Jellyfish Lake is a marine lake located on Eil Malk island in Palau. Eil Malk is part of the Rock Islands. There are about 70 other marine lakes located throughout the Rock Islands. Millions of golden jellyfish migrate horizontally across the lake daily. Jellyfish Lake is stratified into two layers, an oxygenated upper layer and a lower anoxic layer.
amanderson2 /CC BY 2.0 | Jelly Fishes In The Lake
The lake is one of about 200 saline meromictic lakes that have been identified in the world. However most of these lakes are of freshwater origin. Jellyfish Lake is around 12,000 years old. This age estimate is based on the depth of the lake about 30 meters. Two species of scyphozoan jellyfish live in Jellyfish Lake, moon jellyfish and the golden jellyfish.
Onyo /CC BY-SA 1.0 | Jellyfish Lake Palau
Tourists are required to obtain a pass to access Jellyfish Lake. The Rock Islands or Jellyfish Lake pass is $100 and is good for 10 days. Snorkeling in Jellyfish Lake is a popular activity for tourists to Palau. Scuba diving by tourists in the lake is not allowed.
tata_aka_T /CC BY 2.0 | Snorkeling With Jellyfish
A place like Palau’s Jellyfish Lake is a reminder of how wondrous the world can be. Swimming with literally millions of jellyfish was absolutely surreal.
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