VOLCAN
BARÚ NATIONAL PARK
The Volcano Baru Park was created in 1976 and it extends over 14,322.5
hectares (35,390 acres), all which are located in the province of Chiriqui
on the Pacific side of Panama. This is located right next to the canyon
of Talamanca, the peak of the mighty Volcano Baru 3,474 meters (11,397
feet) above sea level. This is the highest point in the country. From
this point you can see the Pacific Ocean and Atlantic and part of the
western part of Panama.
As a reminder of it’s past activity that dates back 600 years, the
lowest peak in the park at 1,800 meters and up to the highest peak at
3,474 meters are cliffs and valley walls that where formed from the lava
of past eruptions. Due to the volcanic activity, the topography of the
area is broken up and it gives this region a great diversity of fauna
in a small area of protected land. The average temperatures fluctuate
from 20º C in the lowest areas to -10º C at the tip of the volcano.
The annual rainfall levels also vary considerably with 4 meters (13 feet)
of rainfall annually in the lowest levels of the park to 6 meters (19.7
feet) in the higher areas of the park.
NATIONAL
PARK CERRO HOYA
In 1985 the Cerro Hoya national park was created and has an area of 32,557
hectares.
This park is located in the southwestern part of the Pacific peninsula
of Azuero. The peak of Cerro Hoya is 1,559meters above sea level, the
highest peak in all of Azuero.
The park of Cerro Hoya is of volcanic origin and is formed by the most
ancient rocks in the Istmus that date back to the Cretaceous era.
The climate varies greatly from the coast up to the nearby mountains.
Cerro Hoya is a very important hydrological reserve as there are seven
big rivers that begin there: Tonosi, Cuanico, Cobachon, Punta Blanca,
Sierra, Varadero and el Pavo.
All of these rivers have spectacular waterfalls and natural crystal clear
pools.
SARIGUA
NATIONAL PARK
The national park was set up in 1985 on 8,000 hectares of land consisting
of mangrove swamps, coastal zones and completely deforested areas in Herrera
Province. It lies along a Pacific coastal strip between the mouths of
the River Santa Maria and the River Parita on the bay of the same name.
The protected area extends over a fragile ecosystem known as 'albina',
a completely deforested zone that was ruined by the activities of the
people that colonized the area in the second half of the twentieth century.
The park's fragile coastal forests, which used to reach as far as the
mangrove swamps, were totally destroyed to make way for grazing land,
leaving poor acid soils exposed to the erosion caused by strong winds,
winter rains and the ebb and flow of the tides.
The park lies in the most arid part of the country, where average annual
precipitation is 1.100 mm and average annual temperatures exceed 27°
C, showing a desert like landscape unknown elsewhere in Panama. The beauty
of the landscape, devoid of any kind of vegetation and crisscrossed by
deep fissures and gullies caused by erosion, is one of the attractive
features of this national park.
On the coast, there are still large mangrove swamps and some tracts of
dry forest where macano trees (Caesalpinia coriaria), 'alconoque' (Mora
oleifera) and 'piñuela' (Bromelia pinguin) can be found. Wildlife
is scarce in this desert like environment, but on the coast various seabirds
can be seen, including flocks of pelicans. 162 species of migratory have
been recorded. In Sarigua, important archaeological remains have been
discovered from an 11,000 year old fishing settlement, the oldest known
inhabited place on the Isthmus of Panama, and from the oldest farming
settlement in the country which dates from 1,500 to 5,000 years ago.
NATIONAL
PARK OMAR TORRIJOS HERRERA
The 25,275 hectare Omar Park was created in 1986 and is located on the
northern part of El Cope in the province of Cocle over the central mountains
of the country which divides the Caribbean and Pacific. The highest peak
is Cerro Peña Blanca 1,314 meters above sea level.
In this same area Cerro Marta has an altitude of 1,046 meters above sea
level. This is where General Omar Torrijos Herrera perished in an airplane
accident in 1981. The complicated geography of the area gives this region
the temperatures of 25° C in the lowest parts and 20° C at its
peaks.
CHAGRES
NATIONAL PARK
Created in 1985 and with a total area of 129,000 hectares, this park is
located in the provinces of Panama and Colon. The dense forest of this
park not only produces 40% of the water required for the operation of
the Panamanian Canal but it also supplies the drinking water for the capital
of Panama and Colon which represents 50% of the total population of the
country. Without the Chagres river the vision of making the inter oceanic
canal would have never been possible and without the park the river would
have never existed.
The topography of the park is very sculpted with altitudes that go from
60 meters up to its highest point Cerro Jefe 1,007 meters above sea level.
