A Place Where Jellyfish Have Lost Their Sting
The Island of Palau
Anyone who has taken a swim in the ocean can tell you that there are some things you definitely want to avoid. The sting of the jellyfish is one of them. According to medical reports the symptoms include an intense, stinging pain, itching, rash and raised welts. In some instances, the sting of the box jellyfish can be deadly.
There is a place on this earth that over 12,000 years ago experienced a complete transformation of sorts. A salt water lake completely sealed itself off from the ocean waters and the jellyfish, without natural predators, multiplied at a rapid pace. Over 10 million jellyfish currently inhabit this lake in Palau but they have evolved into a stingless and harmless state making them known as the Gentle Jellyfish.
People the world over travel to the island paradise of Palau to swim with the stingless jellyfish. You can see the millions of harmless jellyfish here.
There are some folks who consider the jellyfish to be the "cockroaches of the sea." According to the California Academy of the Sciences, jellyfish consume all the precious plankton and produce a waste that is not edible by other marine life.
Whether you consider them cockroaches or something surreal that has managed to survive for millions of years, you could always hop on over to Palau to swim with the stingless jellies in Jellyfish Lake.
The island group that comprises Palau is located about 1,000 miles south of Guam and 1,000 miles east of the Philippines. Getting there from the United States is just a hop, skip and a jump! According to the Palau travel guide,
"from the western seaboard of the United States, you can hop to Hawaii, skip to Guam and jump to Palau."
Imagine swimming with the stingless jellyfish in Jellyfish Lake.
Sources:
http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/invertebrates/golden-jellyfish/
http://www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/jellyfish-sting
http://planetgreen.discovery.com/travel-outdoors/the-coolest-places-to-take-a-dip.html
http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/1840.htm
http://www.nceas.ucsb.edu/news/nceas-sponsored-outreach-event-brings-jellyfish-science-public
http://www.calacademy.org/sciencetoday/jellyfish-vs-the-food-web/
Published by Michele Starkey
Optimist who enjoys writing, laughing and spreading good news. If I have but one life to live, I hope to make mine memorable. My epitaph will read: she lived, she loved, she left. View profile
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50 Comments
Post a CommentI enjoyed this video while drinking my morning chai. They're so graceful.
I've heard of Palau. That's where I plan on going when I get the chance. Great info. thanks :)
This was very interesting.
My daughter and I once snorkeled through a huge swarm of tiny jellyfish. We were cautioned ahead of time to wear lots of sunscreen, which evidently helps protect against their minor stinging. We experienced no stinging sensation at all, but it was quite surreal, swimming through a swarm so thick that you could see nothing else.
This is interesting. I didn't know that some are stingless.
wow!
I watched a video about how poisonous jellyfish can turn out to be. Stingless jellyfish is a novelty for me - siva
An excellent and altogether fascinating report, very well researched. Thanks!
Very Fascinating, thanks Michele!
Great article and I loved the photo!! :-)