Jellyfish Lake, Palau
Also known as: Ongeim'l Tketau , Fifth Lake
Small but spectacular, Jellyfish Lake on Eil Malk Island in the tiny nation of Palau draws thousands of visitors each year. There are no resorts at Jellyfish Lake; the sole attraction is swimming-specifically snorkeling-with millions of tiny jellyfish!. The small marine lake is connected to the nearby lagoon via fissures and cracks that allow sea water to enter the lake with the tide. This keeps the lake…
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Welcome to the ultimate guide to Jellyfish Lake! Article topics include:
- All About Jellyfish Lake
- Where to Stay
- Vacation Planning Tools
- Things to Do
- Known Fish Species
- Jellyfish Lake Map
- Statistics / Weather / Helpful Links
- Jellyfish Lake Gifts
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Small but spectacular, Jellyfish Lake on Eil Malk Island in the tiny nation of Palau draws thousands of visitors each year. There are no resorts at Jellyfish Lake; the sole attraction is swimming-specifically snorkeling-with millions of tiny jellyfish!. The small marine lake is connected to the nearby lagoon via fissures and cracks that allow sea water to enter the lake with the tide. This keeps the lake refreshed in the upper part of the waters and allows it to maintain its saline balance. The island itself is one of the Rock Islands. These mostly uninhabited islands can be reached by boat from the city of Koror about 15 miles away. The islands contain about 70 marine lakes; five of them hold the unusual yellow jellyfish. Jellyfish Lake is the only one which is accessible to the public.
The tiny 13 million jellyfish in Jellyfish Lake have evolved to become basically ‘sting-less’. These unusual creatures have developed independently of their nearest relatives in the lagoon and have several distinct physical characteristics. Because there are few natural predators in Jellyfish Lake, evolution has eliminated the ‘sting’ jellyfish are noted for, although those who are sensitive to the jellyfish toxins may experience a mild tingle from contact. A simplified explanation of the jellyfish’s behavior is that they are nourished partially by symbiotic algae living in their tissues. The jellyfish migrate daily across the lake, always in a counter-clockwise direction to keep the algae exposed to sunlight and thus keep themselves fed. They also dive down to the poorly-oxygenated lower layers and return to the surface in an effort to provide other nutrients for the algae. Several tour operators lead visitors on snorkeling treks to the island and along the short but rough trail to the lake.
Only snorkeling is allowed; scuba divers’ oxygen bubbles disturb the jellyfish. And, scuba diving in the stratified waters of Jellyfish Lake is dangerous to the diver; oxygen saturation within the water goes only to approximately the 50 foot depth. Below that, the water contains a heavy concentration of hydrogen sulfide which can be absorbed by divers through the skin and cause death. Even while snorkeling, participants are encouraged to float prone in the water and avoid kicking which can damage the fragile creatures. Snorkeling, along with scuba diving, are two of the main attractions of the tiny Republic of Palau. The island nation is blessed with many coral reefs inhabited by diverse colorful fish, several shipwrecks as dive targets, and as much to see underwater as there is above the water line. Most visitors take the time to schedule the boat trip to Jellyfish Lake and enjoy Palau’s other attractions during the rest of their stay.
Koror is both a state within Palau and the largest city. Almost 70% of Palau’s 20,000 citizens live in Koror. The island nation has been under Spanish, German, and Japanese control for much of its recorded history. Japan gained control of the 340 islands that constitute Palau in 1914 under a League of Nations agreement and used it as headquarters for all of Micronesia. After WWII, Palau and Micronesia became trust territories of the United States and declared their independence in 1994. Palau decided not to join the Federated States of Micronesia and maintains its own government. Much evidence of former Japanese occupation remains, and many public buildings and local scenery are reminiscent of Japanese culture. Many of the tour businesses operate in Japanese, and visitors from Japan are common. Enough business is conducted in English that English-speaking visitors from Australia and the United States will find no shortage of tour operators with whom to work.
All types of diving and snorkeling tours are available to visitors. Some tour operators offer live-aboard boats that travel to different dive sites. The atolls, coral reefs, drop-offs and 930 miles of coastlines offer a never-ending undersea landscape awaiting exploration. The area contains the world’s best collection of shipwrecks and downed planes for diving. Helen’s Reef Reserve holds a wealth of marine life. Closer to Koror, Blue Corner’s strong currents attract huge varieties of sea life including reef sharks, wrasses and eagle rays. But that certainly isn’t all that tiny Palau offers.
The City of Koror possesses a number of resorts and hotel lodgings to suit every taste and budget. There are spas, museums, terraced hillsides and jungle vistas awaiting visitors. A jungle river boat tour can be arranged, as can hikes into the heavily forested interior. As a day or two of rain should be expected on every visit to this tropical climate, wise tourists can plan ahead to visit some of the indoor attractions of the islands on days when sunshine is limited.
Some of the must-see attractions to be added to the Jellyfish Lake visit are the museums of Koror. Two in particular detail the history and culture of the native people of these islands. The Belau National Museum offers exhibits of both the ancient past and of Palau’s experiences under occupation and growth under various other nations. Outdoor exhibits showcase such cultural landmarks as taro plots and an authentic men’s meeting hall. The carvings on the men’s meeting hall peaks were the fore-runners of the increasingly popular carved storyboards that tourists may purchase. The stories told on the boards were often legends or recorded events and taught social and moral behavior. One of the best places to purchase storyboards are from the shop at the Koror Jail, where inmates learn the craft from traditional carvers. The Etpison Museum holds a more defined collection of cultural arts and contains a gift shop where visitors often purchase art objects.
The Palau Aquarium is located at the Palau International Coral Reef Center, a great place to observe local ocean fishes up close and learn about coral reefs and their protection. Visitors can learn about dolphins at Dolphins Pacific, where dolphin trainers and divers scuba dive with dolphins. The Center also offers kayak eco-tours of Palau’s native plants and animals.
A visit to Jellyfish Lake encompasses far more than swimming with tiny jellyfish. All of the natural wonders of both the sea and the Pacific islands lie at your fingertips. Even non-divers will thoroughly enjoy this once-in-a-lifetime trip. Come visit the jellyfish at Jellyfish Lake and delight in nature’s diversity.
Things to Do at Jellyfish Lake
These are some activities in the Jellyfish Lake, Palau area visitors can enjoy:
- Vacation Rentals
- Fishing
- Boating
- Swimming
- Kayaking
- Snorkeling
- Scuba Diving
- Hiking
- Birding
- Museum
Find Places to Stay at Jellyfish Lake
If you’re considering a Jellyfish Lake lake house rental or hotel, we’ve made it super easy to find the best rates and compare vacation accommodations at a glance. Save time using this interactive map below.
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More Sites to Book a Jellyfish Lake Vacation
Our interactive Jellyfish Lake lodging map above is an easy tool for comparing VRBO rental homes and nearby hotels with Booking.com, but there could be times when you need to expand your search for different types of accommodations. Here are some other lake lodging partners we recommend:
Jellyfish Lake Statistics & Helpful Links
Lake Type: Natural Saltwater Lake, Not Dammed
Surface Area: 14 acres
Shoreline Length: 1 miles
Normal Elevation (Full Pond): 9 feet
Average Depth: 100 feet
Water Volume: 1,377 acre-feet
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