by J. Robertson Miller
Few people know about this or have seen it.
The geographical center of Panamá is located at a small triangular park in Penonomé, located 143 km west of Panamá City.
Called Parque 8 de diecembre, its name almost bigger than the site it sits on. It is on Calle Manuel Amador Guenero, across from the police headquarters. There are busy roads on all sides. If you go there, do watch out for traffic.
The National Geographic Institute (full name: Instituto Geográfico Nacional Tommy Guardia) determined this place as the geographoc center of Panama. This institute is charged with all things cartographic. Cartography is the science of making maps.
A descriptive plaque is at the pointy end of the triangle. Behind it is the silhouette of Panama raised on a pedestal. Look for a small hole in that silhouette. That marks the center of the country.
