This morning National Geographic Sea Lion lifted anchor and sailed towards the biggest research station in Panama, Barro Colorado Island. When Gatun Lake was formed, Barro Colorado was the largest hill been flooded by the lake, and thus, creating the island known for its incredible biodiversity and for having nearly 40% percent of the mammals of Panama.
Some of our guests went ashore with our expedition landing crafts. Long hikes and medium-length hikes were led by the naturalists of Barro Colorado Island. Others enjoyed the calm water of the lake by cruising around the surrounding islets. Wildlife showed up in both activities - a great start for our voyage in Panama and Costa Rica.
After a fantastic morning we got back on board and had a great lunch while we waited for the Panama Canal Pilot. As soon as he came aboard, we weighed anchor and started navigating towards the Continental Divide. This section was known to be the hardest part of the construction of the Panama Canal.
The Galliard Cut is the narrowest part of the Panama Canal. This 9 miles trench was made through the Continental Divide. It represents a big challenge for the big Panamax vessels as they cross daily through the canal.
Once we crossed the Galliard Cut, we went in first to the locks chamber and started descending in the single chamber of Pedro Miguel lock. We lowered 31 feet from the Gatun Lake to the small manmade Miraflores Lake. Electric locomotives kept us center in the locks while we went lower into our descent into the Miraflores locks.
It was dusk by the time we completed our transit through the Panama Canal. We had descended from Gatun Lake to the Pacific Ocean a total of 85 feet. We passed through the glorious waterway, one of the most impressive Civil engineer constructions of the 20th Century.
