Soberanía National Park

Soberanía National Park (Parque Nacional Soberanía) is a national park in Panama near the banks of the Panama Canal in the provinces of Panamá and Colón, some 25 kilometres (16 mi) from Panama City. The Chagres River runs through the park.

Established as a national park in 1980, the park covers 55,000 acres (220 km2).[1] The park is popular with birdwatchers due to the abundance of bird species in the park. Some 525 bird species are found here, including motmots, toucans, trogons, flycatchers, antbirds, woodpeckers, tanagers, and hawks. Among the rare bird species in the park are yellow-eared toucanets, crimson-bellied woodpeckers, sirystes, and rarely seen harpy eagles. Some of the best birding in the park is along Pipeline Road. Pipeline Road extends for several miles and passes through old-growth and secondary forest. Birds are best spotted here in the early morning.

The park's 105 species of mammals include white-faced capuchin monkeys, mantled howler monkeys, Geoffroy's tamarins, two-toed sloths, three-toed sloths, anteaters, coatis, and agoutis. Green iguanas are also found in the park.[2]

Visitors to the Soberanía National Park can also explore the Las Cruces Trail (Camino de Cruces). This historical trail dates back to the 16th century and was used by the Spanish to transport gold. Parts of the trail are still lined with old stones that once marked the trail's original path.

The land that is now the Parque Municipal Summit was originally included in this park, but was turned over to Panama City in 1985.[3]

References

  1. ↑ Soberania National Park
  2. ↑ Friar, William "Moon Handbook Panama", First Edition, p. 114
  3. ↑ "Summit: exuberance of flora and fauna". critica.com.pa. Critica-EPASA. Retrieved 7 May 2011.

External links

Coordinates: 9°04′27″N 79°39′35″W / 9.0742977°N 79.6598053°W