History of Darién Gap in Timeline
The Darién Gap is a geographically significant and challenging region connecting Panama and Colombia, forming the only land bridge between North and South America. Characterized by dense rainforest, mountains, and a large drainage basin, it's known for its remoteness, difficult terrain, and extreme environment, earning a reputation as one of the world's most inhospitable areas. Despite these challenges, it has historically served as a crucial route for both human migration and wildlife dispersal.
1903: Panamanian Independence
In 1903, Panama declared its independence from Colombia with the encouragement and support of the United States.
1923: International Conference in Chile
After an International Conference in Chile in 1923, the expedition was conceived to bring attention to the Panamerican highway.
1924: Marsh Darién Expedition
In 1924–25, the Marsh Darién Expedition, supported by organizations like the Smithsonian Institution, marked the first post-colonial expedition to the Darién region.
August 1925: Treaty Registered
In August 1925, the Victoria-Velez Treaty, signed in 1924, was officially registered in the Register No. 814 of the Treaty League of Nations.
1928: Brazilian Expedition Begins
In 1928, a Brazilian expedition began their journey from Rio de Janeiro in two Ford Model T cars, aiming to cross the Darién Gap and bring attention for the Panamerican highway.
1938: Brazilian Expedition Completes Crossing
In 1938, the Brazilian expedition that started in 1928 completed their vehicular crossing of the Darién Gap, arriving in the United States.
1954: Foot-and-Mouth Disease
Since 1954, Central and North America have been free of foot-and-mouth disease, a substantial factor in preventing a road link through the Darién Gap.
1959: Trans-Darién Expedition
In 1959, the Trans-Darién Expedition started their attempt to cross the Darién Gap with the Land Rover La Cucaracha Cariñosa and a Jeep.
February 1960: Trans-Darién Expedition Departure
In February 1960, the Land Rover La Cucaracha Cariñosa and a Jeep of the Trans-Darién Expedition departed from Chepo, Panama, to cross the Darién Gap.
June 1960: Trans-Darién Expedition Arrival
In June 1960, the Trans-Darién Expedition reached Quibdó, Colombia, after traversing the Darién Gap, averaging 201 meters per hour over 136 days.
1971: Hibell's Cycling Journey Begins
In 1971, British cyclist Ian Hibell started his journey from Cape Horn to Alaska, which included an overland crossing of the Atrato Swamp.
1971: Pan-American Highway Planning
In 1971, planning began with American funding to fill the gap in the Pan-American Highway, but these efforts were later halted.
1972: British Trans-Americas Expedition
In 1972, the British Trans-Americas Expedition, led by John Blashford-Snell and supported by the British Army, used Range Rovers and special inflatable rafts to cross the Atrato Swamp in Colombia, claimed as the first vehicle-based expedition to traverse both American continents through the Darién Gap.
1973: Hibell Completes Cycling Journey
In 1973, British cyclist Ian Hibell completed his journey from Cape Horn to Alaska, making the first fully overland wheeled crossing of the Darién Gap.
1974: Highway Construction Halted
In 1974, construction efforts on the Pan-American Highway were halted due to concerns raised by environmentalists.
1975: Snow and Davis Cross the Gap
In 1975, Sebastian Snow and Wade Davis crossed the Darién Gap as part of Snow's unbroken walk from Tierra del Fuego to Costa Rica.
1976: The Rucksack Man Published
In 1976, Sebastian Snow documented his 1975 crossing of the Darién Gap in his book, "The Rucksack Man".
1978: US Support Blocked
In 1978, US support for the Pan-American Highway construction was blocked by the US Department of Agriculture due to concerns about the spread of foot-and-mouth disease.
1979: Blessitt's Pilgrimage
In 1979, evangelist Arthur Blessitt traversed the Darién Gap while carrying a 3.7-meter wooden cross, as part of "the longest round-the-world pilgrimage".
1980: Darién National Park Established
In 1980, Darién National Park in Panama, the largest national park in Central America, was established, covering roughly 5,790 km of land.
1981: Meegan Crosses the Gap
In 1981, George Meegan crossed the Darién Gap as part of his journey from Tierra del Fuego to Alaska.
1985: Project Raleigh Expedition
In 1985, Project Raleigh sponsored an expedition which also crossed the Darién coast to coast.
