BRIEFS. environment

Anam looks to clean up swimming spot

Virgilio De León/LA PRENSA

tarnished:Pollution has diminished the reputation and natural beauty of El Chorro, a popular recreation area in La Chorrera.992513

El Chorro, a popular waterfall and swimming spot in La Chorrera, is contaminated, but that doesn't stop thousands of people a year from going there.

On a typical Sunday, a usual crowd of about 100 people will gather at the spot, which is about 45 minutes from Panama City.

It was once known for its natural beauty, but the pollution of the Río Caimito, which feeds the falls, has taken some of the shine off the attraction.

Officials at the Autoridad Nacional del Ambiente (Anam) are hoping to change that.

They have started a program in conjunction with 25 schools in La Chorrera to help clean up the river. This program is centered around reforesting areas above the falls to help prevent runoff from erosion from contaminating the river.

Anam is also going after companies that polluted the river to make them help bear the cost of cleaning it up.