Panama is the kind of country many of us think we know, but really don't. The Canal, one of humankind's engineering masterworks, is captivating, of course. But so are Panama's fine lodges, rainforests, salubrious beaches, and grandly peppy culture.

• TOTAL AREA: 78,200 sq km

• LAND AREA: 75,990 sq km

• WATER AREA: 2,210 sq km

• POPULATION: 3,191,319

• RELIGIONS: Roman Catholic 85%, Protestant 15%

• LANGUAGES: Spanish (official), English 14%; note - many Panamanians bilingual

• GOVERNMENT TYPE: Constitutional Democracy

• CAPITAL CITY: Panama

• OFFICIAL CURRENCY: balboa (PAB); US dollar (USD)

• TIME ZONE: GMT/UTC -5