List of described attractions by states
Palau is divided into sixteen states.
States of Palau
| Aimeliik | ||
| Airai | ||
| Angaur | ||
| Hatohobei | ||
| Kayangel | ||
| Koror and Rock Islands | ||
 | Clear Lake | Animal colonies, Ecosystems |
| Goby Lake | Animal colonies, Ecosystems |
| Jellyfish Lake | Animal colonies, Ecosystems |
| Uet era Ngermeuangel | Animal colonies, Ecosystems |
| Uet era Ongael | Animal colonies, Ecosystems |
| Melekeok | ||
| Ngaraard | ||
| Ngarchelong | ||
| Ngardmau | ||
| Ngaremlengui | ||
| Ngatpang | ||
| Ngchesar | ||
| Ngiwal | ||
| Peleliu | ||
| Sonsorol | ||
Palau - map
Wikipedia article about Palau
Featured:
Jellyfish Lake
Eerie reality in Jellyfish Lake.
CT Snow, Flickr / CC BY 2.0
The most outstanding natural monument in Palau is Jellyfish Lake - small, meromictic (layered) lake with seawater. Lake is approximately 420 meters long - but here live millions of jellyfish of endemic subspecies. Jellyfish constantly migrate in the small lake to be both in sunshine and avoid of predators - sea anemones.
Main attractions
Although Palau is small in size, it offers surprising diversity of interesting monuments. Several of these monuments are true wonders and there are several unresolved mysteries related to Palau.
Natural landmarks
Marine lakes
Highlight of the natural heritage of Palau is its unique marine lakes - lakes with marine water and weak connection to the sea. Since the geologically recent sea rise in these lakes there have developed unique biotopes.
- Clear Lake - Rock Islands. 3.9 ha large marine lake with its own subspecies of jellyfish Mastigias cf. papua salii.
Jellyfish Lake in Rock Islands.
LuxTonnerre, Flickr / CC BY 2.0 - Goby Lake - Rock Islands. 2.1 ha large, round marine lake with high edges, has its own subspecies of jellyfish Mastigias cf. papua nakamurai.
- Jellyfish Lake (Ongeim'l Tketau) - Eil Malk in Rock Islands. Unique, 5.0 ha large marine lake, has underground connection to the sea. Stratified in two layers which do not mix. Isolated from the sea 12,000 years and contains a distinct population of two species of jellyfish - endemic Mastigias cf. papua etpisoni and most likely endemic Aurelia sp. Millions of these jellyfishes make strict daily migration around the lake. Four more marine lakes with jellyfish in the nearby islands but Jellyfish Lake is the only one open to tourists. Number of jellyfish has reached up to 31 millions (January 2005), currently circa 5 millions.
- Uet era Ngermeuangel - Rock Islands. 4.3 ha large marine lake with its own subspecies of jellyfish Mastigias cf. papua remeliiki and Moon Jellyfish Aurelia sp..
- Uet era Ongael - Rock Islands. 0.9 ha large marine lake with its own subspecies of jellyfish Mastigias cf. papua remengesaui.
Caves under the sea level
When the sea level was below the limestone sediments of Palau karst processes formed numerous impressive caverns. Nowadays these caverns have been filled with sea water and are provide excellent diving experience.
Diving in Blue Holes.
LuxTonnerre/, Flickr / CC BY 2.0
- Yikrel a Bub (Blue Holes, The Temple of Doom) - near Ngemelis, Koror. Unusual monument of nature created in times when sea level was considerably lower. Four deep holes in 1 - 2 metres deep seabed which unite in enormous underground hollow 40 meters below. Cave has two more openings to the side - through the submerged ancient sea cliff. Impressive blue light rays enter though the holes in the cave.
- Siaes Tunnel - Koror. Impressive tunnel under the sea water, entrance 4 - 20 meters deep, bottom - up to 60 meters deep. Tunnel is lighted through 3 larger side openings and numerous smaller openings. Created by erosion processes in times when seawater level was lower than now.
- Chandelier Cave (Iiel Temekai) - Koror. Limestone cave with dropstone formations, entrance and part of cave is located below sea level, below water. Four chambers.
