From Flood to Frontier: The Evolution of Barro Colorado Island and the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute

In 1913, a flood occurred that led to the creation of Barro Colorado Island in central Panama. The flood resulted in the formation of Gatun, the largest artificial body of water in the world at that time, which served as the middle passage of the Panama Canal. Over the years, Barro Colorado Island has become one of the most intensely studied tropical rainforests on the planet.

In 1924, a field station was established on the island and in 1946 it was taken over by the Smithsonian Institution and named the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute (STRI). Today, under STRI’s stewardship, the island and surrounding areas of forest on the mainland have become a hub for biological research. The STRI hosts around 1,200 visitors each year, including many regular researchers.

The Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute is similar to physics facilities like CERN home to Large Hadron Collider. The STRI has a small team of 35 scientists but attracts many researchers every year due to its rich biodiversity and unique ecosystems. It’s an important center for research and conservation efforts in Central America.