Pedasí
Encyclopedia
Pedasí is one of five district
s of the Los Santos Province
, Panama
.
The district of Pedasí was created in 1840, when Panama was still tenuously united with Colombia
(see the History of Panama
for more background). At the time, it was a division of the County of Los Santos (today the province of Los Santos
), in the Province of Panama (which covered all of present-day Panama, except for the provinces of Veraguas
and Bocas del Toro
). The population of Pedasí in 1845 was 701 inhabitants.
Since then, the land of the Pedasí district has been used extensively for cattle farming; the cultivation of sorghum
, corn
, cantaloupe
and watermelon
; and the coastal villages support a small fishing industry.
The district of Pedasí is divided into five townships:
Pedasí is located at the eastern tip of the Azuero Peninsula
on Panama’s Pacific Coast. The birthplace of the first woman president of Panama
, Mireya Moscoso
, its picturesque and hilly landscape have drawn comparisons to regions like Tuscany
, Italy
.
developers and a burgeoning tourist industry. The area offers extensive sport-fishing
, scuba diving
, surfing
, and birdwatching
. Pedasí has already begun making international headlines with celebrity visits by the likes of Mick Jagger
, Sylvester Stallone
, Sean Connery
, Mel Gibson
and Tobey Maguire
.
List of Beaches in the Pedasí District:
, Pacific sailfish
(Istiophorus platypterus), cubera snapper
(Lutjanus cyanopterus), roosterfish
(Nematistius pectoralis) and grouper
, while dorado (Coryphaena hippurus, commonly called mahi-mahi, or dolphinfish), both bigeye tuna
(Thunnus obesus) and yellowfin tuna
(Thunnus albacares), and wahoo
(Acanthocybium solandri) are found seasonally, November through April.
The fishery rides deep ocean currents running close to shore — much of the fishing can be found within eight miles of the shoreline — making the area ideal for light-tackle, deep-sea fishing enthusiasts.
The Pedasí district also houses an Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission
(IATTC) (www.iattc.org) research laboratory, the Achotines Laboratory, where visitors can take educational tours of the breeding and testing facilities, gaining a glimpse of the stages of yellowfin tuna reproduction.
is an island wildlife refuge five kilometers, or a 20-minute boat ride, from Playa El Arenal. The 52-hectare island is surrounded by an extensive coral reef, which gives it two powdery-soft white sand beaches: Playa El Cirial (252 meters long) and Playita del Faro (37 meters long).
It is also home to more than 62 bird species, and the largest nesting site in Panama for the magnificent frigatebird
(Fregata magnificens), with a population of more than 5000. The island also houses several reptile species, including the black iguana (Ctenosaura similis) for which the island is named.
The refuge also comprises a 40-hectare marine area — including a channel for migrating humpback whale
s (Megaptera novaeangliae) between June and October — and one of the largest well-preserved coral reefs in Panama, ideal for snorkeling and scuba diving. Visitors to the reefs can expect to see a variety of fish, rays, eels, and sea turtles.
Entrance to the refuge is $4 for Panamanian nationals, $10 for foreigners, and $2 for seniors and students. Children under 12 enter free of charge.
The refuge is considered an important bird habitat, home to egret
s, heron
s and cormorant
s among others.
, Green Turtle, Hawksbill Turtle
, Loggerhead Sea Turtle
and the Leatherback Turtle. All of these species, with the exception of the Olive Ridley, are endangered or critically endangered. The island's 800 or so inhabitants have an accord with the Panamanian government to protect the nesting sites, while also harvesting the turtle eggs in an ostensibly sustainable manner.
The island is fringed with mangrove
s, and has several stands of red, white and black mangrove species, which play an important role in the life cycles of shrimp and commercial fish species.
s, traditional hand-stitched multi-layered dresses, some of which can take nearly a year to complete. During local fiestas the women adorn their polleras with ornate jewelry and gold chains.
is the annual high point of local life in Pedasí, which is renowned for the most exuberant celebration after Las Tablas. The town divides itself into two factions, Calle Abajo (lower street) and Calle Arriba (upper street), with their respective queens, each trying to outdo the other with floats, music and fireworks. At the end of the celebration, the winning queen is chosen by popular vote.
