View source for Isla Bastimentos National Marine Park

{{Short description|Marine park in the Bocas del Toro Archipelago, Panama}}
{{Infobox Protected area
| name = [[Isla Bastimentos]] Marine National Park
| iucn_category = II
| photo = Bastimentos Wizard.jpg
| photo_caption = Bastimentos Wizard
| location = [[Bocas del Toro Province]], [[Panama]]
| nearest_city = Bastimentos
| coordinates = {{coord|9|16|57|N|82|8|23|W|region:PA-5|format=dms|display=inline,title}}
| area = 132.26 km<sup>2</sup>
| established = 1988
| visitation_num =
| visitation_year =
| governing_body =
}}
'''Isla Bastimentos National Marine Park''' (in [[Spanish language|Spanish]]: '''''Parque Nacional Marino Isla Bastimentos''''') is a [[marine park]] located in the [[Bocas del Toro Archipelago]], [[Panama]]. The park covers 13,226 hectares.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|title=Isla Bastimentos National Marine Park in Panama|url=https://www.myguidepanama.com/things-to-do/isla-bastimentos-national-marine-park|access-date=2020-06-11|website=My Guide Panama|language=en}}</ref>
== History ==
The park has been managed and protected by the National Environmental Authority of Panama (ANAM) since its creation in 1988.<ref name="Woods">Woods, Sarah (2009), [https://books.google.com/books?id=knrvSpkURO4C&dq=isla+bastimentos+national+marine+park&pg=PA280 ''Bradt Panama''], Bradt Travel Guides, p. 280, {{ISBN|1-84162-260-5}}</ref><ref>D. Firestone, Matthew & Regis St. Louis (2008), [https://books.google.com/books?id=dNcupdu6d8wC&dq=isla+bastimentos+marine+park&pg=PA231 ''Panama''], Lonely Planet, p. 231, {{ISBN|978-1-74104-552-9}}</ref> The Cayos Zapatillas are the most popular place to visit this park.
== Geography ==
The site has an area of 13,000 hectares. It includes multiple islands including the Cayo Zapatilla Major and other minor islands.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|title=Figure 2. Bastimentos Island National Marine Park|url=https://www.researchgate.net/figure/Bastimentos-Island-National-Marine-Park_fig2_277359835|access-date=2020-06-11|website=ResearchGate|language=en}}</ref>
==Sights==
The park protects forests, mangroves, monkeys, sloths, caiman, crocodile, and 28 species of amphibians and reptiles. Playa Larga (Long Beach), on Isla Bastimentos, that is important nesting site for [[sea turtle]]s. Four species of [[endangered sea turtles]] use it as a nesting site from April through September.{{Citation needed|date=November 2013}} The ''rana rojo'' ([[strawberry poison-dart frog]]) also inhabits the island.<ref name="lp" /> It is home to over 250 species of fish and marine mammals.<ref name=":1" />
The turtles mostly go to Playa Larga (Long Beach), which is located at the north side of the marine park.<ref name=":0" />
The monkeys and sloths are seen at Quebrada de Sal (Salt Creek).<ref name=":0" />
The park also has nearly eighty eighty different [[coral]] species.<ref>{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=|title=Meet Three of Panama's Best Marine Parks|url=https://www.oceanicsociety.org/blog/2182/meet-three-of-panamas-best-marine-parks|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=|website=[[Oceanic Society]]}}</ref> The corals are believed to be over 10,000 years old.<ref name=":1" />
Wizard Beach. also known as Playa Primera, scenic yellow sand beach next to jungle reached by a wilderness path from Old Bank in dry weather. Further along the coast are Playa Segunda (Second Beach) and Red Frog Beach. There is also a water taxi to Red Frog Beach from a marina on the south side of the island.<ref name=lp>[http://www.lonelyplanet.com/panama/bocas-del-toro/sights/beaches-islands-waterfronts/wizard-beach Wizard Beach] Lonely Planet</ref>
==See also==
*[[List of National Parks]]
==References==
{{Reflist|25em}}<br />{{commons category|position=left|Parque Nacional Marino Isla Bastimentos|Isla Bastimentos National Marine Park}}
{{Bocas del Toro Archipelago}}
{{National parks of Panama}}
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[[Category:National parks of Panama]]
[[Category:Marine parks]]
[[Category:Marine reserves]]
[[Category:Bocas del Toro Province]]
[[Category:Panamanian coasts of the Caribbean Sea]]