How much of Panama belonged to the USA ?

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Bottles

I served in the U.S. Army in Panama, May81 - May83 .
I think there was a 10 mile swath on either side of the canal called 'The Canal Zone'.
Many American citizens lived there for decades, until Jimmy Carter foolishly signed the agreement to turn it over . I've spoken to many guys who've been there since and they report that the Panamanians never took care of the land after they took control . The land and the buildings were in shambles !!!

Feel free to email me with any Panama questions !!

vanamont7

I had heard it wasn't owned but leased to the U.S. in the canal zone much the same way Guantanamo is leased to the U.S. by the Cuban government by former agreement.

Big Jimi

Jimmy Carter gave the control of the Canal back to Panama during his presidency,we don't own any of Panama!

panama54

ok, lets start the answer.
first part of the question.
it was a treaty and the land was not bought.
2nd part of the question:
it was 5 miles on either side of the canal for the operation and defense.
on dic31,1999 at 1200 mday, everything reserted back to panama. this was a treaty.
also, important point, panama adminster the canal, the chinese do not.
the chinese, have long term contracts to handle the ports on both sides of the canal. (atlantic, panific.)
......hope it helps....

Bryon K

We leased the land 10 miles on each side of the canal (the canal zone), we turned the canal over to Panamawe gave them everything back, we don't have any more land there that we lease any more with Panama.
I was back last year and went thru many of the bases we once had, most of the housing is still empty and falling apart. Some of the bigger facilities are used for various things such as shops, and computer stuff for Dell Computers, and then there are somethings that they have beuilt on these bases such as the Albrook mall bus station, which is pretty nice place.

homeless

The chinese have it and there not giving it back

cyberknight

Here we go..
1. The Canal was leased to to U.S. Government in 1903, who built the canal and financed its construction. The U.S. never had to 'Pretend' to own it - It was always Panamanian land, administered by the U.S. military.

2 Panama is 29,157 square miles, a little smaller than South Carolina.
The Canal Zone was about 553 square miles, with an AVERAGE of five miles on each side of the canal centerline

3. This means that of the total area of Panama, the Canal Zone
took up less than 2% (1.8969, I'm not going any farther than that) of the whole country.

3a. Of course, this was a VERY valuable 1.8%!

4. Nope, Jimmy Carter signed the agreement to give it back in '79, and it was handed over in '99. All Gone!

Hope it helps!

prosti45

We built it and we had control over it for 100-101 years! We then had to give it up after those years!

cool.panamania

The USA controled the Canal Zone and all the army and air force bases until 1999. The Chinese basically own everything now.

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