Gatun Lake
The last day of our trip through Costa Rica and Panama had a great treat in store for all of us, as we got to do something unique, the fruit of many months of negotiations: split our transit of the Panama Canal into two parts and spend one part visiting Barro Colorado Island. The Sea Voyager anchored in the Gatun Lake last night, after having transited the Miraflores and Pedro Miguel locks. At approximately 5 p.m., a canal-commission pilot came aboard to direct our vessel to an anchoring spot just off the world-famous Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute (STRI). Most of the cutting edge research in tropical forest ecology is done at this place, so it is a true mecca for anyone with more than a passing interest in this fascinatingly diverse part of the world.
The area consists of the island itself and adjacent mainland, which act as a buffer zone. It has been an important nature reserve since 1923 when the island was formed from a mountain top by damming the Chargres River and causing the whole valley to flood, thus creating the largest manmade lake in the world at the time. This immense lake is a vital part of the ingenuity that has made the Panama Canal such a success, and still one of the greatest engineering wonders of our age.
We spent a great morning visiting the STRI facilities and walking through the huge natural laboratory, the forest itself. Scientists from the STRI came with us along the trails, teaching us about the different projects going on (signs of which were everywhere), whilst the abundant wildlife inhabiting the forest was easily observed. Some of the scientists then came back to the ship for lunch and gave us a presentation on the history of STRI and its myriad research projects – truly an engrossing experience.
Later that afternoon we sailed through the lake again towards the Gatun Locks, enjoying bird-watching and sunset cocktails on deck. After dinner we got to witness our captain, aided by the canal commission pilot, lower our vessel the 85ft back to sea level, this time finding ourselves in the Caribbean Sea.
The last day of our trip through Costa Rica and Panama had a great treat in store for all of us, as we got to do something unique, the fruit of many months of negotiations: split our transit of the Panama Canal into two parts and spend one part visiting Barro Colorado Island. The Sea Voyager anchored in the Gatun Lake last night, after having transited the Miraflores and Pedro Miguel locks. At approximately 5 p.m., a canal-commission pilot came aboard to direct our vessel to an anchoring spot just off the world-famous Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute (STRI). Most of the cutting edge research in tropical forest ecology is done at this place, so it is a true mecca for anyone with more than a passing interest in this fascinatingly diverse part of the world.
The area consists of the island itself and adjacent mainland, which act as a buffer zone. It has been an important nature reserve since 1923 when the island was formed from a mountain top by damming the Chargres River and causing the whole valley to flood, thus creating the largest manmade lake in the world at the time. This immense lake is a vital part of the ingenuity that has made the Panama Canal such a success, and still one of the greatest engineering wonders of our age.
We spent a great morning visiting the STRI facilities and walking through the huge natural laboratory, the forest itself. Scientists from the STRI came with us along the trails, teaching us about the different projects going on (signs of which were everywhere), whilst the abundant wildlife inhabiting the forest was easily observed. Some of the scientists then came back to the ship for lunch and gave us a presentation on the history of STRI and its myriad research projects – truly an engrossing experience.
Later that afternoon we sailed through the lake again towards the Gatun Locks, enjoying bird-watching and sunset cocktails on deck. After dinner we got to witness our captain, aided by the canal commission pilot, lower our vessel the 85ft back to sea level, this time finding ourselves in the Caribbean Sea.
