Otoque and Bona Islands and the Panama Canal
After cruising 190 nautical miles from yesterday’s site, we reached our new destination, the south western side of the Panama Bay, Otoque and Bona islands. We noticed a change in the coloration of the waters, from clear and light blue where we could snorkel, to the deep, dark and green waters of this morning’s Zodiac cruises. A break in the mountain chains that parallel the western coastlines of several Central American nations allow the trade winds to blow over this Gulf, pushing surface waters away. Nutrient-rich waters from below upwell to replace these, bringing about an extremely high productivity that forms the basis of a complex web of life.
Millions of sea birds take advantage of this phenomenon and nest all through the islands of the Gulf of Panama. Before heading off to our primary destination, the Panama Canal, we explored a couple of these islets that combine interesting geology with dense tropical vegetation and large colonies of blue-footed and brown boobies, brown pelicans, and magnificent frigatebirds. We were welcomed by hundreds of soaring birds looking for their morning meal. White, downy brown booby chicks looked almost surreal, with their big bright eyes and almost the size of their parents. For the first time some of us saw male frigate birds displaying their red pouches; the most aerodynamic bird in these latitudes, these birds use their ability to be the best kleptoparasites they can be. What a phenomenal way to start the day!
After lunch, we began our cruise towards the buoy just outside the entrance to the Canal. Running some 82km. (50miles) across the isthmus between the Atlantic and Pacific oceans, the Panama Canal, one of the greatest engineering feats of all times, is this country’s biggest visitor attraction. By far, the best way to explore the canal is by boat or ship—passing through the narrow confines of the Gaillard or Culebra Cut or weaving your way between the forested islands of the Gatun Lake is the only way in which one can truly appreciate its awesome scale and beauty.
This evening our Canal transit adventure began, our pilot arrived on time. We crossed the Bridge of the Americas, the bridge that unites North and South America, and as the wind blew on our faces, we held our breaths to finally be part of America’s history.
After cruising 190 nautical miles from yesterday’s site, we reached our new destination, the south western side of the Panama Bay, Otoque and Bona islands. We noticed a change in the coloration of the waters, from clear and light blue where we could snorkel, to the deep, dark and green waters of this morning’s Zodiac cruises. A break in the mountain chains that parallel the western coastlines of several Central American nations allow the trade winds to blow over this Gulf, pushing surface waters away. Nutrient-rich waters from below upwell to replace these, bringing about an extremely high productivity that forms the basis of a complex web of life.
Millions of sea birds take advantage of this phenomenon and nest all through the islands of the Gulf of Panama. Before heading off to our primary destination, the Panama Canal, we explored a couple of these islets that combine interesting geology with dense tropical vegetation and large colonies of blue-footed and brown boobies, brown pelicans, and magnificent frigatebirds. We were welcomed by hundreds of soaring birds looking for their morning meal. White, downy brown booby chicks looked almost surreal, with their big bright eyes and almost the size of their parents. For the first time some of us saw male frigate birds displaying their red pouches; the most aerodynamic bird in these latitudes, these birds use their ability to be the best kleptoparasites they can be. What a phenomenal way to start the day!
After lunch, we began our cruise towards the buoy just outside the entrance to the Canal. Running some 82km. (50miles) across the isthmus between the Atlantic and Pacific oceans, the Panama Canal, one of the greatest engineering feats of all times, is this country’s biggest visitor attraction. By far, the best way to explore the canal is by boat or ship—passing through the narrow confines of the Gaillard or Culebra Cut or weaving your way between the forested islands of the Gatun Lake is the only way in which one can truly appreciate its awesome scale and beauty.
This evening our Canal transit adventure began, our pilot arrived on time. We crossed the Bridge of the Americas, the bridge that unites North and South America, and as the wind blew on our faces, we held our breaths to finally be part of America’s history.
