Palau’s Bomb Squad

Documentary.net staff — Tue, 21 May 2013 17:20:34 +0000

Imagine this, you set out for your well-earned holiday on a pristine Pacific Island, only to find that thousands of unexploded bombs litter the area, threatening the lives of both holidaymakers and locals. Enter a husband and wife team, backed by their dedicated staff, determined to rid the island of this deadly legacy. The beautiful sandy beaches and blue seas of the Pacific islands of Palau reveal little at first glance about the bloody battle between the US and the Japanese that took place there in the Second World War. But in fact the legacy of the fighting is hidden everywhere, with thousands of unexploded bombs and grenades lost in the undergrowth and hidden in caves. David Brill reports on the effort to find and remove them… 23,000 explosives have already been cleared in the past three years. Not only are the bombs potentially lethal to locals and the huge number of tourists, they’re also corroding and leaking acid into the islands’ pristine waters. It’s a hazardous race against time to remove them, but also an opportunity to remember what happened on the now peaceful islands nearly 70 years ago. The Australian Government's AusAID is among those funding the demining in Palau, with a contribution of $4.4 million.

Jellyfish Lake

Documentary.net staff — Mon, 13 Jun 2011 05:43:10 +0000

Jellyfish Lake is located on Eli Malk island in the Republic of Palau. Twelve thousand years ago these jellyfish became trapped in a natural basin on the island when the ocean receded. Would you mind swimming with them? With no predators amongst them for thousands of years, they evolved into a new species that lost most of their stinging ability as they no longer had to protect themselves. They are pretty much harmless to humans although some people with very sensitive skin may get a minor sting from them. If you are allergic to jellyfish you should wear a wetsuit or protective clothing. These fascinating creatures survive by sharing a symbiotic relationship with algae that live inside of them. At night, the jellyfish go down to the depths of the lake where the algae feed on nutrients. During the day, the jellyfish come back to the surface and follow the sun across the lake in a massive migration. The algae convert the energy of the sun via photosynthesis into a sugar that feeds the jellyfish. It is not possible to scuba dive in this lake because the nutrient rich layer at around 50 feet and below contains hydrogen sulphide which is highly toxic to humans. If a scuba diver was to swim in that layer, the toxins would enter the body through the skin and that exposure could be fatal. Snorkeling however, is perfectly safe and if you ever find yourself in Palau one day, you should make your way to this special place. The experience of swimming through millions of jellyfish is quite surreal and Palau is the only place in the world where you can do just that!

Palau Videos - The Documentary Network

Palau’s Bomb Squad

Jellyfish Lake