JELLYFISH LAKE

YOUR GUIDE TO JELLYFISH LAKE IN PALAU

Read the text about Jellyfish Lake in Palau. The text has ELEVEN gaps. Choose the missing phrases or sentences. The first one is an example (0). There are two sentences/phrases that you do not need to use. All the options begin with a lower-case letter. You will get 1 point per correct answer.

Palau is an island in the South Pacific and is often overlooked in favour of Fiji, Bora Bora [0] or the Cook Islands. The archipelago is home to over 500 remote tropical islands, making Palau a great destination if you are looking  [1]


One of the most incredible things about Palau is that it is home to an amazing Jellyfish Lake. Not surprisingly, this is one of Palau’s most famous attractions. Jellyfish Lake is a marine lake  [2]. Every day, millions of golden jellyfish migrate across the lake. While they do this, you can go swimming with them!


Swimming with the jellyfish was actually forbidden in recent years,  [3]. However, as of 2019, the jellyfish numbers are on the rise and swimming with them has been reopened.


Jellyfish Lake is around 12,000 years old. It’s a remnant of the last ice age where, during that time, the sea level rose to the point where sea water began to fill the basin. But when the glaciers receded, there was no place for these jellyfish or other fish to go. This isolation allowed  [4] and become unique (Darwin would be proud!).


In 2005, there were around 30 million jellyfish in the lake, though that number was in decline for many years. By 2016, there were almost none. Fortunately, there are now around 700,000 jellyfish back in the lake  [5].


So, how is it possible to swim with these jellyfish? Will you get stung? Well, this specific species of jellyfish has evolved without their stingers. The jellyfish in the lake live on algae  [6]. Twice each day, the jellyfish in the lake swim from one side to the other so that the algae they live off of can grow.


Since they live off of algae, they don’t need their stingers to catch prey. That means that you can swim with them [7].
You’ll be able to swim for hours with these creatures as they migrate from one side of the lake to the other. While Palau might not be one of the biggest destinations in the region, this lake is Palau’s big destination,  [8].


One thing to keep in mind is that scuba diving in the lake is not allowed. This is for two reasons: first, the bubbles from scuba tanks  [9]. Secondly, at about 15 meters below the surface, there are high concentrations of hydrogen sulfide, which can be absorbed through the skin of a diver and cause death.


If you are looking to do something different,  [10]. Most of the jellyfish in the world sting, and while they are beautiful creatures, you can’t really go swimming with them. Yet here in Palau, nature gives you a chance to get all tangled up without being stung. Don’t miss your chance!

From https://www.nomadicmatt.com/travel-blogs/unusual-place-of-the-month-jellyfish-lake/

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