Barro Colorado Island & Panama Canal
The tropical rain forest has become a trade brand of conservation, protection, adventure TV shows and fashion. But what is really a rain forest? First, it is designated as a forest with an average rainfall of over 100 inches per year and a similar high humidity; in that case there are rain forests in Alaska, Washington State, and Vancouver. It is when the word tropical is added to the equation that we picture the lush, green, thick and wild, rain forest. The tropical belt where this particular ecosystem is located covers 7% of the planet, right at its belly button.
For the nature lovers, the expedition we are beginning today, after crossing last night the Gatun Locks, on the Caribbean side of Panama, wraps all those wild expectations of adventure, monkeys, snakes, huge plants, loud noises and hot melting sun.
The Sea Voyager is the only vessel allowed to cut its Canal transit in two, in order to visit Barro Colorado Island (BCI), the most researched, explored and mapped piece of rain forest on the America continent. It is administrated (since the 1940s) by the Smithsonian Institute and therefore it has been the main open laboratory for the most important tropical scientists in the world. The island was created when the Chagres River was dammed to form the Gatun Lake, in order to open the Panama Canal.
There were two options to explore BCI. One was the more civilized Zodiac ride, along the shoreline of the island and its surrounding peninsulas. The other option involved more sweating and exercise, bringing us to the heart of the jungle, a magnificent, gigantic Kapok Tree, over 300 years old. On the round trip we had great sightings of troops of loud howler monkeys, fast and curious spider monkeys, and wild and playful white-faced capuchins.
As a newcomer to the tropics all this looks just right, according to the overload of expectations we get from the TV shows, but for the naturalist guides that walk these trails over and over, being able to see all this was just spectacularly amazing! Even a pair of Slaty-tailed Trogons, perched over our heads, singing loudly, as if they were pushing to get our attention.
Around midday, we explorers returned back to the ship, to enjoy a great lunch and start the second half of our Panama Canal Transit. A beautiful sunset accompany the Sea Voyager as we were being lowered down 85 ft, to reach sea level. Cocktails and ceviche up on the sky deck and the skyline from Panama City were a great way to end this engaging first day.
The tropical rain forest has become a trade brand of conservation, protection, adventure TV shows and fashion. But what is really a rain forest? First, it is designated as a forest with an average rainfall of over 100 inches per year and a similar high humidity; in that case there are rain forests in Alaska, Washington State, and Vancouver. It is when the word tropical is added to the equation that we picture the lush, green, thick and wild, rain forest. The tropical belt where this particular ecosystem is located covers 7% of the planet, right at its belly button.
For the nature lovers, the expedition we are beginning today, after crossing last night the Gatun Locks, on the Caribbean side of Panama, wraps all those wild expectations of adventure, monkeys, snakes, huge plants, loud noises and hot melting sun.
The Sea Voyager is the only vessel allowed to cut its Canal transit in two, in order to visit Barro Colorado Island (BCI), the most researched, explored and mapped piece of rain forest on the America continent. It is administrated (since the 1940s) by the Smithsonian Institute and therefore it has been the main open laboratory for the most important tropical scientists in the world. The island was created when the Chagres River was dammed to form the Gatun Lake, in order to open the Panama Canal.
There were two options to explore BCI. One was the more civilized Zodiac ride, along the shoreline of the island and its surrounding peninsulas. The other option involved more sweating and exercise, bringing us to the heart of the jungle, a magnificent, gigantic Kapok Tree, over 300 years old. On the round trip we had great sightings of troops of loud howler monkeys, fast and curious spider monkeys, and wild and playful white-faced capuchins.
As a newcomer to the tropics all this looks just right, according to the overload of expectations we get from the TV shows, but for the naturalist guides that walk these trails over and over, being able to see all this was just spectacularly amazing! Even a pair of Slaty-tailed Trogons, perched over our heads, singing loudly, as if they were pushing to get our attention.
Around midday, we explorers returned back to the ship, to enjoy a great lunch and start the second half of our Panama Canal Transit. A beautiful sunset accompany the Sea Voyager as we were being lowered down 85 ft, to reach sea level. Cocktails and ceviche up on the sky deck and the skyline from Panama City were a great way to end this engaging first day.