Pedasí also celebrates the fiesta of Santa Catalina (St Catherine’s Day) on November 25 (see also: Calendar of saints
).
District
Districts are a type of administrative division, in some countries managed by a local government. They vary greatly in size, spanning entire regions or counties, several municipalities, or subdivisions of municipalities.-Austria:...
s of the Los Santos Province
Los Santos Province
Los Santos is a province of Panama. The capital city is Las Tablas, which is famous for its carnivals, the Festival Nacional de la Pollera , and the Festival of the Patron Santa Librada; and the Festival Nacional de la Mejorana in Guararé...
, Panama
Panama
Panama , officially the Republic of Panama , is the southernmost country of Central America. Situated on the isthmus connecting North and South America, it is bordered by Costa Rica to the northwest, Colombia to the southeast, the Caribbean Sea to the north and the Pacific Ocean to the south. The...
.
History
Human settlement in the Azuero peninsula where Pedasí is located dates back anywhere from 11,000 years to 4500 years ago based on pre-Columbian artifacts and other archaeological evidence recovered from various sites on the peninsula. Spanish colonizers arrived in the 16th century, largely wiping out or displacing existing indigenous populations.The district of Pedasí was created in 1840, when Panama was still tenuously united with Colombia
Colombia
Colombia, officially the Republic of Colombia , is a unitary constitutional republic comprising thirty-two departments. The country is located in northwestern South America, bordered to the east by Venezuela and Brazil; to the south by Ecuador and Peru; to the north by the Caribbean Sea; to the...
(see the History of Panama
History of Panama
The History of Panama is about the Isthmus of Panama region's long history that occurred in southern Central America, from Pre-Columbian cultures, during the Spanish colonial era, through independence and the current country of Panama.-Indigenous period:...
for more background). At the time, it was a division of the County of Los Santos (today the province of Los Santos
Los Santos Province
Los Santos is a province of Panama. The capital city is Las Tablas, which is famous for its carnivals, the Festival Nacional de la Pollera , and the Festival of the Patron Santa Librada; and the Festival Nacional de la Mejorana in Guararé...
), in the Province of Panama (which covered all of present-day Panama, except for the provinces of Veraguas
Veraguas Province
Veraguas is a province of Panama, located in the centre-west of the country. The capital is the city of Santiago de Veraguas. The province covers 10,677.2 km² and is divided into twelve districts.-History:...
and Bocas del Toro
Bocas del Toro Province
Bocas del Toro is a province of Panama. Its extension is 4,643.9 square kilometers comprising the mainland and nine main islands. The province consists of the Bocas del Toro Archipelago, Bahía Almirante , Laguna de Chiriquí , and adjacent mainland. The capital is the city of Bocas del Toro on Isla...
). The population of Pedasí in 1845 was 701 inhabitants.
Since then, the land of the Pedasí district has been used extensively for cattle farming; the cultivation of sorghum
Sorghum
Sorghum is a genus of numerous species of grasses, one of which is raised for grain and many of which are used as fodder plants either cultivated or as part of pasture. The plants are cultivated in warmer climates worldwide. Species are native to tropical and subtropical regions of all continents...
, corn
Maize
Maize known in many English-speaking countries as corn or mielie/mealie, is a grain domesticated by indigenous peoples in Mesoamerica in prehistoric times. The leafy stalk produces ears which contain seeds called kernels. Though technically a grain, maize kernels are used in cooking as a vegetable...
