Daikoku Sulfur Cauldron

Daikoku Sulphur Cauldron at the moment of discovery, Northern Marianas

A unique pool of liquid sulfur at the summit of a submarine volcano, one of the few in the world.

Cabo Blanco seal colony

The only colony of monk seals in the world. Here in caves lives a group of extremely rare Mediterranean monk seals (Monachus monachus), here could be living some 200 seals.

Aripo Main Cave, Trinidad

Biggest cave system on the island, 862 m long. Contains small tufa waterfall. Colonies of oil birds and bats. Six new insect species have been first described in this cave.

Vailulu’u Eel City and Moat of Death

Dysommina rugosa eels in Nafanua Eel City, American Samoa

A hydrothermal vent in the summit of an enormous submarine volcano rises 4,200 m from the ocean floor. The Nafanue volcanic cone in the center of the 400 m deep caldera contains a group of hydrothermal vents inhabited by numerous eels (Dysommina rugosa). This is unusual – in general vertebrates do not live near hydrothermal vents.

Christmas Island crab forest

Red Crabs during the migration, Christmas Island

The forest of Christmas Island is unique in the world due to dominant species – some 50 – 100 million red crabs (Gecarcoidea natalis) – clearing the forest floor of leaves and other organic matter. These crabs are endemic to Christmas Island. Once per year they migrate to the sea to lay their eggs, on the way blocking the roads and paths.

Uet era Ongael

Small marine lake (0.9 ha) with its own subspecies of jellyfish Mastigias cf. papua remengesaui.

Clear Lake

Marine lake (3.9 ha) with its own subspecies of jellyfish Mastigias cf. papua salii.

Goby Lake

Round marine lake (2.1 ha) with its own subspecies of jellyfish Mastigias cf. papua nakamurai.

Uet era Ngermeuangel

Marine lake (4.3 ha) with its own subspecies of jellyfish Mastigias cf. papua remeliiki and Moon Jellyfish Aurelia sp.

Jellyfish Lake

Jellyfish Lake from air with swarms of jellyfish visible, Palau

A unique marine lake with an area of 5.0 ha, has an underground connection to the sea. Stratified in two layers that 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 on the nearby islands but Jellyfish Lake is the only one open to tourists. The number of jellyfish has reached up to 31 million (January 2005), currently some 5 million.