Other natural monuments
- The Arch - Rock Islands, Koror. Weathering has created an natural arch, which can be easily passed in a boat. Arch is 15 metres wide and 9 metres high.
Milky Way cove in Rock Islands.
LuxTonnerre, Flickr / CC BY 2.0 - Milky Way - Rock Islands, Koror. Cove with bright turquoise colored water. Bottom consists of bright white limestone mud believed to have curative powers although this has not been proven.
- Lake Ngardok, Melekeok (Babeldoab Island). The only notable freshwater lake in Palau and whole Micronesia. Contains a population of saltwater crocodile (Crocodylus porosus Schneider), important habitat for several endemic Palauan birds.
- Forest at the foot of Mt.Ngerchelchuus - Ngardmau (Babeldoab Island). Ancient, largest forest in Palau with enormous trees, important habitat for endemic Palauan birds.
- Rock Islands - Koror. More than 200 amazing small limestone islands, often mushroom shaped and covered with lush tropical vegetation. Unique landscape element, especially when looking from the air.
- Tabecheding Falls - Ngatpang (Babeldoab Island). Circa 6 metres high falls floating down a steep slope, located in beautiful setting.
- Taki Falls - Ngardmau (Babeldoab Island). Largest waterfall in Palau, a beautiful, impressive 30 meters high and 37 meters wide waterfall.
Man made landmarks
Architectural monuments
- Bai ra Airai - Airai (Babeldoab Island). The oldest men's meeting house in Palau, circa 200 years old.
Ngerulmud - Palauan Capitol.
Wikimedia Commons, Peter Binter, public domain - Ngerulmud (Capitol Building of Palau) - Melekeok (Babeldoab Island). One of the most iconic parliament buildings in region, a group of impressive Neo-Classicism style buildings, built in 2006.
Archaeological monuments
There are several intriguing groups of archaeological monuments in Palau. The most interesting ones are remnants of mysterious pygmy people in several burial caves as well as stune statues of humans found on largest islands.
Burial caves
- Chelechol ra Orrak - Rock Islands. One of the burial caves in Rock Islands, contains skelets of at least 25 humans.
- Omedokel Cave - Rock Islands. 2,300 - 1,400 years old burial site of the early inhabitants of islands and circa 1000 years old burials of newer inhabitants. Older burials belong to extinct dwarf people, possibly weighing just 28 - 47 kg.
- Ucheliungs Cave (Ucheliuns Cave) - Rock Islands. Cave with entrance in shallow sea water. 2,900 - 1,400 years old burial site of the early inhabitants of islands. Burials belong to extinct dwarf people, possibly weighing just 28 - 47 kg.
Megaliths
- Quarry of Yap stone money in Airai - small rock island, Airai. Huge piece of the unique Yap stone money, unfinished pieces of stone money nearby as well as the metal toys for production.
- Badrulchau - Ngarchelong (Babeldoab Island). 52 (now 37) mysterious stone monoliths, six have rough faces hewn. Location of former bai - men's clubhouse, possibly built circa 161 AD.
- Nbusala - Sonsorol. Ruins of monolithic stones, most likely dating before the arrival of present day inhabitants of Sonsorol in 17th century (pre-Moro time).
- Ngerbodel stone monolith - Ngerbodel village, Koror. Human statue, 85.4 cm high. The only unambiguous ancient human statue in Palau with distinct head with face and torso. There are tens of stone faces found around Koror and Babeldoab islands.
- Odalmelech, Melekeok (Babeldoab Island). Six enormous, megalythic stone carvings - faces, circa 1,100 years old.
Other archaeological monuments
- Sculpted hills of Ngchemiangel - Aimeliik (Babeldoab Island). Relief of island has been sculpted and there have been created extensive terraces. Created in 5th - 16th century AD.
- Olechukl Iars (Ulong, Oolong petroglyphs) - western cliffs of Ulong island, Koror. Intricate red painted petroglyphs left by ancient Palauans on the walls of shallow grottoes.
- Taberrakl petroglyphs - southeast corner of Ngeruktabel, Koror. Most abundant petroglyph site in Palau, includes many handprints.
10 February 2010 Gatis Pāvils