Barro Colorado Island & The Gatun Locks, Panama
The hazy mist surrounding the National Geographic Sea Lion as it cut through the waters of the Gatun Lake set the perfect mysterious effect for an exploration through the tropics. Since we dropped anchored last night near the Gatun Locks, this morning our vessel did not need to navigate long before reaching Barro Colorado Island or BCI.
Barro Colorado Island was once the top of Palenquilla Hill, but as the Chagres River was dammed to create the Gatun Lake all the mountain tops became islands. Thanks to local men and naturalists who envisioned the importance of protecting this rainforest, we had the unique opportunity to walk its trails or Zodiac ride around its perimeters.
The island had been protected since in the 1920’s. In the 1940’s it was taken under the administration of the Smithsonian Research Institute, which is recognized worldwide as an icon of scientific research. Therefore, Barro Colorado became one of the most studied, mapped and tagged rain forest ecosystems in the world. At any particular time the station can host 40 scientists from all over the world, collecting data from the composition of rain forest soils, seed dispersal by rodents, run off of minerals from the canopy to the root of the trees and much more.
After breakfast all guest were ready for a unique experience, some decided to set foot on BCI for their walk through one of the most diverse habitats in the world.
The rain forest hosts ten times more species than any other forest. Some guests saw the Howler monkeys, which are herbivorous (leaf eaters), lethargic and remain in the canopy of the rain forest, while other guests observed the more agile white faced monkeys which are omnivorous (everything eaters). Each of the 4 monkey species present on BCI must divide the resources to survive among each other and not out-compete.
For the guests that choose the Zodiac ride around the island, the view of the forest was impressive with its towering trees breaking the canopy line and the vines that cover the forest like a protective blanket of leafs. The sightings went from white faced and howler monkeys, to chestnut mandible toucans, crocodiles and three inch bat lines down a tree trunk, amazing.
As if all this had not been enough for the day, we still had our transit through the Caribbean set of locks of the Panama Canal, the Gatun Locks. Different as yesterday, on this side there is just one lock and three steps which brought the ship down to 85 ft, back in to sea level but this time on the Caribbean Sea. It doesn’t matter how many times I cross the canal, there is always something to admire each time, plus the wonderful feeling of seeing each transit through the eyes of our guests. Maybe the next will be you.
