Jellyfish Lake - Republic of Palau

Jellyfish Lake - Republic of Palau

Jellyfish Lake is a unique marine lake located on Eli Malk island in the Republic of Palau. Jellyfish Lake is one of Palau’s most famous snorkeling sites. Jellyfish Lake, a lake with millions of jellyfish with very weak stingers where snorkelers can safely swim. Twelve thousand years ago these jellyfish became trapped in a natural basin on the island when the ocean receded.

However the lake is sufficiently isolated and the conditions are different enough that the diversity of species in the lake is greatly reduced from the nearby lagoon.

In this lake there are several types of jellyfish that is moon jellyfish (Aurelia sp.) and the golden jellyfish (Mastigias sp.). The golden jellyfish are most closely related to the spotted jellyfish (Mastigias papua) that inhabit the nearby lagoons. The moon jellyfish exhibited unusual damage in the 1998 time frame; however, the population seemed no smaller than usual. There are many tours which will go to the jellyfish lake to snorkel. SCUBA diving is not permitted, nor is necessary, in the jellyfish lake. Palau Jellyfish Lake  is included in the category of natural phenomena and scientific mysteries.

Jellyfish Lake 1

Jellyfish Lake 2

Jellyfish Lake 3