Chagres National Park
National park in Panama
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Chagres National Park is a nature park and protected area[1] created in 1986 located in the Panamá and Colón provinces, in the Eastern sector of the Panama Canal with a total surface area of 129,000 ha (320,000 acres).[2]
| Chagres National Park | |
|---|---|
| |
 Chagres National Park (top center) within Panama | |
| Location | Panamá Province, Panama |
| Coordinates | 9.4°N 79.5°W |
| Area | 129,000 hectares (320,000 acres) |
| Established | 1985 |
| Website | Chagres National Park Foundation |
The park extends across the Chagres Highlands, a group of low mountains drained by the headwaters of the Chagres River. The southern portion of the highlands is known as the Serranía Piedras-Pacora, and forms a portion of the Continental Divide of the Americas.[3]
The park adjoins Portobelo National Park on the northwest, and Narganá Wilderness Area on the east.
Environment
The park contains tropical rain forests and a set of rivers which provide sufficient water to guarantee the operation of the Gatun Lake, main lake of the Panama Canal: the Chagres River[2] and the Gatun River. The highest point of the park is Cerro Jefe, at 1,007 m above sea level.[4] It is considered a Key Biodiversity Area of international significance.[5] It has been designated an Important Bird Area (IBA) by BirdLife International.[6]
The frog Ectopoglossus isthminus is nearly endemic to the national park.[3]
Panama Canal Watershed
The park was created in 1985,[7] with the aim of preserving the natural forest that composes it