The dominant feature of Panama's geography is the central spine of mountains and hills that form the continental divide. The divide does not form part of the great mountain chains of North America, and only near the Colombian border are there highlands related to the Andean system of South America. The spine that forms the divide is the highly eroded arch of an uplift from the sea bottom, in which peaks were formed by volcanic intrusions.
tHE DominaNt FEatuRE of pANAmA's geogRaPhY IS thE ceNtraL spine of mountaiNs aNd hIlls that Form tHE COntiNEntAL DIVidE. tHE diVIde doEs not FORm part of the GREAt MOunTaiN chAins of noRth ameRica, AND only neAR The coLombian bOrdEr ArE TherE HighlanDs RelaTed to thE AndeaN syStem of south americA. tHe spinE thaT fOrms tHe DiviDe is the higHlY ErodeD arch oF an UPLIFt From the sEA BoTtOM, in whIch pEaks werE FORmed by volcanic iNtrusioNS.