Slides in Panama

The Republic of Panama is a tropical country bounded on the north by the Caribbean Sea, on the south by the Pacific Ocean, by Colombia on the east, and by Costa Rica on the west. It has a two season tropical climate, wet and dry. Mountains extend from Colombia to Costa Rica with a lower area in the vicinity of the Panama Canal. Slides in general are found in all the mountainous and hilly regions of the country. The tropical soil profiles developed by the weathering of most rocks in the area are particulary sensitive. Many slides in Panama are the result of construction practices but many more are the result of weathering, heavy rains, and seismic activity. Little has been written about the slide problem in Panama except those resulting from the construction of the Panama Canal. Slides as the result of seismic activity are described as are a few resulting construction practices.