Red-eyed Tree Frog - Panama

The proposal to construct a Pan-American highway was first made in 1889, but has not been officially completed. Panama’s Darién Gap, a mere 100 kilometers of dense rainforest, separates Panama and Columbia. Destruction of the pristine area has stopped any further efforts to pave over this missing connection.

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Agalychnis callidryas - The red-eyed tree frog is a colorful frog. It has black vertical pupils set into bright red corneas. The upper body is a vivid green, the sides consist of blue and yellow vertical stripes, the toes are bright orange or red, and the underside is white. Despite these bright colors, the red-eyed tree frog relies on camouflage to evade predators; it is not a poisonous frog. During daylight, they tuck themselves into a small lump and with eyes closed, remain motionless to blend in with the green canopy of the trees.

Dove Orchid - Panama

Peristeria elata - The dove orchid is native to Central America and Northwestern South America. The inner petals of the white flower are loosely speckled with pink or purple spots and resembles a dove in flight when in full bloom. It thrives as a terrestrial plant in lower elevations, but attaches itself to the trunks of hardwood trees as an epiphytic plant in higher and more humid settings. Illegal harvesting has placed the dove orchid on the critically endangered species list.

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The Panama Canal cuts a length of 77.1 kilometers across the isthmus of Panama in connecting the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. Depending on traffic, it can take from 8 to 10 hours to pass through the canal. France began excavations in 1881, but stopped in 1884 because of financial loss, construction delays, and health issues; the harsh conditions of the mosquito infested jungles claimed thousands of lives. The United States took over the project in 1904 and completed the Panama Canal in 1914.