, cantaloupe
Cantaloupe
"Rockmelon" redirects here, for the band see Rockmelons. See also Cantaloupe .Cantaloupe refers to a variety of Cucumis melo, a species in the family Cucurbitaceae which includes nearly all melons and squashes. Cantaloupes range in size from...
and watermelon
Watermelon
Watermelon is a vine-like flowering plant originally from southern Africa. Its fruit, which is also called watermelon, is a special kind referred to by botanists as a pepo, a berry which has a thick rind and fleshy center...
; and the coastal villages support a small fishing industry.
Geography
The Pedasí district covers an area of 378.3 square kilometers. It was once home to one of Panama’s few swaths of dry tropical forest; however, the area underwent heavy deforestation to make room for cattle pastures during the Spanish colonial era, leaving many of the hills and lowlands denuded. Some 70 hectares of dry tropical forest remain intact in the grounds surrounding the Achotines Laboratory in Pedasí, with another 50 hectares undergoing restoration.Administrative divisions
- Purio
- Mariabé
- PedasíPedasíPedasí is one of five districts of the Los Santos Province, Panama.-History:Human settlement in the Azuero peninsula where Pedasí is located dates back anywhere from 11,000 years to 4500 years ago based on pre-Columbian artifacts and other archaeological evidence recovered from various sites on...
(municipal seat) - Los Asientos
- Oria Arriba
Pedasí is located at the eastern tip of the Azuero Peninsula
Azuero Peninsula
Azuero Peninsula is a large peninsula in southern Panama. It is surrounded by the Pacific Ocean in the south; the Pacific and Gulf of Montijo to the west, and by the Gulf of Panama in the east...
on Panama’s Pacific Coast. The birthplace of the first woman president of Panama
Panama
Panama , officially the Republic of Panama , is the southernmost country of Central America. Situated on the isthmus connecting North and South America, it is bordered by Costa Rica to the northwest, Colombia to the southeast, the Caribbean Sea to the north and the Pacific Ocean to the south. The...
, Mireya Moscoso
Mireya Moscoso
Mireya Elisa Moscoso Rodríguez de Arias is a Panamanian political figure. She was the President of Panama from 1999 to 2004, representing the Arnulfista Party...
, its picturesque and hilly landscape have drawn comparisons to regions like Tuscany
Tuscany
Tuscany is a region in Italy. It has an area of about 23,000 square kilometres and a population of about 3.75 million inhabitants. The regional capital is Florence ....
, Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
.
Climate
Pedasí is part of a region known as the “arco seco”, or the dry Pacific arc due to the relatively little rainfall it receives during its summer (January to April) compared to the rest of Panama. Average temperatures are 25-27 degrees Celsius year round.Demographics
The population of the Pedasí district is 3864 inhabitants according to a 2004 census.Economy
Traditionally the domain of cattle ranches, agriculture and small fishing villages, the Pedasí district is now attracting the attention of real estateReal estate
In general use, esp. North American, 'real estate' is taken to mean "Property consisting of land and the buildings on it, along with its natural resources such as crops, minerals, or water; immovable property of this nature; an interest vested in this; an item of real property; buildings or...
developers and a burgeoning tourist industry. The area offers extensive sport-fishing
Recreational fishing
Recreational fishing, also called sport fishing, is fishing for pleasure or competition. It can be contrasted with commercial fishing, which is fishing for profit, or subsistence fishing, which is fishing for survival....
, scuba diving
Scuba diving
Scuba diving is a form of underwater diving in which a diver uses a scuba set to breathe underwater....
, surfing
Surfing
Surfing' is a surface water sport in which the surfer rides a surfboard on the crest and face of a wave which is carrying the surfer towards the shore...
, and birdwatching
Birdwatching
Birdwatching or birding is the observation of birds as a recreational activity. It can be done with the naked eye, through a visual enhancement device like binoculars and telescopes, or by listening for bird sounds. Birding often involves a significant auditory component, as many bird species are...