The names and altitudes of other important mountains are: Cerro Bruja
(974m), Cerro Brewster (899m) y Cerro Azul (771m).With normal temperatures
that are between 30° C in the low areas and with rainfall that is
4,000 mm at the peaks and 2,200 mm at lake Alajuela, the sculpted volcanic
ridges of the protected area in this sector form a great humid tropical
forests.
SUZERAIN
NATIONAL PARK
The Soberania national park extends for 19,341 hectares, located between
the provinces of Panama y Colon. This park, created in 1980, is one of
the natural areas with the easiest access on the whole American continent
and it is one of the main bases for the functionality and conservation
of the Panama Canal.
The form of this park is a vertical band bordered on the east with the
Panama Canal and on the west side it with the Gatun Lake. The Highest
point in this park is Cerro Calabaza, only 85 meters above sea level.
This park has annual temperature of 28° C. The Chagres river runs
through this park.
CAMINO
DE CRUCES NATIONAL PARK
Created in the year 1992 and with an area of 4,590 hectares, this park
runs parallel with the Panama Canal, located between the Soberania Park
(north) and the Natural Metropolitan Park (south) thus guaranteeing an
uninterrupted exchange of species throughout both the protected areas
and on the east section, the coast of the Panama Canal that acts as natural
fence and assures it’s maintenance. The humid tropical forests are
characterized by a soft undulated geographical terrain.
Types of trees in park: Ceiba(Ceiba pentandra), cuipo (Cavanillesia platanifolia),
nance (Byrsonima crassifolia), jobe (Spondias mombin) roble (Tabebuia
rosea) y guayacán (Tabebuia guaycan). Their flowering is in April
and May which signals the end of the dry season.
Animals: (Iguana iguana) (Morphnus guianensis) (dromococcyx phasianellus)
la (Ara chloropterus (trogon massena) (saguinus geoffroyi) (Aotus lemurinus
(Mazama americana) (Odoicoleus virginianus) (nasua narica) (Daspyprocta
puntata).
PARQUE
NACIONAL ALTOS DE CAMPANA
This park was created in the year 1966 and it has an area of 4,925 hectares
and it is located on the west side of the canal forming part of its hydrographic
system. Being right next to the coasts of Chame and its alluvial flatlands
this protected area in its lowest area is 400 meters above sea level and
at its highest tip is 850 meters above sea level at Camapana peak. From
Campana Peak you can find an astonishing view which includes the Chame
Bay and its impressive mangrove which covers the delta of the Chame river.
This park is an extension of an igneous formation from the El Valle de
Anton volcano. Its past volcanic activity is reflected by the abrupt geography
that is observed such as: lava fields, volcanic tubas (porous limestone
formations) and other manifestations that indicate the intense geological
past of this region. The average annual temperatures are around 24°
C and the precipitation is over 2,500 Mm.
COIBA
NATIONAL PARK
Created in 1991 and with an area of 270,125 hectares of which 216,543
are underwater (Marine Park). The Coiba national park, because of its
rich marine life, turquoise water and gorgeous islands make it one of
the natural jewels in Panama.
The largest of all these volcanic Islands is Coiba and with 50,314 hectares.
It is the largest island in the country.
Other nearby Islands
Jicaron 2002 hectares
Brincado 330 hectares
Uva 257 hectares
Coibita 242 hectares
Canal de Afuera 240 hectares
Jicarita 125 hectares
Pajaros 45 hectares
Afuerita 27 hectares
In this park there are many other islands which all together contain a
total of 53,582 hectares. All together the islands of this park have 240
km of coast line, most of which is conserved in a natural state.
BASTIMENTOS
INTERNATIONAL MARINE PARK
With an area of 13,226 hectares of which 11,596 hectares are under marine
conservation, the Bastimentos marine park is an ideal location for ecotourism.
The Bastimento Marine park was founded in 1988 and it is located in the
extensive archipelago of Bocas del Toro and in the province of the same
name. On the north side of this protected area the Caribbean sea crashes
against the rocky shore of the Island of Bastimentos and Long Beach which
is an important area for turtles to lay their eggs. On the south side
of the Island you can find the calm waters of Almirante bay with its numerous
channels and mangrove forests surrounded by coral. This park is dedicated
to conserve the largest quantity of Mangrove forests in the country.
The Zapatilla Keys are formed by two Islands one that has 34 hectares
and the other of 14 hectares both of these islands have gorgeous white
sand and perfect areas for snorkeling and scuba diving because of it’s
500 hectare underwater protected area.
NATIONAL
PARK OF PORTOBELO
The Portobelo National Park has an area of 35,929 hectares and it is located
in the province of Colon. This park was created in 1976. Inside this park
you can find one of the most beautiful natural ports in all of the Caribbean.
The name Portobelo was given by the admiral Christopher Columbus in 1502
on his fourth and last trip to the new world. The fortifications of the
site in 1981 have been declared by the Unesco, a World Patrimony. The
topography of this park is very complicated.
