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Currently, it's possible to drive from the top of Alaska to Tierra del Fuego except for a 200km stretch of jungle between Panama and Colombia called the Darien Gap. Do you think the highway should be built there to finally connect North and South America? Would it increase trade and improve relations? What are your thoughts?
Panama doesn't want that connection with Colombia. Add to that the immense sections of that land that is in the hands of Native American groups with a tendency to oppose any type of Western development and you have a very tough sell.
Panama doesn't want that connection with Colombia. Add to that the immense sections of that land that is in the hands of Native American groups with a tendency to oppose any type of Western development and you have a very tough sell.
Now that FARC is no longer a problem in Colombia due to the peace treaty, it could encourage Panama to improve relations. As far as the Indigenous People, if they were involved in the process and could make money from it, then it would encourage them to get on board.
Location: "Silicon Valley" (part of San Francisco Bay Area, California, USA)
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My answer is yes. However, I would suggest they build the road ABOVE the Darien Gap. It should be an elevated structure with both a highway and a train. The train should be part of a train that goes from Alaska to southernmost point in Chile.
Location: "Silicon Valley" (part of San Francisco Bay Area, California, USA)
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I was thinking maybe they can put a floating bridge there? I believe we have a floating bridge in the San Francisco Bay Area somewhere. I will have to look it up. You couldn't build a high speed maglev train that way; the train would have to have a gap. But you could walk across the floating bridge. The idea is that the floating bridge would be off the coast, so you can walk/drive around the Darien Gap.
Absolutely Not. It's one of the few wildernesses left in the world with one of the highest biodiversities on the globe.
This should be preserved and I would argue to extend the Katios National Park to cover a larger section of the Darien Gap. We should look at a ferry option instead.
If we must have a road I would want it to be elevated and covered to prevent detrimental "island" ecosystems and road kill of creatures in the canopy. However, I know this would never happen so I would prefer no road to ever be built.
Now that FARC is no longer a problem in Colombia due to the peace treaty, it could encourage Panama to improve relations. As far as the Indigenous People, if they were involved in the process and could make money from it, then it would encourage them to get on board.
The Panamanian government has attempted to incorporate the Native American groups into the greater development of the country and the response has been negative and often hostile on the part of the Amerindians. They don't even consider themselves Panamanians; and when they speak of Panamanians, its often in despicable manners or to complain about something. Many of the Amerindians of Panama are actually insulted if anyone refers to them as Panamanian. They are very jealous with their land and are hostile towards anyone that trespasses.
Absolutely Not. It's one of the few wildernesses left in the world with one of the highest biodiversities on the globe.
This should be preserved and I would argue to extend the Katios National Park to cover a larger section of the Darien Gap. We should look at a ferry option instead.
If we must have a road I would want it to be elevated and covered to prevent detrimental "island" ecosystems and road kill of creatures in the canopy. However, I know this would never happen so I would prefer no road to ever be built.
Yes you could build an elevated roadway like what you see in the everglades through the gap. That would be the best solution so as to have minimal impact on the ecosystem.
Quote:
Originally Posted by AntonioR
The Panamanian government has attempted to incorporate the Native American groups into the greater development of the country and the response has been negative and often hostile on the part of the Amerindians. They don't even consider themselves Panamanians; and when they speak of Panamanians, its often in despicable manners or to complain about something. Many of the Amerindians of Panama are actually insulted if anyone refers to them as Panamanian. They are very jealous with their land and are hostile towards anyone that trespasses.
Like I said, a very tough sell.
Then why not have them own the road through the gap? If they built it, tolled it and collected the money from the tolls for their purposes and not reported to the Panamanian government, then they would feel in total control. It's a win win situation really.
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