. Pedasí has already begun making international headlines with celebrity visits by the likes of Mick Jagger
Mick Jagger
Sir Michael Philip "Mick" Jagger is an English musician, singer and songwriter, best known as the lead vocalist and a founding member of The Rolling Stones....
, Sylvester Stallone
Sylvester Stallone
Michael Sylvester Gardenzio Stallone , commonly known as Sylvester Stallone, and nicknamed Sly Stallone, is an American actor, filmmaker, screenwriter, film director and occasional painter. Stallone is known for his machismo and Hollywood action roles. Two of the notable characters he has portrayed...
, Sean Connery
Sean Connery
Sir Thomas Sean Connery , better known as Sean Connery, is a Scottish actor and producer who has won an Academy Award, two BAFTA Awards and three Golden Globes Sir Thomas Sean Connery (born 25 August 1930), better known as Sean Connery, is a Scottish actor and producer who has won an Academy...
, Mel Gibson
Mel Gibson
Mel Colm-Cille Gerard Gibson, AO is an American actor, film director, producer and screenwriter. Born in Peekskill, New York, Gibson moved with his parents to Sydney, Australia when he was 12 years old and later studied acting at the Australian National Institute of Dramatic Art.After appearing in...
and Tobey Maguire
Tobey Maguire
Tobias Vincent "Tobey" Maguire is an American actor and producer. He began his career in the 1980s, and has achieved his greatest fame for his role as Peter Parker/Spider-Man in Sam Raimi's Spider-Man films.-Early life:...
.
Attractions
The Pedasí district borders on the Pacific Ocean to the south and east, with several sandy and rocky beaches along its coast.List of Beaches in the Pedasí District:
- Punta Tigre
- El Rincón/Rinconcito
- Mariabé
- El Arenal
- El Faro (Isla Iguana)
- El Cirial (Isla Iguana)
- El Toro
- La Garita
- Lagarto
- El Lanchón
- Punta Mala
- El Cascajal
- Los Destiladeros
- Indio Viejo
- Puerto Escondido
- Ano/Los Panamaes
- la Miel
- Oria
- Punta Chumico
- Achotines Bay
- El Ciruelo
- Playa Venao/Venado
- Madroñon
- Raya
Surfing
Pedasí's coast offers a variety of breaks for surfers. The most popular of these is Playa Venao (also known as Playa Venado), at Pedasí's western end, which was chosen for the 2007 Central American Surf Championship. Venao has a reliable south swell, with left and right breaks over a sandy bottom. Nearby beaches Ciruelo, Madroño and Raya also offer good surf, with hollow tubes at all three under optimum conditions. Other surfing beaches in Pedasí include El Toro, with a left and right point break; El Lagarto, with left and right beach breaks; and Los Destiladeros, with several breaks.Sport fishing
As the continental shelf drops sharply relatively close to shore, Pedasí’s waters are chock full of pelagic game fish, with year-round catch including amberjackAmberjack
Amberjack refers to 3 species of Atlantic fish of the Carangidae family , which includes the jacks and the pompanos.Greater amberjacks, Seriola dumerili, are the largest of the jacks. They usually have dark stripes extending from nose to in front of their dorsal fins...
, Pacific sailfish
Sailfish
'Sailfish' are two species of fish in the genus Istiophorus, living in warmer sections of all the oceans of the world. They are predominately blue to gray in color and have a characteristic erectile dorsal fin known as a sail, which often stretches the entire length of the back...
(Istiophorus platypterus), cubera snapper
Cubera snapper
The cubera snapper is a species of fish in the Lutjanidae family. It is found in Angola, Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Aruba, the Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Brazil, Cayman Islands, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominica, the Dominican Republic, French Guiana, Grenada, Guadeloupe, Guyana, Haiti,...
(Lutjanus cyanopterus), roosterfish
Roosterfish
The roosterfish, Nematistius pectoralis, is a game fish common in the marine waters surrounding Mexico, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, and Panama, and in the eastern Pacific Ocean from Baja California to Peru. It is the only fish in the genus Nematistius and the family Nematistiidae...
