Bocas del Toro District

Bocas del Toro
District
Bocas del Toro is located in Panama
Bocas del Toro
Bocas del Toro
Location of the district capital in Panama
Coordinates: 9°20′N 82°15′W / 9.333°N 82.250°W / 9.333; -82.250
Country Panama
ProvinceBocas del Toro
CapitalBocas Town
Area
 • Total433.2 km2 (167.3 sq mi)
Population
 (2019)
 • Total21,396
 • Density49/km2 (130/sq mi)
 official estimate[1]
Time zoneUTC-5 (ETZ)

Bocas del Toro is a district (distrito) of Bocas del Toro Province in Panama. The population according to the 2012 census was 16,815;[2] the latest official estimate (for 2019) is 21,396.[1] The district covers a total area of 433.2 km². The capital lies at the town of Bocas del Toro.[2] Major industries include tourism and agriculture.

Administrative divisions

Bocas del Toro District is divided administratively into the following corregimientos:

Table of Islands

Nr Island Capital Other Cities Area (km²) Population[a]
1 Cauchero Mainland area Cauchero Tierra Oscura, Hope well, Secretaria, shark Hole, 185 3455
2 Bocas del Toro Archipelago Bocas Town Bastimentos, Punta Laurel, Isla Popa 248.2 12730
2.1 Bastimentos Island Bastimentos town Red Frog, Quebrada de Sal, Bahia Honda, 52 1663
2.2 Carenero Island Caranero Town Playa Buccaneer, Brown Point, Playa Acuario, 1 737
2.3 Cayo Agua Island Puebla Limon P. Piedra Roja, P. de Tiburon, P. de Nispero, P. Norte, Playa Resorte Agua 16 529
2.4 Cayo Coral Cayo Coral 0.05 4
2.5 Cayo Mono Cayo Mono 0.11 18
2.6 Cayos Zapatilla Cayo Sur Station Cayo Norte, Cobler Point, 0.48 2
2.7 Colon Island Bocas Town Big Creek, Boca Del Drago 61 6629
2.8 Cristobal Island Botabite Bocatorito, Big Bight, Redmans, Valle escondido, 37 1329
2.9 German Soldier cay German Soldier cay 0.2 1
2.10 Isla de Bagui Bagui Town 0.38 56
2.11 Isla Loma Loma Partida Punta Sumwood 3.56 225
2.12 Isla Pastores Pastores Town Playa starfish, Punta Fors, Punta Vergayo, Punta Maya 2.45 50
2.13 Jack Analy Cays Jack Analy sur Jack Analy norte 0.06 1
2.14 Popa Island Popa Town Punta Laurel, Punta Tigre 53 1201
2.15 Solarte Island Solarte Town Punta Hospital, Tucker Bight, Punta Juan Brown, 8 285
2.16 Other Islands Cayo Rodlan 12 0
  Bocas del Toro District Bocas Town Bastimentos, Cauchero, Punta Laurel, Tierra Oscura, 433.2 16185

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.[3] 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
Mean daily maximum °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) 		31.4
(88.6)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) 20.4
(68.7) 		20.2
(68.4) 		20.5
(68.9) 		21.4
(70.5) 		22.2
(72.0) 		22.2
(72.0) 		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
(70.5)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 123.9
(4.88) 		266.1
(10.48) 		83.8
(3.30) 		369.1
(14.53) 		178.3
(7.02) 		259
(10.2) 		420.1
(16.54) 		440.7
(17.35) 		311.2
(12.25) 		150.5
(5.93) 		291.7
(11.48) 		563.6
(22.19) 		3,458
(136.15)
Average 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 [4]

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

Notes

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

References

  1. ^ a b Instituto Nacional de Estadística y Censo, Panama.
  2. ^ a b "Districts of Panama". Statoids. Retrieved April 10, 2009.
  3. ^ Frommer's Panama (2E, 2009), ISBN 978-0-470-37183-1.
  4. ^ "World Weather Information Service - Bocas del Toro". World Meteorological Organization. Retrieved 25 July 2010.