Its highest point is Cerro Bruya with 979 meters above sea level and it
is located on the division of continental waters. In the interior part
of the park you can find the Sierra Llorona (crying mountain range). It
has this name because of the quantity of water it receives throughout
the year. The normal annual precipitation is 4,800Mm and the annual temperature
is between 27°C on the low coasts and 24°C at the highest points.
This national park protects many important rivers such as: Cascajal, guanche,
Piedras, Iguana, Iguanita and Brazuelo. On the 70 kilometers of this beautiful
coastline that is between the San Cristóbal Bay on the north and
the Buenaventura bay on the south there are important areas of coral reef.,
mangrove, lagoons and astonishing beaches on which every year 4 species
of turtles lay their eggs, among them the endangered carey (eretmochelys
imbricata).
On the coast it is easy to spot the fishing eagle (Pandion haliaetus),
Crab eating hawk (Buteogallus anthracinus) garza tigre barreteada (Tigrosoma
fasciatum) the green iguana (Iguana iguana) martín pescador del
Istmo (Ceryle torquata), elanio plomizo (Ictinia plumbea) and the great
black hawk (Buteogallus urubitinga).
THE
GULF OF CHIRIQU MARINE PARK
This park was created in 1994 and it has an area of 14,470 hectares of
islands and marine waters on the Pacific west coast of Panama. On the
southern part of this park one can find the huge mangrove in the Muertos
Bay.
The protected area is known as the archipelagos of the Paridas Islands.
Pridas and Pariditas islands are the only ones that have been populated
in the group of islands because they are the only ones that have an abundant
freshwater source. Other protected islands of the area are: Santa Catalina,
Pulgoso, Gamez, Tintorera, Obispo, Obispone, Los Pargos, Ahogado, Icacos,
Corral de Piedra, Bolanos, Berraco, Bolanitos, San Jose, Linarte, Saino,
Sainitos, Iglesia Mayor, Carey Macho and Carey Hembra. The geography of
these islands is characterized by certain hill formations of sedimentary
rocks. The hills are no higher than 100 meters above sea level and the
coast line has many flatlands.
This area has a tropical climate and normal annual temperatures are above
27° and the rainfall is 2,000 and 2,500 mm. which allows the development
of the humid tropical forests on the different islands.
Trees of the Area: (Calophyllum longifolium), el cedro espino (Bombacipsis
quinatum), el cedro amargo (Cedrela odorata), espavé (Anacadium
excalsum) y el corotù (Entrolobium cyclocarpum). In the numerous
and long beaches, where the ocean turtles (la baula {Dermochelys coriacea}
and the carey {Eretmochelys imbricata}) nest annually, one finds coconut
(Coco nucifera) and beach camamile (Hippomane mancinella) trees.
Animals of the area: Green Iguana (Iguana Iguana) especially on Bolanos
Island, the most common amphibious are green frogs and black frogs (Dendrobates
auratus) garza tigre (Trigrisoma mexicanum), reinita manguera (dendroica
petechia erithachorides), (Columba cayennensis, red headed parrot (Amazona
autumnalis), carisucios parakeets (aratinga pertinax) the barbinarnajas
parakeet (Brotegeris yugularis), howler monkeys (Aloutta palliata), mapaches
(Procyon lotor), y painted rabbits (Agouti i paca)
The marine life is very abundant and rich in this area; The most important
area is the coral reefs on which you can find formations of coral type
Porites lobata and hidrozoo also known as fire coral (Millepora intricata).
On this type of coral live many spectacular fish species such as the King
Angel (holocanthus passer), el loro bicolor (Scarus subroviolaceus), and
the white tipped fin reef shark (Trienodon obesus).
THE
DARIEN NATIONAL PARK
The Darien National Park has an extension of 579,000 hectares this park
was created in 1980. This is the largest park in Panama and of all of
Central America and it is located in the southeast part of the country.
It extends alongside the border with Colombia.
Because of its International Importance it was declared by the Unesco
a world patrimony site in 1981 and a Biosphere Reserve in 1982.
The protected area begins alongside the Pacific coast and it has beaches
mangrove lagoons and forests. The highest point of this park is cerro
Tacarcuna with 1,845 meters above sea level this peak is located on the
dividing line of the Darien Sierra a few kilometers away from the Caribbean
ocean on the far northeast side of the country. A large part of the park
is contains rain forest.
The main sierras and mountains of the park are of volcanic origin and
yet still you can observe old volcanic rocks and crystallized rocks that
are evidence of a violent volcanic past.
Important Sierras: Darien (North) Pirre y Setule Meridional area Sapo
y Jurado (South) these are the main Sierras in the Park.
The most important rivers in this area are the Tuira, Balsas, Sambu, and
Jaque.
