Rock Islands

From Infogalactic: the planetary knowledge core
(Redirected from Rock Islands (Palau))
Jump to: navigation, search
Rock Islands
Nickname: Chelbacheb
Palau-rock-islands20071222.jpg
Geography
Coordinates Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
Total islands 250-300
Area Lua error in Module:Convert at line 1851: attempt to index local 'en_value' (a nil value).
Highest elevation 207 m (679 ft)
Country
Palau
Capital city Melekeok
Largest settlement Koror (pop. 14,000)
Demographics
Population 6 (as of 2014)
Additional information
Official name Rock Islands Southern Lagoon
Type Mixed
Criteria iii,v, vii, ix, x
Designated 2012 (36th session)
Reference no. 1386
State Party Palau
Region Asia-Pacific
Rock Islands
Capital Dolphin Bay

The Rock Islands of Palau, also called Chelbacheb, are a small collection of limestone or coral uprises, ancient relics of coral reefs that violently surfaced to form Islands in Palau's Southern Lagoon, between Koror and Peleliu, and are now an incorporated part of Koror State. There are between 250 to 300 islands in the group according to different sources, with an aggregate area of 47 square kilometres (18 sq mi) and a height up to 207 metres (679 ft). They are a World Heritage Site since 2012.

The islands are sparesly populated and are famous for their beaches, blue lagoons and the peculiar umbrella-like shapes of many of the islands themselves. The Rock Islands and the surrounding reefs make up Palau's popular tourist sites such as Blue Corner, Blue hole, German Channel, Ngermeaus Island and the famed Jellyfish Lake, one of the many Marine lakes in the Rock Islands that provides home and safety for several kinds of stingless jellyfish found only in Palau. It is the most popular dive destination in Palau, and offers some of the best and most diverse dive sites on the planet. From wall diving to high current drift dives, from Manta Rays to sharkfeeds an from shallow and colorful lagoons to brilliantly decorated caves and overhangs. The islands are the location of Dolphin Bay - where there is a staff of vets and trainers that educate about the life of dolphins.

Many of the islands' display a mushroom-like shape with a smaller base at the intertidal notch than what lies above it. The indentation comes from erosion and from the dense community of sponges, bivalves, chitons, snails, urchins and others that graze mostly on algae.[1]

The largest islands in the group are:

  • Ngeruktabel
  • Ulong
  • Eil Malk (Mecherchar)

Other notable islands include:

  • Ngeteklou (Gologugeul)
  • Bukrrairong (Kamori)
  • Tlutkaraguis (Adorius)
  • Ongael
  • Ngebedangel (Ngobasangel)
  • Bablomekang (Abappaomogan)
  • Ngerukeuid (Orukuizu)

Gallery

Notes

  1. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.

External links