Eastern Panamanian montane forests
| Eastern Panamanian montane forests (NT0122) | |
|---|---|
Montane forests of Panama
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| Ecology | |
| Realm | Neotropical |
| Biome | Tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forests |
| Geography | |
| Area | 3,108 km2 (1,200 sq mi) |
| Countries | Colombia, Panama |
| Coordinates | 7°46′05″N 77°43′52″W / 7.768°N 77.731°WCoordinates: 7°46′05″N 77°43′52″W / 7.768°N 77.731°W |
| Climate type | Af: equatorial; fully humid |
The Eastern Panamanian montane forests (NT0122) is an ecoregion in the east of Panama and the extreme northwest of Colombia. It contains diverse flora and fauna, with considerable endemism. The ecoregion is largely intact due to its inaccessibility, although the opening of an extension of the Pan-American Highway has introduced threats from human activity.
The ecoregion covers several separate areas of higher ground in Panama and the adjoining border region of Colombia. It has an area of 310,798 hectares (768,000 acres). In the east the ecoregion is found on mountains surrounded by Chocó-Darién moist forests. Further west it is found on mountains surrounded by Isthmian-Atlantic moist forests..
The region is one where the Caribbean Plate is riding over the Nazca Plate and the Cocos Plate, causing tectonic instability and volcanic activity. The Cordillera de San Blas and the Serranía del Darién are in the northeast, the latter containing the 1,875 metres (6,152 ft) Cerro Tacarcuna. The south holds isolated chains of mountains such as the Serrania de Jungurudó, the Serranía de Bagre and the Serranía del Baudó beside the Pacific coast. The Eastern Panamanian montane forests ecoregion lies at elevations above 500 metres (1,600 ft).
Annual rainfall is typically 3,000 to 4,000 millimetres (120 to 160 in). The central mountains receive less rain, averaging 1,700 to 2,800 millimetres (67 to 110 in) while the mountains along the Caribbean coast receive 4,000 to 5,000 millimetres (160 to 200 in). At a sample location at 8°15′N 77°45′W / 8.25°N 77.75°W the Köppen climate classification is Af: equatorial; fully humid. Mean temperatures range from 26 °C (79 °F) in November to 27.3 °C (81.1 °F) in March. Annual rainfall is about 1,600 millimetres (63 in). Monthly rainfall varies from 12.7 millimetres (0.50 in) in March to 27.7 millimetres (1.09 in) in August.
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Wikipedia