El Real de Santa María
Corregimiento in Darién, Panama / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
El Real de Santa María is a corregimiento in Pinogana District, Darién Province, Panama with a population of 1,183 as of 2010.[1] It is the seat of Pinogana District.[1] Its population as of 1990 was 1,201; its population as of 2000 was 1,185.[1]
El Real de Santa María | |
---|---|
Coordinates: 8°7′48″N 77°42′36″W | |
Country | Panama |
Province | Darién |
District | Pinogana |
Area | |
• Land | 120.1 km2 (46.4 sq mi) |
Population (2010)[1] | |
• Total | 1,183 |
• Density | 9.9/km2 (26/sq mi) |
Population density calculated based on land area. | |
Time zone | UTC−5 (EST) |
Climate | Aw |
The town of El Real is on the Pirre River, a small tributary of the Tuira River. It is 17 kilometres (11 mi) by boat to the town of Yaviza, the terminus of the Pan American Highway.[2][3]
The town was founded by the Spanish as a fort in 1665 to protect their gold mining interests in the area.[4] The English Buccaneer Bartholomew Sharp took over the town and fort in 1680, but found the Spanish had removed most of the gold they hoped to seize, and left after a few days.[5]
El Real Airport is an airstrip serving the area.