Rock Islands
The Rock Islands of Palau, also called Chelbacheb, are a collection of several hundred small limestone or coral uprises in the Southern Lagoon of Palau between Koror and Peleliu, now an incorporated part of Koror State. There are between 250 and 300 islands in the group according to different sources, with an aggregate area of and a maximum height of. The islands were declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2012.
History
The Rock Islands were formed during the late Eocene, around 40 million years ago as limestone was formed from the remains of coral reefs that grew in ancient seas. Over time, volcanic activity and rising sea levels shaped the islands' distinctive mushroom-like formations.The earliest known settlers to the Rock Islands were believed to have arrived around 1000 BCE, likely from Southeast Asia or the Philippines, navigating the Pacific Ocean using traditional outrigger canoes. Indigenous Palauans have long revered the Rock Islands, not only with natural resources, but also deeply embedded cultural traditions, stories and beliefs. Many of the islands have symbolic or spiritual significance, with contagious oral traditions.
The first known European explorers to reach Palau were the Spanish in the 16th century. In 1522, the Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan sighted the islands whilst sailing through the region, though he didn't make direct contact with the islands.
During World War II, the Rock Islands became strategic locations for both the Imperial Japanese Army and the U.S. Marines. Japanese troops fortified the limestone islands, turning them into a defensive fortress, which led to a fierce and costly battle with American forces at Peleliu in 1944. In the post-war period, the Rock Islands and other natural sites were preserved under the U.S. administration.
The Rock Islands were designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2012, in recognition of their ecological and cultural significance. The islands are renowned for its pristine marine biodiversity, including the famous Southern Lagoon, Jellyfish Lake and vibrant marine life.
Geography
The Rock Islands are sparsely populated and famous for their beaches, blue lagoons, and the peculiar umbrella-like shapes of many of the islands themselves. Many of the islands display a mushroom-like shape with a narrower base at the intertidal notch. The indentation comes from erosion and from the dense community of sponges, bivalves, chitons, snails, urchins, and others that graze mostly on algae. Also, the islands have been shaped over time by weather wind and vegetation. Notable islands in the group are:- Eil Malk
- Ngeruktabel
- Ulong
- Bablomekang
- Bukrrairong
- Oilouch
- Ongael
- Ngebedangel
- Ngerukewid
- Ngeanges
- Ngeteklou
- Tlutkaraguis
Environment