Palau's only World Heritage Site, "Rock Islands and Southern Lagoon"
A direct flight from Japan takes about 4 hours and 50 minutes. The Republic of Palau, located in the Pacific Ocean, is a maritime nation made up of countless islands. The country, with a population of about 20,000 people, is known for its beautiful scenery of clear waters and lagoons, mainly on Babeldaob Island, the largest island in Palau, and Koror Island.
In 2012, Palau's first World Heritage Site was the Rock Islands and Southern Lagoon. Like the Historic Sanctuary of Machu Picchu in Peru and the Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park in Australia, this World Heritage Site is one of the few "mixed heritage sites" in the world, and is packed with many must-see sights.
The area registered as a World Heritage Site is the Rock Islands, which consist of about 445 islands scattered across Koror State, and the coral reefs that surround them. Rock Islands are islands formed by the uplift of ancient coral reefs, and are characterized by their mushroom-like shape. The area surrounded by large and small rock islands is dotted with 52 marine lakes, and is known as a treasure trove of biodiversity where many endemic and new animal species have been discovered.
Furthermore, there are traces of human habitation on these islands dating back to 3100 BC and 2,500 years ago, and their historical value was the deciding factor in their inscription as a mixed heritage site.
Filled with a variety of spectacular views. Highlights and ways to enjoy this World Heritage Site
The main attraction of the Rock Islands and the Southern Lagoon is the beautiful panorama of the green islands and the deep blue sea. If you travel to this World Heritage Site, you will be amazed by the sights that appear one after another.
Among the countless rock islands, the Seventy Islands are known as the most iconic landscape of Palau. As it is a protected area for rare wildlife, you cannot enter this area by boat, but you can view it from the air using a helicopter. The vivid gradations created by the islands and the sea are breathtakingly beautiful.
In addition, the area around Rock Island is dotted with other attractions, such as the Milky Way, where the milky water looks like bath salts due to the white limestone mud that has settled on the seabed, and Long Beach, where a pure white sandbar stretches out in crystal clear water.
It is common to access these sights through tours that depart from Koror or other locations. Enjoy snorkeling in the Milky Way, kayaking between the rock islands, and more. There are also plenty of marine activities set in World Heritage sites.
Discover unique ecosystems and traces of human history
The Rock Islands and the Southern Lagoon are not just beautiful. This World Heritage Site is dotted with world-class diving spots such as the Blue Corner and the Blue Hole, and you can enjoy encountering numerous marine life.
The unique natural environment of the Rock Islands and the waters around the South Lagoon, where many endemic and new species live, is a paradise for wildlife, with a wide variety of fish, corals, sharks and manta rays. Another attraction is the opportunity to encounter such a diverse range of creatures.
Additionally, in the caves scattered throughout the Rock Islands, there are rock paintings that tell the story of people who once lived here, as well as traces of stone money that was mined. The Rock Islands are believed to have been inhabited for a long time, dating back to prehistory, and there are many places that tell the story of human history scattered throughout the area. You can think back to the history of mankind that has been woven since time immemorial.
The beautiful scenery created by the coral sea and rock islands, the diverse wildlife that inhabits them, and the unbroken human memory... The many overlapping charms are what make a trip to the mixed heritage site "Rock Islands and Southern Lagoon" so enjoyable.
Rock Islands and the South Lagoon (Republic of Palau)
| access | ： | From Palau International Airport to Koror Island (base for the Rock Islands) it is approximately 11km (approximately 19 minutes by car). |
|---|---|---|
| World Heritage Registration Year | ： | year 2012 |
| Types of World Heritage Sites | ： | Mixed Heritage |
| Registration Criteria | ： | - bear unique or rare testimony to a cultural tradition or a civilisation, living or extinct; - An outstanding example of traditional human settlements, land or sea use, or human interaction with the environment, characteristic of a culture (or cultures), especially when its survival is threatened by irresistible historical forces. - It includes a natural phenomenon or area of exceptional natural beauty and aesthetic elements. - They represent outstanding examples of important ongoing ecological and biological processes in the evolution and development of terrestrial, freshwater, coastal and marine ecosystems, and plant and animal communities. - contain natural habitats of the greatest importance for the conservation of biological diversity in the wild, including threatened species, of outstanding universal value from the scientific or conservation point of view; |
Travel writer/Toru Yoshihara
Palau enjoys a warm climate all year round, but the best time to visit is during the dry season, which runs from November to May. Well-equipped resort hotels are dotted around Koror, which serves as a base for visiting the Rock Islands of the Southern Lagoon. You can enjoy sightseeing at World Heritage sites while taking in the relaxed pace of life that is unique to the tropics!
*Some content was updated on June 9, 2022.
The contents published are accurate at the time of publication and are subject to change.
