This narrow strip of land - only 30 miles wide at its narrowest point, and rarely wider than 75 miles anywhere - contains one of the great engineering marvels of the last century: the Panama Canal, known to the world as 'the path between the seas'. This title helps to find out: how Panama's 'geographic destiny' as the stepping-stone between oceans has shaped its history over the centuries; when the Spanish carved out the Camino Real-the Royal Road- expressly for the purpose of hauling gold over the isthmus; which country tried to dig a canal through the isthmus first, before the United States; what caused the United States to invade Panama in 1989 under Operation Just Cause; and, how the United States and Panama negotiated new treaties, dividing responsibilities for managing and defending the famous canal. In addition, in this book you'll find project and report ideas - including enough recipes for an authentic Panamanian buffet - a glossary, a list of festivals, organizations to contact for more information, and suggestions for further reading. There's a lot to discover about Panama today.