Parque Municipal Summit facts for kids
The Summit Municipal Park is a special place in central Panama. It's a huge botanical garden and also a center that helps rescue and care for wild animals. Many animals that can't go back to the wild find a home here and can be seen by visitors in a well-kept zoo. The park covers about 250 hectares (that's like 618 acres!), with 55 hectares (about 136 acres) dedicated to the beautiful botanical garden. It's located right next to the Soberania National Park, less than an hour's drive from Panama City.
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Park History
The Summit Municipal Park was started way back in 1923. It was first known as the Experimental Farm Summit. Its main goal was to see how different plants from all over the world would grow in Panama's tropical climate. This is how teak trees, which are used for strong wood, first came to the Americas!
In the 1960s, a small zoo began inside the botanical garden. Over the years, this zoo has grown a lot and now has about 300 animals. One of the most famous animals you can see there is the harpy eagle, which is the national bird of Panama!
Later, the land was given back to Panama as part of the Torrijos–Carter Treaties. In 1985, the park became managed by the Mayor's office of Panama. This made it the Municipal Park and a special Botanical Garden. It also became a place for studying tropical plants and how to grow them.
Amazing Plants
The botanical garden at Summit Municipal Park is home to many different kinds of plants. You can find plants from tropical and subtropical countries around the world, as well as plants native to Panama. Many of these plants are very useful to people. They can be used for food, medicines, building materials, or simply for their beauty.
Meet the Animals
The zoo at Summit Municipal Park has a wide variety of animals for you to discover! You can see slow-moving sloths, quick squirrels, and powerful alligators. There are also many birds like wise owls, graceful gray herons, and colorful parrots.
If you're lucky, you might spot some big cats like jaguars, ocelots, or margays. Other animals include monkeys, agouti (which are like large guinea pigs), and even pumas. Don't forget to look for doves, foxes, lizards, and of course, the magnificent harpy eagle!
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