(Nematistius pectoralis) and grouper
Grouper
Groupers are fish of any of a number of genera in the subfamily Epinephelinae of the family Serranidae, in the order Perciformes.Not all serranids are called groupers; the family also includes the sea basses. The common name grouper is usually given to fish in one of two large genera: Epinephelus...
, while dorado (Coryphaena hippurus, commonly called mahi-mahi, or dolphinfish), both bigeye tuna
Bigeye tuna
The bigeye tuna, Thunnus obesus, is an important food fish and prized recreational game fish. It is a true tuna of the genus Thunnus, belonging to the wider mackerel family Scombridae....
(Thunnus obesus) and yellowfin tuna
Yellowfin tuna
The yellowfin tuna is a species of tuna found in pelagic waters of tropical and subtropical oceans worldwide.Yellowfin is often marketed as ahi, from its Hawaiian name ahi although the name ahi in Hawaiian also refers to the closely related bigeye tuna. The species name, albacares can lead to...
(Thunnus albacares), and wahoo
Wahoo
The wahoo is a scombrid fish found worldwide in tropical and subtropical seas. It is best known to sports fishermen, as its speed and high-quality flesh make it a prize game fish...
(Acanthocybium solandri) are found seasonally, November through April.
The Pedasí district also houses an Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission
Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission
The Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission is an international commission that is responsible for the conservation and management of tuna and other marine resources in the eastern Pacific Ocean.-History:The Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission was created by the Convention for the...
(IATTC) (www.iattc.org) research laboratory, the Achotines Laboratory, where visitors can take educational tours of the breeding and testing facilities, gaining a glimpse of the stages of yellowfin tuna reproduction.
Isla Iguana Wildlife Refuge
Isla IguanaIsla Iguana Wildlife Refuge
The Isla Iguana Wildlife Refuge is a 58-hectare wildlife reserve located 5 kilometers off the Los Santos Province on the Azuero Peninsula in Panama.-History:During World War II, the United States Army used the Isla Iguana Wildlife Refuge as a bombing range...
is an island wildlife refuge five kilometers, or a 20-minute boat ride, from Playa El Arenal. The 52-hectare island is surrounded by an extensive coral reef, which gives it two powdery-soft white sand beaches: Playa El Cirial (252 meters long) and Playita del Faro (37 meters long).
It is also home to more than 62 bird species, and the largest nesting site in Panama for the magnificent frigatebird
Magnificent Frigatebird
The Magnificent Frigatebird was sometimes previously known as Man O'War, reflecting its rakish lines, speed, and aerial piracy of other birds....
(Fregata magnificens), with a population of more than 5000. The island also houses several reptile species, including the black iguana (Ctenosaura similis) for which the island is named.
The refuge also comprises a 40-hectare marine area — including a channel for migrating humpback whale
Humpback Whale
The humpback whale is a species of baleen whale. One of the larger rorqual species, adults range in length from and weigh approximately . The humpback has a distinctive body shape, with unusually long pectoral fins and a knobbly head. It is an acrobatic animal, often breaching and slapping the...
s (Megaptera novaeangliae) between June and October — and one of the largest well-preserved coral reefs in Panama, ideal for snorkeling and scuba diving. Visitors to the reefs can expect to see a variety of fish, rays, eels, and sea turtles.
Entrance to the refuge is $4 for Panamanian nationals, $10 for foreigners, and $2 for seniors and students. Children under 12 enter free of charge.
