Conservationists typically advocate against flooding species-rich habitats, but sometimes unexpected outcomes arise. In 1913, a flood in central Panama resulted in the creation of Barro Colorado Island. This flood also led to the formation of Gatun Lake, which was then the largest artificial body of water in the world and served as a critical part of the Panama Canal. Barro Colorado Island has since become one of the most heavily studied tropical rainforest areas on the planet.
The field station on Barro Colorado Island was established in 1924 and was later taken over by the Smithsonian Institution in 1946, becoming known as the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute (STRI). The island, along with some nearby forest areas on the mainland under STRI’s control, has developed into a major research facility for biology, comparable to CERN for physics. Despite having only 35 scientists on staff, the STRI hosts around 1,200 visitors each year, many of whom are recurring researchers.