Jellyfish Lake, Meromictic salt lake in Rock Islands, Palau
Jellyfish Lake is a meromictic salt lake in the Rock Islands of Palau that hosts millions of golden jellyfish. The water body stretches roughly 460 meters (1500 feet) in length and 160 meters (525 feet) in width, with the habitable upper layers distinct from the deeper, oxygen-poor zones.
This marine lagoon formed roughly 10,000 years ago when rising sea levels filled limestone caves and isolated a portion of seawater from the Pacific Ocean. Over the millennia, the trapped jellyfish evolved without natural predators and gradually lost their stinging ability.
The indigenous Palauan name Ongeim'l Tketau reflects the close bond between local communities and this natural marine formation. Visitors can watch the golden jellyfish migrate each day from west to east, following sunlight across the water surface.
Swimming is allowed only in the surface layers, as deeper areas beyond roughly 14 meters (46 feet) contain high concentrations of hydrogen sulfide. Snorkeling gear helps to observe the migrating jellyfish while staying in the safe upper water layers.
The resident jellyfish have lost their stinging ability through evolutionary processes, as no natural predators exist in this isolated environment. This allows swimmers to safely interact with millions of these gentle creatures, an experience available at only a few other places worldwide.
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