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The Panama Canal Zone was a 553 mile˛ (1,432 km˛) territory inside of Panama, consisting of the Panama Canal and an area extending 5 mi (8.1 km) on each side. Its border spanned three of Panama's provinces and was created on November 18, 1903 with the signing of the Hay-Bunau-Varilla Treaty.
From 1903 to 1977 the territory was controlled by the United States of America, which was the nation that built and financed the canal's construction. From 1977 to 1999 the canal itself was under joint U.S.-Panamanian control. A 1979 treaty established the neutrality of the canal. [1]
During the American ownership, the territory, apart from the canal itself, was used mainly for military purposes. This usage ended when the zone returned to Panamanian control. It is now a tourist destination of sorts, especially for visiting cruise ships.
The Panama Canal Zone was the birthplace of John McCain and Richard Prince.
The Canal Zone issued its own postage stamps beginning in 19041904 is a leap year starting on Friday (link will take you to calendar). Events January 7 The distress signal " CQD" is established only to be replaced two years later by " SOS. February 7 A fire in Baltimore, Maryland destroys over 1,500 buildings in 30. Initially they were the current stamps of Panama or (less often) the US, overprintAn overprint is the addition of text (and sometimes graphics) to the face of a postage stamp after it has been printed. Overprints have been used for many purposes over the years. They have been used as surcharges, commemorations, and control marks. A sured with "CANAL ZONE" in various ways. Philatelists have identified over 100 varieties, some of them quite rare (and counterfeitA counterfeit is an imitation that is made with the intent to deceptively represent its content or origins. The word counterfeit most frequently describes forged money or documents, but can also describe clothing, software, pharmaceuticals, or any other med). The last of these overprints were issued in 1939Events January-June January 2 End of term for Frank Finley Merriam, 28th Governor of California. He is succeeded by Culbert Levy Olson. January 24 Earthquake kills 30. 000 in Chile about 50. 000 sq mi razed January 26 Falangists take Barcelona January 26.
In 1928Centuries: 19th century 20th century 21st century Decades: 1870s 1880s 1890s 1900s 1910s 1920s 1930s 1940s 1950s 1960s 1970s Years: 1922 1923 1924 1925 1926 1927 1928 1929 1930 1931 1932 See also 1928 in aviation 1928 in film 1928 in literature 1928 in mu, the Zone issued a definitive series inscribed "CANAL ZONE POSTAGE" depicting various persons involved in the construction of the canal, as well as a 5 c value showing the Gaillard Cut . A series of 16 stamps in 1939 commemorating the 25th anniversary of the canal's completion showed "before" and "after" views of various points along the canal. Thereafter stamps appeared at an average rate of about two per year, with a commemorative set in some years and no stamps in others. The inscriptions were changed to just "CANAL ZONE" in the 1960s.
The last stamp of the Zone was issued on October 25, 1978, and depicted one of the towing locomotive s and a ship in a lock. Thereafter Panama resumed the administration of postal service.