Barro Colorado Island and the Panama Canal
Overnight, after having gone through the two sets of locks on the Pacific side of the Canal and travelled through the infamous Gaillard or Culebra Cut, our Captain and the Panama Canal Pilot led us to a safe anchorage spot near Gamboa, in Gatun Lake. At around 5am we lifted anchor once more, after having taken on board yet another pilot, as no movement within the canal can be done without the presence of one of them, and sailed through Gatun Lake over to Barro Colorado Island (BCI). This lush island was created when the Chagres River was dammed, forming what was back then the largest manmade lake in the world. This was a vital step in the creation of the all-important waterway between the two great oceans, a project that changed shipping forever. BCI was just another hilltop rising above a richly forested valley, when the waters rose, creating an island. Its small area (a total of 1500 hectares) and new island condition made it a natural choice for a laboratory, important in studying both tropical ecology and island biogeography. It is managed by the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute (STRI), active in the region since the construction of the canal, 75 years ago, when scientific surveys of the flora and fauna were undertaken in an attempt to control disease. STRI administers a world-renowned research facility here, and was instrumental in making the island and surrounding peninsulas one of the first biological reserves in the New World (founded in 1923) as well as one of the most intensively studied areas in the Tropics—a true Mecca for a tropical ecologist!
Although the internal laboratories themselves are off-limits, we had the opportunity to walk through the real laboratory: the forests themselves. Guided by licensed BCI guides, we walked along trails specifically designated to protect important research areas and find areas rich in wildlife. We made many sightings of both birds and rainforest mammals, a great conclusion to a week spent in the tropics. We had a brief talk on board by STRI science interpreter Beth King, after which we lifted anchor as our next pilot came on board nice and early.
The rest of the day was spent sailing through Gatun Lake and the last set of locks, the Gatun Locks. We had now crossed the isthmus into the Caribbean, and tied up to our dock in Colon in the late afternoon.
Overnight, after having gone through the two sets of locks on the Pacific side of the Canal and travelled through the infamous Gaillard or Culebra Cut, our Captain and the Panama Canal Pilot led us to a safe anchorage spot near Gamboa, in Gatun Lake. At around 5am we lifted anchor once more, after having taken on board yet another pilot, as no movement within the canal can be done without the presence of one of them, and sailed through Gatun Lake over to Barro Colorado Island (BCI). This lush island was created when the Chagres River was dammed, forming what was back then the largest manmade lake in the world. This was a vital step in the creation of the all-important waterway between the two great oceans, a project that changed shipping forever. BCI was just another hilltop rising above a richly forested valley, when the waters rose, creating an island. Its small area (a total of 1500 hectares) and new island condition made it a natural choice for a laboratory, important in studying both tropical ecology and island biogeography. It is managed by the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute (STRI), active in the region since the construction of the canal, 75 years ago, when scientific surveys of the flora and fauna were undertaken in an attempt to control disease. STRI administers a world-renowned research facility here, and was instrumental in making the island and surrounding peninsulas one of the first biological reserves in the New World (founded in 1923) as well as one of the most intensively studied areas in the Tropics—a true Mecca for a tropical ecologist!
Although the internal laboratories themselves are off-limits, we had the opportunity to walk through the real laboratory: the forests themselves. Guided by licensed BCI guides, we walked along trails specifically designated to protect important research areas and find areas rich in wildlife. We made many sightings of both birds and rainforest mammals, a great conclusion to a week spent in the tropics. We had a brief talk on board by STRI science interpreter Beth King, after which we lifted anchor as our next pilot came on board nice and early.
The rest of the day was spent sailing through Gatun Lake and the last set of locks, the Gatun Locks. We had now crossed the isthmus into the Caribbean, and tied up to our dock in Colon in the late afternoon.
