prehistory lake - kakaban island

The island lake Kakaban is a n excepfora marine environment. An uplifting in the area during the holocene transgression, about 19000 yrs BC has left 5 sq kilometers of seawater trapped within a 50 meter (165 ft) ridge, runing the area into a landlocke marine lake. The only other know lake of such nature found in Palau, Micronesia, is a desert compared to Kakaban. Some of the strangest species and typical behaviors are observed in the lake. Trough millenimums, they have adapted into an ecosystem that is totaly unique to the brackish water environment. The lake is teeming with at least 4 species of stingless jelly fish including one of an upside down species of Cassiopea (psibbile Cassiopea Xamachana).

About three species of Halimeda green algae cover the bottom, and mangrove roots live side by side with tunicates, sponges, tube worms, bihalves, crustacean, anemones, sea cucumbers, sea snakes and at least five known species of gobies. Unidentified species are in abundance. Dr. Thomas Tomascik from Canada has aptly called this place a biological paradise.

The mystery of how the lake's plants and animals are able to survive in this isolated system is a subject that marine scientist and geologists bickers about. Thousand of baracudas, blue-fined tunas and big sharks are also found at Kakaban's Barracuda point.