Pablo Arturio Barrios Wildlife Refuge
The Pablo Arturio Barrios Wildlife Refuge extends 22 kilometers along Pedasí's coast from Punta Mala to the Purio River mouth. With a total area of 30 hectares, this marine ecosystem dunes, mangroves, dry tropical forest, estuaries, and the beaches of El Rincón, Punta El Tigre, Mariabé, El Arenal, El Toro, La Garita and El Lagarto The marine area facing Isla Iguana is also protected, with only artisanal fishing allowed in its waters.The refuge is considered an important bird habitat, home to egret
Egret
An egret is any of several herons, most of which are white or buff, and several of which develop fine plumes during the breeding season. Many egrets are members of the genera Egretta or Ardea which contain other species named as herons rather than egrets...
s, heron
Heron
The herons are long-legged freshwater and coastal birds in the family Ardeidae. There are 64 recognised species in this family. Some are called "egrets" or "bitterns" instead of "heron"....
s and cormorant
Cormorant
The bird family Phalacrocoracidae is represented by some 40 species of cormorants and shags. Several different classifications of the family have been proposed recently, and the number of genera is disputed.- Names :...
s among others.
Isla Cañas Wildlife Refuge
Isla Cañas is on the border of the Pedasí district, in the Tonosí district. This 832-hectare island is Panama's most important turtle-nesting site. Its 13-kilometer beach can receive hundreds of female turtles in a single night during nesting season. Five of Panama's marine turtles nest on Isla Cañas: Olive RidleyOlive Ridley
The olive ridley sea turtle , also known as the Pacific ridley, is a species of sea turtle.- Description :The olive ridley is a small extant sea turtle, with an adult carapace length averaging 60 to 70 cm 1...
, Green Turtle, Hawksbill Turtle
Hawksbill turtle
The hawksbill sea turtle is a critically endangered sea turtle belonging to the family Cheloniidae. It is the only extant species in its genus. The species has a worldwide distribution, with Atlantic and Pacific subspecies. E. imbricata imbricata is the Atlantic subspecies, while E...
, Loggerhead Sea Turtle
Loggerhead Sea Turtle
The loggerhead sea turtle , or loggerhead, is an oceanic turtle distributed throughout the world. It is a marine reptile, belonging to the family Cheloniidae. The average loggerhead measures around long when fully grown, although larger specimens of up to have been discovered...
and the Leatherback Turtle. All of these species, with the exception of the Olive Ridley, are endangered or critically endangered. The island's 800 or so inhabitants have an accord with the Panamanian government to protect the nesting sites, while also harvesting the turtle eggs in an ostensibly sustainable manner.
The island is fringed with mangrove
Mangrove
Mangroves are various kinds of trees up to medium height and shrubs that grow in saline coastal sediment habitats in the tropics and subtropics – mainly between latitudes N and S...
s, and has several stands of red, white and black mangrove species, which play an important role in the life cycles of shrimp and commercial fish species.
Culture
Pedasí’s townspeople are laid-back, friendly, and regularly greet visitors with a smile. Men can often be seen wearing cuttarras (traditional sandals) and the region’s folkloric black and white hats; women, during festivals and carnivals, don polleraPollera
A pollera is a Spanish term that denotes big one-piece skirts, that nowadays are used mostly in traditional festivities and folklore in the Spanish speaking world.-Spain:...
s, traditional hand-stitched multi-layered dresses, some of which can take nearly a year to complete. During local fiestas the women adorn their polleras with ornate jewelry and gold chains.
Carnival
February’s carnivalCarnival
Carnaval is a festive season which occurs immediately before Lent; the main events are usually during February. Carnaval typically involves a public celebration or parade combining some elements of a circus, mask and public street party...
is the annual high point of local life in Pedasí, which is renowned for the most exuberant celebration after Las Tablas. The town divides itself into two factions, Calle Abajo (lower street) and Calle Arriba (upper street), with their respective queens, each trying to outdo the other with floats, music and fireworks. At the end of the celebration, the winning queen is chosen by popular vote.
Pedasí also celebrates the fiesta of Santa Catalina (St Catherine’s Day) on November 25 (see also: Calendar of saints
Calendar of saints
The calendar of saints is a traditional Christian method of organizing a liturgical year by associating each day with one or more saints and referring to the feast day of said saint...
).