How does the Isthmus of Panama connect North America and South America?

The Isthmus of Panama serves as a vital land bridge that physically connects North America and South America. Extending approximately 400 miles (640 km) from the border of Costa Rica to the border of Colombia, this narrow strip of land separates the Caribbean Sea from the Gulf of Panama.12

Geologically, the isthmus was submerged for much of the Paleogene and Neogene periods, which allowed the fauna of the two continents to evolve in isolation. It was during the Pliocene Epoch—roughly 5.3 to 2.6 million years ago—that the land bridge was elevated, creating a permanent connection between the two landmasses. Today, the region is characterized by a diverse terrain of mountains, tropical rainforests, and coastal plains, and it is famously traversed by the Panama Canal.31