 Panamá is located between the Pacific Ocean and tropical rain forest in the northern part of Panama.The "Parque Natural Metropolitano" (Metropolitan Nature Park), stretching from Panama City along the Panama Canal, has unique bird species and other animals, such as tapir, puma, and caimans.At the Pacific entrance of the canal is the "Centro de Exhibiciones Marinas" (Marine Exhibitions Center), a research center for those interested in tropical marine life and ecology, managed by the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute.