Soberanía National Park facts for kids
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The Soberanía National Park (which means Sovereignty National Park in Spanish) is a special protected area in Panama. It's located close to the famous Panama Canal, in the provinces of Panamá and Colón. This amazing park is about 25 kilometers (15 miles) away from Panama City. The Chagres River flows right through the park, adding to its natural beauty. Soberanía National Park was created in 1980 and covers a huge area of about 55,000 acres (223 square kilometers). It's a fantastic place to explore nature and see incredible wildlife.
Visitors to Soberanía National Park can also discover the historic Las Cruces Trail (Camino de Cruces). This old path dates back to the 1500s. The Spanish used it long ago to move gold and other treasures. You can still see some of the original old stones that marked the trail's path. It's like walking through history!
Amazing Animals of Soberanía National Park
Soberanía National Park is a paradise for animal lovers. It's especially famous for its many different kinds of birds. Over 525 bird species live here! One of the best places to see them is Pipeline Road (Camineo del Oleoducto). This road stretches for 17.5 kilometers (10.9 miles) through the park. It passes through both old and new forests. More than 400 bird species have been seen along Pipeline Road. It's one of the top spots in the Americas for watching tropical birds.
Some of the cool birds you might spot include colorful double-toothed kites and slaty-backed forest-falcons. You could also see bright orange-chinned parakeets and different kinds of parrots. Look for the brown-hooded parrot, blue-headed parrot, and red-lored parrot.
The park is also home to many types of hummingbirds. These tiny, fast birds include the white-necked jacobin and violet-bellied hummingbird. Other unique birds are the white-tailed trogon and the black-mandibled toucan with its huge bill. You might also see woodpeckers like the crimson-crested woodpecker.
The park is also home to over 100 different kinds of mammals. Some of these are shy predators like the jaguar and ocelot. Other mammals you might see include the agouti and capybara, which is the largest rodent in the world. There are also different types of monkeys, such as the mantled howler monkey and Panamanian night monkeys.
You might spot a nine-banded armadillo or a two-toed sloth hanging upside down. The park also has peccary (wild pigs) and Central American tapirs. Many types of bats also live in the park's forests.
Reptiles and Amphibians
Soberanía National Park is full of interesting reptiles and amphibians. You can find several kinds of poison dart frogs in the forests. These tiny frogs come in many bright colors. Other amphibians include the red-eyed tree frogs and cane toads.
The park is also home to various snakes. These include the boa constrictor, which is a large, non-venomous snake. You might also see coral snakes, which are venomous, or the large bushmaster snake. Green iguanas are also common, often seen basking in the sun.
See also
In Spanish: Parque nacional Soberanía para niños
