Photos

The Republic of Palau, a chain of islands at the far western end of Micronesia, consists of nine inhabited islands and more than 700 small islets in the Philippine Sea. The archipelago contains a range of geological features but, when viewed from above, it is the archipelago's many turquoise coral reefs that command attention. The island chain is comprised of 459 sq km (179 sq mi) of dry land, and approximately 525 sq km (203 sq mi) of reefs spread through the ocean. NASA's Terra satellite acquired this view of Palau on 11 December 2012. Image courtesy of NASA.

Another space-based view of Palau showing the southern portion of Babeldaob Island (top) and various islands to its south ending in Peleliu (bottom), the site of a fierce World War II battle. (Image courtesy of NASA.)

Aerial view of Jellyfish Lake on the island of Eil Malk in Palau. This view is looking west across the lake, past some small coral and rock islets around Eil Malk, and toward the Seventy Island Preserve, which is some 11.5 km (7 mi) distant. Photo courtesy of the US National Park Service.

Located on Eil Malk island, Jellyfish Lake is an unusual marine lake that is poplated almost exclusively by two species of jellyfish: golden and moon jellyfish. Eil Malk is part of the Rock Islands, a group of small, rocky, mostly uninhabited islands in Palau's Southern Lagoon, between Koror and Peleliu. Millions of golden jellyfish migrate horizontally across the lake daily. Although Jellyfish Lake is connected to the ocean through fissures and tunnels, the lake is sufficiently isolated and the conditions are different enough that the diversity of species in the lake is greatly reduced from the nearby lagoon.

The Rock Islands are limestone islands in Palau's Southern Lagoon, between Koror and Peleliu, that are now part of Koror State. There are between 250 and 300 islands in the group according to different sources, with an aggregate area of 47 sq km (18 sq mi) and a height up to 207 m (679 ft). They became a World Heritage Site in 2012. The islands are sparsely populated and are famous for their beaches, blue lagoons, and the peculiar mushroom- or umbrella-like shapes of many of the islands.

Some of the Rock Islands in Palau's Southern Lagoon, between Koror and Peleliu.

Palauan waters.

Some of the Rock Islands in Palau's Southern Lagoon, between Koror and Peleliu.

Some of the Rock Islands in Palau's Southern Lagoon, between Koror and Peleliu.

Some of the Rock Islands in Palau's Southern Lagoon, between Koror and Peleliu.

View of Peleliu from a forest ridge showing some of the dense island vegetation.

Directional sign to many of the World War II Battle of Peleliu memorial sites. The battle was fought between the US and Japan from 15 September to 27 November 1944 on the Palauan island of Peleliu. US Marines of the 1st Marine Division, and later soldiers of the US Army's 81st Infantry Division, fought to capture the airstrip on the small coral island. The casualty rate exceeded that of all other US amphibious operations during the Pacific War causing the fighting there to be described as, "the bitterest battle of the war for the Marines.”