area Cauchero Tierra Oscura, Hope well, Secretaria, shark Hole, 185 3455
2 Bocas del Toro ArchipelagoBocas Town Bastimentos, Punta Laurel, Isla Popa 248.2 12730
2.1 Bastimentos IslandBastimentos town Red Frog, Quebrada de Sal, Bahia Honda, 52 1663
2.2 Carenero IslandCaranero Town Playa Buccaneer, Brown Point, Playa Acuario, 1 737
2.3 Cayo Agua IslandPuebla Limon P. Piedra Roja, P. de Tiburon, P. de Nispero, P. Norte, Playa Resorte Agua16 529
2.4 Cayo CoralCayo Coral0.05 4
2.5 Cayo MonoCayo Mono 0.11 18
2.6 Cayos ZapatillaCayo Sur Station Cayo Norte, Cobler Point,0.48 2
2.7 Colon IslandBocas Town Big Creek, Boca Del Drago61 6629
2.8 Cristobal IslandBotabite Bocatorito, Big Bight, Redmans, Valle escondido, 37 1329
2.9 German Soldier cayGerman Soldier cay0.2 1
2.10 Isla de BaguiBagui Town0.38 56
2.11 Isla LomaLoma Partida Punta Sumwood3.56 225
2.12 Isla PastoresPastores Town Playa starfish, Punta Fors, Punta Vergayo, Punta Maya2.45 50
2.13 Jack Analy CaysJack Analy sur Jack Analy norte0.06 1
2.14 Popa IslandPopa Town Punta Laurel, Punta Tigre53 1201
2.15 Solarte IslandSolarte Town Punta Hospital, Tucker Bight, Punta Juan Brown, 8 285
2.16 Other IslandsCayo Rodlan 12 0
  Bocas del Toro DistrictBocas Town Bastimentos, Cauchero, Punta Laurel, Tierra Oscura, 433.216185

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 (1971-2000)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Average high °C (°F) 30.8
(87.4)		 30.7
(87.3)		 31.0
(87.8)		 31.4
(88.5)		 31.9
(89.4)		 32.0
(89.6)		 31.5
(88.7)		 31.8
(89.2)		 31.9
(89.4)		 31.7
(89.1)		 31.6
(88.9)		 31.0
(87.8)		 31.44
(88.59)
Average low °C (°F) 20.4
(68.7)		 20.2
(68.4)		 20.5
(68.9)		 21.4
(70.5)		 22.2
(72)		 22.2
(72)		 21.7
(71.1)		 21.8
(71.2)		 22.0
(71.6)		 22.0
(71.6)		 21.8
(71.2)		 20.6
(69.1)		 21.4
(70.53)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 123.9
(4.878)		 266.1
(10.476)		 83.8
(3.299)		 369.1
(14.531)		 178.3
(7.02)		 259
(10.2)		 420.1
(16.539)		 440.7
(17.35)		 311.2
(12.252)		 150.5
(5.925)		 291.7
(11.484)		 563.6
(22.189)		 3,458
(136.143)
Avg. precipitation days 16.6 14.6 14.8 15.2 16.7 17.9 20.9 18.4 15.8 16.4 17 20.0 204.3
Source: World Meteorological Organization [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.

See also

External links

Notes

  1. ↑ The Islands area and population data retrieved from the 2012 census

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 "Districts of Panama". Statoids. Retrieved April 10, 2009.
  2. ↑ Frommer's Panama (2E, 2009), ISBN 978-0-470-37183-1.
  3. ↑ "World Weather Information Service - Bocas del Toro". World Meteorological Organization. Retrieved 25 July 2010.