Panama Canal and Barro Colorado Island, Panama
On Thursday afternoon, after navigating along the pristine coastline of Costa Rica and Panama, we viewed civilization for the first time in several days. The sky line of the city of Panama welcomed us as we became excited and anxious to view the Big Doors: the ones that will take us through one of the wonders of the world, the Panama Canal. The big locks were closed and incoming waters lifted us to the next level, one more step to reach the magical rainforest of Panama and Gatun Lake where we spent the night surrounded by one of the most diverse jungles of the isthmus. In the morning we were awakened by the sound of howler monkeys as our vessel anchored in front of Barro Colorado Island.
Anyone who likes to read about nature know the name of this island very well; in fact every book that deals with tropical rainforests continuously refers to Barro Colorado Island because of the tremendous number of scientific publications produced at this site.
Barro Colorado Island was set aside for conservation by the Panamanian government in 1923 and the Smithsonian Institute has managed this sanctuary of knowledge since 1946. Every year researchers from afar travel to this 13,256-acre piece of rainforest to try to unveil the mysteries of jungles. The research done in Barro Colorado has been the key to understand and protect much of the tropical rainforests of the world.
As we walked or boated around this island we started to discover some of the creatures that have marveled scientists from all over the world: spider, howler and white-faced monkeys were resting or swinging among the giant jungle trees; a tamandua anteater did not pay much attention to the visitors who watched it move along the branches and trunks looking for termites; even a zone-tailed hawk was trying to blend with the vultures so as to surprise its prey. Possibly the most interesting of all our sightings was the mystical tayra: a panther-like weasel hardly ever appreciated by jungle outsiders.
Now we begin our departure from Gatun Lake, and it is incredible to notice the 85-foot difference between the Caribbean Ocean and us. Once again the Big Doors are going to open and close, this time to lower us down from this jungle paradise.
On Thursday afternoon, after navigating along the pristine coastline of Costa Rica and Panama, we viewed civilization for the first time in several days. The sky line of the city of Panama welcomed us as we became excited and anxious to view the Big Doors: the ones that will take us through one of the wonders of the world, the Panama Canal. The big locks were closed and incoming waters lifted us to the next level, one more step to reach the magical rainforest of Panama and Gatun Lake where we spent the night surrounded by one of the most diverse jungles of the isthmus. In the morning we were awakened by the sound of howler monkeys as our vessel anchored in front of Barro Colorado Island.
Anyone who likes to read about nature know the name of this island very well; in fact every book that deals with tropical rainforests continuously refers to Barro Colorado Island because of the tremendous number of scientific publications produced at this site.
Barro Colorado Island was set aside for conservation by the Panamanian government in 1923 and the Smithsonian Institute has managed this sanctuary of knowledge since 1946. Every year researchers from afar travel to this 13,256-acre piece of rainforest to try to unveil the mysteries of jungles. The research done in Barro Colorado has been the key to understand and protect much of the tropical rainforests of the world.
As we walked or boated around this island we started to discover some of the creatures that have marveled scientists from all over the world: spider, howler and white-faced monkeys were resting or swinging among the giant jungle trees; a tamandua anteater did not pay much attention to the visitors who watched it move along the branches and trunks looking for termites; even a zone-tailed hawk was trying to blend with the vultures so as to surprise its prey. Possibly the most interesting of all our sightings was the mystical tayra: a panther-like weasel hardly ever appreciated by jungle outsiders.
Now we begin our departure from Gatun Lake, and it is incredible to notice the 85-foot difference between the Caribbean Ocean and us. Once again the Big Doors are going to open and close, this time to lower us down from this jungle paradise.