1988: The Longest Walk Published
In 1988, George Meegan described his 1981 trip through the Darién Gap in his biography, "The Longest Walk".
1989: Raleigh International
In 1989, Project Raleigh became Raleigh International.
June 1992: Copa Airlines Flight 201 Crash
In June 1992, Copa Airlines Flight 201 crashed in the Darién Gap, resulting in the deaths of all 47 people on board.
1992: Road Construction Restart
In 1992, another effort to build the road through the Darién Gap began, aiming to complete the Pan-American Highway.
1993: New Tribes Missionaries Disappearance
In 1993, three New Tribes missionaries disappeared on the Panamanian side of the Darién Gap, later found dead. They were victims of non-political violence.
1994: Environmental Concerns Reported
In 1994, a United Nations agency reported that building a road through the Darién Gap would cause extensive environmental damage.
1995: Darién Gap Population
In 1995, the Darién Gap was reported to have a population of 8,000 indigenous people among five tribes, including the Embera-Wounaan and Guna peoples.
1996: One River Published
In 1996, Wade Davis published his book, "One River", which documented his and Sebastian Snow's crossing of the Darién Gap in 1975.
1997: UNESCO World Heritage Site
In 1997, the ruins of Panamá Viejo, the old town destroyed by Henry Morgan in 1671, were declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
1997: Ferry Service Ceases Operations
In the 1990s, the ferry service provided by Crucero Express briefly joined the gap, but in 1997, it ceased operations.
2003: Robert Young Pelton Detained
In 2003, Robert Young Pelton, along with Mark Wedeven and Megan Smaker, were detained for a week by the United Self-Defense Forces of Colombia while on assignment for National Geographic Adventure magazine. This incident received significant publicity.
2010: Pan-American Highway Terminus
Since 2010, the Pan-American Highway's Panamanian side terminates in the town of Yaviza, marking the edge of the Darién Gap.
2013: Coastal Route Safety
By 2013, the coastal route on the east side of the Darién Isthmus became relatively safe, involving motorboat transport and hiking to Panama.
2013: Childbirth in the Darién
In 2013, a migrant woman gave birth in the Darién Gap without medical help or supplies, underscoring the extreme dangers faced by migrants.
2016: Motlagh Interview on NPR
In 2016, journalist Jason Motlagh was interviewed on NPR's On Point about his work following migrants through the Darién Gap.
2019: Migration Crossings
In 2019, approximately 24,000 migrants crossed the Darién Gap, marking the beginning of a significant increase in migration through this perilous route.
2019: Drost and Federico Interview
In 2019, journalists Nadja Drost and Bruno Federico were interviewed about their work following migrants through the Darién Gap and the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.
2021: Increased Migration
By 2021, more than 130,000 migrants crossed the Darién Gap, primarily aiming to reach the United States.
2021: Childbirth in the Darién
In 2021, a migrant woman gave birth in the Darién Gap without medical help or supplies, underscoring the extreme dangers faced by migrants.
2022: Increased Migration Crossings
In 2022, the number of migrants crossing the Darién Gap surged to 250,000, highlighting a dramatic increase compared to previous years.
2023: Migration Surge and Deportation Assistance
In 2023, 520,000 migrants crossed the Darién Gap, leading to foreign assistance to help Panama deport migrants, with 60% of the 334,000 migrants being Venezuelan in the first eight months.
2023: Record Migration
In 2023, over 520,000 migrants traversed the Darién Gap, more than doubling the previous year's number of crossings, indicating a significant escalation in migration through the region.
August 2024: Immigration through the Darién Gap Reported
In August 2024, journalist Caitlin Dickerson reported on the state of immigration through the Darién Gap for The Atlantic.
2024: Infrastructure Plans
As of 2024, there is no active plan to build a road through the Darién Gap, although there is discussion of reestablishing a ferry service and building a rail link.
2024: Decrease in Migration
In 2024, migrant crossings dropped to 300,000, for the now more organized 2½ day trek, which used to take a week.
2024: Fatalities and Abandoned Minors
In 2024, the Darién Gap crossings resulted in 55 known deaths and 180 unaccompanied minors being abandoned, highlighting the dangers of the route.
