Southwestern Coastline

Southwestern Coastline

On the southwestern coastline are the Rock Islands of Palau, also known as Chelbacheb, a collection of hundreds of small limestone or coral formations between Koror and Peleliu, which today belong to the state of Koror. According to various sources, the group includes between 250 and 300 islands, with a total area of 42 square kilometers and a height of 207 meters. The islands were designated a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 2012. The Rock Islands are rarely inhabited, and are known for their beaches, blue lagoons and the distinctive umbrella-like shape of many islands. Several islands have a mushroom shape with a narrower base at the intertidal notch. The indentation is the result of erosion and a large community of sponges, bivalves, chitons, snails, urchins and others, which mainly graze on algae. In addition, the islands have been affected by weather, wind and vegetation over time. BirdLife International has designated an area of 4,912 hectares, which includes the Rock Islands, as an Important Bird Area, as it is home to the largest population of endemic Palauan birds, among them Micronesian Megapodes, Palau Ground Doves, Micronesian Imperial Pigeons, Palau Fruit Doves, swiftlets and kingfishers, Micronesian Myzomelas, morningbirds, Palau Fantails, flycatchers and bush warblers, giant, dusky and citrine white-eyes, and Micronesian Starlings. The islands and their surrounding reefs are home to Palau's most popular tourist attractions, such as Blue Corner, Blue Holes, German Channel, Ngermeaus Island and the famous Jellyfish Lake, one of several marine lakes in the Rock Islands that is home and shelter to the many species of jellyfish found only on Palau.