Most people do not like jellyfish, fortunately,they appear only from time to time. But imagine a place where they exist constantly and in huge numbers. Presented? Such a place is! This is the Jellyfish Lake in Palau.
Lake of the Rocky Islands
The Republic of Palau is located in the Pacific Ocean,about 800 kilometers from the Philippines. It is completely located on the islands and is amazing with its nature. One of its archipelagos - the Rocky Islands - was even called an "underwater miracle of the world." Its coastal waters inhabit more than a thousand species of fish and marine mammals, many of which are rare.
It is not surprising that here is located the "abodejellyfish. " Lake with unusual inhabitants for such water bodies appeared 12 thousand years ago. Now it is inhabited by several million jellyfish. The number of tourists arriving to look at them, too, does not fall behind this figure. Due to this, snorkeling is developing here - a shallow swimming with a tube and glasses, with which you can watch for "jelly-like" for hours.
Where is Lake Jellyfish?It is located in the eastern part of the coral island of Eil Mulk. The lake is not too large, but long in length. At the widest point the reservoir reaches 160 meters, in the longest - 460 meters. Its depth does not exceed 50 meters.
Features of the Jellyfish in Palau
Lakes like this, on the island about ten, butthis is the largest. It is interesting not only for its inhabitants. Thus, the reservoir refers to a meteoric or two-layered lakes. Its surface and deep waters are different and practically do not mix with each other.
The upper layer of the Jellyfish Lake in Palau is saturatedoxygen. It extends to a depth of 15 meters. It is inhabited by most living organisms, as well as precipitation and runoff. The lower layer is devoid of oxygen, but it contains hydrogen sulphide, phosphates and ammonia. Because of the harm of such water for humans, diving is prohibited here. The upper layer is inhabited by bacteria.
The lake formed in a natural deepeningThe island, which appeared as a result of the movement of the earth's crust. It is not cut off from the "big water" completely, with the ocean it is connected through holes and cracks in the rocks of limestone.
Inhabitants of the lake
As the jellyfish have appeared in the lake, it is not known exactly.Most likely, the young specimens came here along with water passing through the rock tunnels. According to another version, they have been living in the reservoir since the time of its formation: after lowering the sea level, part of the water along with its "population" remained on the island, having formed lakes.
Here in sufficiently favorable conditions andThe absence of natural enemies of jellyfish increased the number of thousands of times. Now the lake is teeming with them. The two main species that live in it: the golden jellyfish and the moon. In addition to them, the water body inhabits several species of fish and crustaceans.
The way of life of gold jellyfish is closely related togreen algae that settle inside them. Organisms "concluded" a kind of contract, providing each other with useful substances. Algae need light, so in the afternoon jellyfish move after the sun, describing the circles on the lake. At night, they descend to the lower layers to be saturated with nitrogen.
Life of jellyfish
Accepted names that inhabit the lake are the species of jellyfish,only conditional. So, the golden jellyfish, most likely, refers to Mastigias papua, and the lunar - to aurelia (Aurelia aurita). Classify local inhabitants is difficult, because they have significant differences with related species living on the high seas off the coast of the islands.
Despite the small connection with the ocean, LakeThe jellyfish in Palau are isolated enough. This could not but affect the lives of its inhabitants. Scientists suggest that a prolonged isolated existence contributed to some internal and external changes, resulting in the formation of individual subspecies of jellyfish.
And the golden jellyfish, and the lunar belong to the classscythoid or flickering. As a rule, on their tentacles there are special cells that allow them to sting the enemy. Lonely and cloudless existence on the island contributed to the death of these cells.
A paradise for tourists
Lake Medusa in Palau is a unique naturalcorner. It is surrounded by rocks and tropical trees, and its waters are inhabited by millions of jellyfish. This place attracts tourists and gives an opportunity to observe the life of the inhabitants of the reservoir.
In the sea, huge jellyfish can representserious danger to humans. They painfully sting and are poisonous. Jellyfish on the island of Eil Mulk in Palau have long lost this ability, allowing curious tourists to approach them for a very short distance.
