Province
History
The central and western isthmus was inhabited by Indigenous populations adapted to highly diverse environments, from mountains to coasts on both seas. During Spanish expansion, the name Veragua described territories far larger than the current province; by the mid-sixteenth century the region was organized under the government of Veragua, with early settlements such as Santa Fe and colonial reductions such as San Francisco de la Montaña, whose seventeenth-century church remains one of the interior's most important religious heritage sites. Santiago became the main urban and administrative center thanks to its position along central Panama's overland routes. In 1821, the territory joined the independence process, and during the nineteenth century territorial reorganizations progressively reduced historical Veraguas to its modern configuration. Agriculture and cattle raising remained the economic foundation of many communities. For much of the twentieth century, Coiba Island served as a penal colony; after its closure, research and conservation redefined its identity. The Gulf of Montijo was recognized as a Ramsar wetland in 1990 and, in 2005, Coiba National Park was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List. Meanwhile, Santa Catalina became an international surfing destination and the main departure point for Coiba, while communities such as Mata Oscura and Malena lead sea turtle conservation efforts.