Hint
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Answer
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What country attempted to establish a settlement in Panama in 1696? It failed and virtually bankrupted the country.
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Scotland
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What Central American country was originally considered as a location for a canal to connect the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans?
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Nicaragua
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Concern about what natrual event, common in the above country, caused the commission to move its attention to Panama?
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earthquake
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What disease that ravaged early canal builders was virtually eradicated after the transmitter of the disease was identified ?
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yellow fever
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Who began the process of eradicating the suspected cause of the above?
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Dr. William Gorgas
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What island chain, with over 200 islands, is on the Pacific side of Panama?
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Las Perlas
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What mid-eastern ruler, who had been deposed and taken shelter in the U.S., was secretly moved to one of the above islands in 1979?
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Mohammed Reza Pahlavi
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What island chain lies off the Atlantic side of Panama?
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San Blas
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Who are the people who live on these islands?
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Kuna
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What are the reverse applique fabric panels, part of the natives' dress and now popular with tourists, called?
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molas
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Who was the president of Panama when the 1978 treaties were signed?
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Demetrio Lakas
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Who was head of the Guardia Nacional at that time and controlled the government?
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Omar Torrijos
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Who was president of the U.S. when the treaties were signed?
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Carter
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What is the highlands area in western Panama known as?
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Volcan
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What man-made lake forms the largest area of the Panama Canal?
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Gatun
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What is the name of the island in the lake above that is the home of a nature reserve?
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Barro Colorado`
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What American institute has had a tropical research center on the above island for almost 100 years?
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Smithsonian
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What tiny town, located on the canal at the Chagres RIver, is now the site of a major resort?
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Gamboa
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What was the name given to the 1989 U. S. invasion of Panama?
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Operation Just Cause
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Who is the current president of Panama, elected in May, 2019?
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Laurentino Cortizo
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No. I don't work for the Smithsonian! However I had the good fortune to become friends with Dr. Leigh, the long-time head of STRI at Barro Colorado, and his wife through, of all things, their personal invitation to come to the island to accompany a visiting scientist on their harpsichord so she could perform the Bach flute sonatas that Dr. Leigh loved. Later, he invited me to climb the scaffolding that had been erected over the jungle canopy in company with him and another visiting scientist.
This was in the 70s.
Are you from Panama?
We left Panama in 1979 and have not been back. I know the changes have been enormous. The most striking one for me is to see the place where we used to eat Chinese food for $1.25 on Friday nights, overlooking the Chagres, turned into a huge luxury resort! We lived in Gamboa for several years and I loved it. We moved to Ancon after I had become so involved with teaching at CZcollege and performing that the many trips became a problem.
I hope you are doing well there. Can one still buy lobster tails for $.25 each???