Balboa, Panama facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Balboa
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 Balboa
Location in Panama
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| Country |  Panama |
Balboa is a district within Panama City, located right at the Pacific Ocean entrance to the famous Panama Canal. It used to be the main city of the Panama Canal Zone when the American government managed the canal.
Contents
History of Balboa
The town of Balboa was created by the United States when they were building the Panama Canal. It was named after Vasco Núñez de Balboa, a Spanish explorer. He was the first European to see the Pacific Ocean from the Americas. The name was suggested by the ambassador from Peru. Before the US Army Corps of Engineers built the town, this area was mostly hills and marshlands. Only a few small farms were there.
Balboa was a special town, like many others in the Canal Zone. It had its own schools, a post office, police and fire stations, and even a movie theater. There were also stores, a bowling alley, and other fun places. Some of the schools included Balboa Elementary School and Balboa High School. The town also had banks, churches, and clubs like the YMCA. There were even monuments, including a small Statue of Liberty given by the Boy Scouts.
Panama Canal Treaties
For many years, the Canal Zone was a special territory controlled by the United States. Balboa was its main administrative center. However, in 1979, the Panama Canal Treaties changed things. These treaties said that the Canal Zone would no longer be solely US territory.
By December 31, 1999, the Panama Canal and all its land and buildings were fully returned to the Panamanian government. This was a big moment for Panama.
Panama Canal Administration Building
The main building for running the Panama Canal is located in a part of Balboa called Balboa Heights. This building used to be the headquarters for the Canal Zone Government. Today, it still serves as the main office for the agency that manages the Panama Canal. Inside, you can see large murals painted by William B. Van Ingen. These artworks show the amazing story of how the canal was built.
Around 1915, the United States Navy built a special radio station near Balboa. This station used very-low-frequency radio waves. It was used to send messages and orders to submarines, even when they were underwater.
Port of Balboa
Balboa is a very important port because it's on the Pacific side of the Panama Canal. It's where ships enter or exit the canal from the Pacific Ocean. The port has a large dry dock, which is like a special garage for ships. Here, ships can be repaired or maintained out of the water. This dry dock is big enough for ships that fit through the Panama Canal, known as "Panamax" size.
In 2012, Balboa was recognized as the busiest container port in all of Latin America. This means a lot of cargo containers pass through here!
Balboa also has a special terminal called the Pacific Terminal. This terminal connects ships to trains. It means containers can be moved from ships onto trains and then carried across the country to Colón on the Atlantic side. The Panama Canal Railway also offers a passenger service. People can ride the train between Panama City and Colón once a day in each direction.
Climate
| Climate data for Balboa, 9 m asl (1961–1990 normals) | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °C (°F) | 34.4 (93.9) |
35.0 (95.0) |
35.6 (96.1) |
36.1 (97.0) |
36.1 (97.0) |
34.4 (93.9) |
35.0 (95.0) |
35.0 (95.0) |
34.4 (93.9) |
33.9 (93.0) |
35.0 (95.0) |
34.4 (93.9) |
36.1 (97.0) |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 31.4 (88.5) |
32.1 (89.8) |
32.6 (90.7) |
32.2 (90.0) |
30.8 (87.4) |
30.2 (86.4) |
30.6 (87.1) |
30.1 (86.2) |
29.8 (85.6) |
29.4 (84.9) |
29.4 (84.9) |
30.3 (86.5) |
30.7 (87.3) |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | 27.5 (81.5) |
27.8 (82.0) |
28.3 (82.9) |
28.2 (82.8) |
27.6 (81.7) |
27.2 (81.0) |
27.4 (81.3) |
27.2 (81.0) |
26.8 (80.2) |
26.5 (79.7) |
26.5 (79.7) |
26.8 (80.2) |
27.3 (81.2) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | 23.5 (74.3) |
23.4 (74.1) |
23.9 (75.0) |
24.1 (75.4) |
24.4 (75.9) |
24.1 (75.4) |
24.2 (75.6) |
24.2 (75.6) |
23.8 (74.8) |
23.5 (74.3) |
23.6 (74.5) |
23.3 (73.9) |
23.8 (74.9) |
| Record low °C (°F) | 18.3 (64.9) |
19.4 (66.9) |
18.9 (66.0) |
20.0 (68.0) |
21.1 (70.0) |
21.1 (70.0) |
21.1 (70.0) |
21.1 (70.0) |
21.1 (70.0) |
21.1 (70.0) |
20.6 (69.1) |
19.4 (66.9) |
18.3 (64.9) |
| Average precipitation mm (inches) | 23.8 (0.94) |
25.5 (1.00) |
1.5 (0.06) |
98.6 (3.88) |
241.4 (9.50) |
221.4 (8.72) |
195.9 (7.71) |
199.2 (7.84) |
203.4 (8.01) |
268.1 (10.56) |
300.1 (11.81) |
132.3 (5.21) |
1,911.2 (75.24) |
| Average precipitation days (≥ 1 mm) | 3.29 | 2.58 | 0.29 | 7.00 | 14.43 | 15.57 | 16.29 | 14.71 | 15.29 | 17.57 | 19.57 | 11.86 | 138.45 |
| Source 1: Météo climat stats | |||||||||||||
| Source 2: Météo Climat | |||||||||||||
Balboa Today
Balboa used to be part of the Panama Canal Zone, but now it's a district within Panama City's area called Ancón. Since it became part of the Republic of Panama, Balboa has changed a lot. The port has grown, and homes and businesses are now privately owned. Before, the US government owned most properties.
More and more people are moving to the western side of Panama. This has led to more car traffic, especially on the Bridge of the Americas. This bridge is one of only two ways to cross to the western part of the country. New roads are being built to help with this problem.
When most of the American population left after the Torrijos-Carter Treaties, some places like Balboa High School and English-speaking churches closed. This was because they were mainly for the American community.
If you visit Balboa today, there are several interesting places to see:
- The historic Administration Building.
- Mi Pueblito Afroantillano, a cultural village.
- A scenic view from Ancon Hill, where you can see parts of the Panama Canal.
- The Homenaje a la Democracia monument.
- The Goethals Memorial.
- The Prado, a beautiful area.
- Two handicraft markets where you can find local crafts.
- Several bed-and-breakfast hotels.
- A country store and café near the Administration Building.
In 1990, the population of Balboa was 1,214 people.
See also
In Spanish: Balboa (ciudad de Panamá) para niños
