Among the jellyfish of Jellyfish Lake, Palau
Thousands of jellyfish drift silently through the waters of Jellyfish Lake, one of the most remarkable natural sites in the Palau archipelago. An extraordinary immersion into one of the world’s most unique ecosystems.
Located on a small island in the Palau archipelago, Jellyfish Lake is an ancient marine lake that is now isolated from the ocean. Over thousands of years, the jellyfish living here evolved in an environment almost completely free of predators. As a result, their population grew to extraordinary numbers and they gradually lost most of their ability to sting, which became unnecessary over time.
Swimming among millions of jellyfish is an experience that is both surprising and mesmerizing. Throughout the day, they follow the sun across the lake to expose the symbiotic algae living within their tissues to as much light as possible. Through photosynthesis, these algae produce part of the nutrients on which the jellyfish depend. This slow daily migration transforms the lake into a continuous underwater ballet.
I have written a complete article about this remarkable ecosystem, explaining the origin of the lake, how it functions, and featuring many more underwater photographs. I invite you to discover it here: Snorkeling in Palau’s Jellyfish Lake.