Barro Colorado Island is located in the Atlantic watershed of the Gatun Lake. This area includes Barro Colorado Island (approximately 1564 hectares) and five peninsulas that surround it, for a total of 5364 hectares. The island is situated in Lake Gatun and is 145 m above sea level at its highest point. In the Holdridge system, the forest is classified as lowland tropical rainforest. Barro Colorado Island was declared a biological reserve in 1923 and has been administrated by the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute since 1946. The five peninsulas were included after the signing of the 1977 treaties.

Barro Colorado Island may be the most well-studied forest worldwide. The Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute maintains a biological station on the island with modern facilities and equipment to support researchers from all over the world.

The flora and fauna of Barro Colorado island have been studied extensively and inventories have reported 1369 plant species , 93 mammal species (including bats), 366 avian species (including migratory), and 90 species of amphibians and reptiles.

The laboratory and dorms on Barro Colorado Island

Ceiba - the Big Tree on Barro Colorado Island

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