Barro Colorado Island and the Panama Canal
We began our Central American adventure last night by crossing the first half of the Panama Canal. The Panama Canal is a lock-type canal, of approximately 50 miles in length, which unites the Caribbean Sea with the Pacific Ocean at one of the narrowest points of the Isthmus of Panama and the American continent. The Canal’s three sets of locks, with two lanes each, serve as water lifts elevating ships 26 meters above sea level, to Gatun Lake, to allow vessels to cross the Continental Divide and then lower them back to sea level on the other side of the Isthmus.
Our first pilot (we got three before our transit was completed!) got on board and like clockwork we started from the Caribbean side, from the port of Cristobal, and headed towards the Gatun locks. After transit that lasted an hour and a half, we went to bed quite tired but wanting some more of this man-made wonder! We spent the night anchored in Gatun Lake and early in the morning our second pilot arrived to direct us towards our morning destination: Barro Colorado Island (BCI). We are the only ship that can actually “sleep” inside the Canal area, and the only ship that visits BCI.
We were awoken by the sound of howling monkeys and those of us that were up before the howlers got to spot a small group of white-throated capuchin monkeys. That and the fact that we looked through our widows and could see the lush, green and almost endless tropical rainforest surrounding us, was enough to make us eager to begin our activities on the island. BCI has been a biological reserve since 1923, not long after the area was isolated from the mainland by the creation of the Gatun Lake, and since then an era of exploration and research began in the tropics. BCI has become one of the most studied sites in the Neotropics and along with that came a better understanding of one of the most diverse habitats in the world.
Walking through the different trails, we could understand why many people, and not just scientists, find this area fascinating. We were rewarded with great wildlife sightings: spider, howler and white-throated capuchin monkeys, red naped tamarins, puff-birds, snail kites, ospreys, mot-mots, leaf-cutter ants, morpho butterflies, and many more. We also got muddy, and sweaty, and hot, but all is part of the adventure, plus we have a nice floating home waiting for us with hot showers and cool drinks.
Our second half of the Canal transit began with our third pilot on board. Heading towards the Pedro Miguel locks, the innermost set of locks on the Pacific side, it is almost unbelievable how such lush forest will suddenly open up, and let a 50,000-ton cargo ship or barge pass by. Crossing the last set of locks, we went to bed thinking of how few people are as lucky as we are. And just wait until we find tomorrow!
We began our Central American adventure last night by crossing the first half of the Panama Canal. The Panama Canal is a lock-type canal, of approximately 50 miles in length, which unites the Caribbean Sea with the Pacific Ocean at one of the narrowest points of the Isthmus of Panama and the American continent. The Canal’s three sets of locks, with two lanes each, serve as water lifts elevating ships 26 meters above sea level, to Gatun Lake, to allow vessels to cross the Continental Divide and then lower them back to sea level on the other side of the Isthmus.
Our first pilot (we got three before our transit was completed!) got on board and like clockwork we started from the Caribbean side, from the port of Cristobal, and headed towards the Gatun locks. After transit that lasted an hour and a half, we went to bed quite tired but wanting some more of this man-made wonder! We spent the night anchored in Gatun Lake and early in the morning our second pilot arrived to direct us towards our morning destination: Barro Colorado Island (BCI). We are the only ship that can actually “sleep” inside the Canal area, and the only ship that visits BCI.
We were awoken by the sound of howling monkeys and those of us that were up before the howlers got to spot a small group of white-throated capuchin monkeys. That and the fact that we looked through our widows and could see the lush, green and almost endless tropical rainforest surrounding us, was enough to make us eager to begin our activities on the island. BCI has been a biological reserve since 1923, not long after the area was isolated from the mainland by the creation of the Gatun Lake, and since then an era of exploration and research began in the tropics. BCI has become one of the most studied sites in the Neotropics and along with that came a better understanding of one of the most diverse habitats in the world.
Walking through the different trails, we could understand why many people, and not just scientists, find this area fascinating. We were rewarded with great wildlife sightings: spider, howler and white-throated capuchin monkeys, red naped tamarins, puff-birds, snail kites, ospreys, mot-mots, leaf-cutter ants, morpho butterflies, and many more. We also got muddy, and sweaty, and hot, but all is part of the adventure, plus we have a nice floating home waiting for us with hot showers and cool drinks.
Our second half of the Canal transit began with our third pilot on board. Heading towards the Pedro Miguel locks, the innermost set of locks on the Pacific side, it is almost unbelievable how such lush forest will suddenly open up, and let a 50,000-ton cargo ship or barge pass by. Crossing the last set of locks, we went to bed thinking of how few people are as lucky as we are. And just wait until we find tomorrow!
