- Nombre de Dios, Colón
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Nombre de Dios Coordinates: 9°34′58.40″N 79°28′13.10″W / 9.582889°N 79.470306°WCoordinates: 9°34′58.40″N 79°28′13.10″W / 9.582889°N 79.470306°W Country Panama Province Colón Province District Santa Isabel Corregimiento Nombre de Dios Time zone ETZ (UTC-5) Nombre de Dios (Spanish: "Name of God") is a city on the Atlantic coast of Panama in the Colón Province.
Founded as a Spanish colony in 1510 by Diego de Nicuesa, it was one of the first European settlements on the Isthmus of Panama. It is the oldest continually populated town in Panama and the America mainland. Originally a major port of call for the Spanish treasure fleet, Nombre de Dios was the most significant port for shipping in all of the Americas between 1540 and 1580. Silver was brought to it for export to Spain.[1] As Nombre de Dios was situated near an unhealthy swamp and was nearly impossible to fortify, it declined in importance. In June 1572 the English pirate Francis Drake sacked the colony; he ambushed the Spanish Silver Train, a mule convoy carrying a fortune in precious metals, in April of the following year. By 1580, Vera Cruz in present-day Mexico became a more important port.
By 1600, Nombre de Dios had been all but abandoned by the Spanish, and its importance to the treasure fleets had been surpassed by Portobelo on the isthmus. The town still exists, though it is much less populous than in the 16th century.
Nombre de Dios is mentioned by the poet Derek Walcott in The Prodigal:
Caravels slid over the horizon.
The flags of the sea-almonds wilted
sacker of Nombre de Dios.
and yard-smoke drifted, forked as Drake's beard,—The Prodigal (p. 46)See also
References
- ^ Chaunus, Spain's Atlantic trade
Capital: ColónColón District Colón City · Barrio Norte · Barrio Sur · Buena Vista · Cativá · Ciricito · Sabanitas · Salamanca · Limón · Nueva Providencia · Puerto Pilón · Cristóbal · Escobal · San Juan · Santa RosaChagres District Donoso District Miguel de la Borda · Coclé del Norte · El Guásimo · Gobea · Río Indio · San José del GeneraPortobelo District Santa Isabel District Santa Isabel · Palenque · Cuango · Miramar · Nombre de Dios · Palmira · Playa Chiquita and Viento FríoCategories:- Populated places in Panama
- Populated places established in 1510
- Colonial Panama
- Panama geography stubs
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