Barro Colorado Island and the Panama Canal
The National Geographic Sea Lion had spent the night anchored in Gatun Lake after crossing Gatun Locks. Just before dawn, a Panama Canal Pilot came on board. His mission: reposition the vessel close to a very important Nature Monument, Barro Colorado Island (BCI). Early risers decided to join us out on deck for morning stretching. As we sailed, we enjoyed the view of several islands in Gatun Lake. Gatun Lake is the result of flooding the valley of the Chagres River and Gatun River for the construction of the Panama Canal, one of the great civil engineering feats in history that took place from 1903 to 1914. When the engineers agreed in making a canal with locks, scientists were faced with two main issues. One was a study of the geological problems involved in the excavating and construction of the Canal. The other was to make a biological survey of the area to be flooded. They had the concern that the creation of Gatun Lake would cause extinction of some species and have negative effects on the biogeography of the animals and plants. By 1924, the biggest island in the lake had been sequestered as a scientific research station known as Barro Colorado Island Laboratory. In 1940, the station became the Canal Zone Biological Area. After 1946, the station was formally placed under the trusteeship of the Smithsonian Institution and later received the actual name Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute. This island was of much interest to scientists due to its immense diversity and ecological complexity. Today, the site is protected for science by a western hemisphere wildlife treaty, and consists of 5400 hectares of primary tropical forest. With its fauna and flora completely protected under the trusteeship of the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute.
Right after breakfast, we fetched our gear and went ashore to meet the local guides of the island. There was so much to see and learn. Our guides took us through several trails and talked about different research being done on the island and how scientist from around the world come here looking for answers. We learned about the interaction between humans and nature and had the opportunity to understand a little bit of the forest ecology and observe part of the wildlife of the island. We concluded that getting to know the tropical biodiversity will help to preserve it.
We would have loved to stay longer on the island, but we needed to return to the ship. Another pilot was waiting to take us and complete our southbound transit through the Panama Canal. As we sailed, the project of the new set of locks under construction was clearly seen. These will allow ships known as Post Panamax to use the Panama Canal. One great achievement of the project is that it will recycle 60% of the water that is used during each transit. As the sun began to set, we all gathered up at the sun deck to enjoy the cocktails and complete our transit through the Panama Canal. It had been a great day!
