Panama City

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Panama City Capital of Panama, on the shore of the Gulf of Panama, near the Pacific end of the Panama Canal. It was founded by Pedro Arias de Avila in 1519, and was destroyed and rebuilt in the 17th century. It became the capital of Panama in 1903. It developed rapidly after the construction of the Panama Canal in 1914. Industries: brewing, shoes, textile, oil-refining, plastics. Pop. (2000) 463,093.

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