Puerto Armuelles
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Puerto Armuelles is a medium size town that can be found on Panama's Pacific Coast in the western province of Chiriqui next to Costa Rica. Puerto Armuelles is the Second largest city in Chiriqui province with a population near 25,000, and has not one, but two different type of deep-water ports. Puerto Armuelles is a mere 30 minute drive from the border with Costa Rica and about an hour's drive from David, Panama the capital of Chiriqui. Panama City is some 235 miles way or approximately 6 - 8 hours drive on the Pan American Highway which begins at the border. Puerto Armuelles most famous citizen is Omar Moreno who was a baseball outfielder from 1975-1986 in the U.S.
Once the center of a thriving Banana economy, Chiquita Banana i.e. United Fruit Company sold its unprofitable Pacific division which was based in Puerto Armuelles since 1927 to a cooperative of banana workers in 2003. Striking workers and other such problems with employees sped the demise of Puerto Armuelles relationship with United Fruit Company.
Panama fought Costa Rica in a short war in the 1921 near Puerto Armuelles. The Coto War lasted a few months, and was fought over a relatively small piece of territory. Panama was victorious, but the next president of Panama gave the territory to Costa Rica. The dispute was mediated by the U.S.A. and it found in favor of Costa Rica. The President of Panama decided to abide by that ruling although it was a very unpopular decision in Panama. An interesting side note is that today Panama and Costa Rica both have no military just a civil defense force. Both countries, although doing so decades apart, felt that this was the only way to end military takeovers of their governments.
Puerto Armuelles other major employer is oil related. In the 1970's in response to the oil embargo Alaska's Prudhoe Bay was developed and a pipeline built down to ports in the southern Alaska. Due to the size or lack of it the Panama Canal cannot handle super tankers and thus were unable to cross over to the Atlantic and to the refineries of Houston and the Gulf coast. Puerto Armuelles with its deep water just outside town called Charco Azul or in English "Blue Ditch" was an ideal place to bring in those Super Tankers and unload. Once switch to Panamax tankers the oil could then cross the canal and on to the U.S. refineries. Very soon after operations started the need for a pipeline was recognized and one built in 1982 crossing from Puerto Armuelles over the mountains with the help of pumping stations like that at Boquete and ending in Chiriqui Grande in Bocas del Toro province on the Atlantic coast where once again super tankers could take the oil on to U.S. refineries.
It seems oil may become Puerto Armuelles salvation from economic ruin of losing its "company" the United Fruit Company. In 2006 it was announced that Puerto Armuelles was in the running to be considered for a refinery. Occidental has been mentioned as possibly the builder of this refinery to process 360,000 barrels of oil everyday. Panama's only other refinery in Colon closed in 2002. The deal is still pending, but this multi-billion dollar/euro deal will mean that the economic good times come back to Puerto Armuelles after the loss of the United Fruit Company banana business.
Earthquakes have hit Puerto Armuelles several time including one in July 1934 and another on Christmas night 2003 both of which killed several locals. On July 1, 1979 an earthquake hit Puerto Armuelles, which destroyed the poorly built multi story high school (fortunately it was a Sunday afternoon). The oil terminal also suffered extensive damage worth 2 million dollars including the loss of a very expensive parts into the deep water of Charco Azul and although divers were contracted the steep descent of the ocean floor led to the part rolling off and never being recovered.
Beyond the earthquakes which are common anywhere in the pacific rim of fire Puerto Armuelles weather is your every day tropical weather for latitude 8.28333 degrees. Highs around 92F most days and lows around 72F at night. The beach is near by if it is too hot for you or up the mountain to Volcan Baru which towers over the area at 11,400 feet (3478 meters) high, and can be seen from hills of Monte Verde.
Puerto Armuelles currently is "a company town which lost its company" according to the weekly newsletter "So you want to retire to Panama" May 9, 2005 edition by Paradise Services. Also the mass migration of the young people to the big cities particularly Panama City has been on going for decades just like in the U.S. rural areas. The hope now lies in maybe bring in a refinery and maybe the company town will find a new company to treat it better than the last one did.
