Formation of the Isthmus of Panama

GEOLOGICAL RECORDS
Formation of the Isthmus of Panama involved subduction of the Pacific-Farallon Plate beneath
the Caribbean and South American plates, ultimately driving the development of a volcanic arc
on the trailing edge of the Caribbean Plate. This initial Panama Arc began to form approximately
73 Ma (23) as the Caribbean Plate moved eastward, arriving at its current position by ~50 Ma.
The North and South American plates continued to move westward past the Caribbean Plate
after this time. In addition to their east-west (strike-slip) motion, the South American and
Caribbean plates also acquired a north-south component of convergence, leading to the
collision of the Panama Arc with South America. This collision drove uplift in both the Northern
Andes and the Panama Block, forming the North Panama Deformed Belt and ultimately the
Isthmus of Panama (24).