Lake Ngardok
Encyclopedia
Lake Ngardok is a lake
on the Palau
an island of Babeldaob
, in the State of Melekeok
. It is the largest natural freshwater lake in all of the islands of Micronesia
. The lake and the marshes surrounding it are a refuge for the endangered saltwater crocodile
(ius), and it is an important breeding location for them. The Ngerdorch River
serves as a route that connects crocodiles with the sea. The lake is approximately 493 hectares with an ecosystem provides a habitat for plants, wildlife, and birds, some of which are found only in the Palau
Islands. These include the endemic Palau Fruit Dove (biib), Palau Fantail
(melimdelebdeb), Micronesian Imperial-Pigeon
(belochel) , Common Moorhen
s and Pacific Black Duck
s (both called debar), Palau Flycatcher (charmelachull), and a fruit bat
species (olik).
The Chief Council of Melekeok State has established the Ngardok Nature Reserve to protect the watershed's slow degragating process, because the importance of the forests are critical to preserving the water quality in the lake. The lake however will soon be established as a reservoir for Palau's New National Capitol in Melekeok.
Lake
A lake is a body of relatively still fresh or salt water of considerable size, localized in a basin, that is surrounded by land. Lakes are inland and not part of the ocean and therefore are distinct from lagoons, and are larger and deeper than ponds. Lakes can be contrasted with rivers or streams,...
on the Palau
Palau
Palau , officially the Republic of Palau , is an island nation in the Pacific Ocean, east of the Philippines and south of Tokyo. In 1978, after three decades as being part of the United Nations trusteeship, Palau chose independence instead of becoming part of the Federated States of Micronesia, a...
an island of Babeldaob
Babeldaob
Babeldaob is the largest island in the island nation of Palau. Its area, 331 km² , makes up over 70% of the area of the entire country, and about 30% of the population, with about 6,000 people living there...
, in the State of Melekeok
Melekeok
Melekeok is a town in the State of Melekeok . It is located on the east coast of Palau's largest island, Babeldaob...
. It is the largest natural freshwater lake in all of the islands of Micronesia
Micronesia
Micronesia is a subregion of Oceania, comprising thousands of small islands in the western Pacific Ocean. It is distinct from Melanesia to the south, and Polynesia to the east. The Philippines lie to the west, and Indonesia to the southwest....
. The lake and the marshes surrounding it are a refuge for the endangered saltwater crocodile
Saltwater Crocodile
The saltwater crocodile, also known as estuarine or Indo-Pacific crocodile, is the largest of all living reptiles...
(ius), and it is an important breeding location for them. The Ngerdorch River
Ngerdorch River
The river that runs from Lake Ngardok to the sea. The river runs through the states of Melekeok and Ngchesar. It's one of the Republic of Palau's largest rivers....
serves as a route that connects crocodiles with the sea. The lake is approximately 493 hectares with an ecosystem provides a habitat for plants, wildlife, and birds, some of which are found only in the Palau
Palau
Palau , officially the Republic of Palau , is an island nation in the Pacific Ocean, east of the Philippines and south of Tokyo. In 1978, after three decades as being part of the United Nations trusteeship, Palau chose independence instead of becoming part of the Federated States of Micronesia, a...
Islands. These include the endemic Palau Fruit Dove (biib), Palau Fantail
Palau Fantail
The Palau Fantail is a species of bird in the Rhipiduridae family.It is endemic to Palau.Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests.-References:...
(melimdelebdeb), Micronesian Imperial-Pigeon
Micronesian Imperial-pigeon
The Micronesian Imperial Pigeon is a species of bird in the Columbidae family. It is found in Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Nauru, and Palau....
(belochel) , Common Moorhen
Common Moorhen
The Common Moorhen is a bird in the Rallidae family with an almost worldwide distribution. The North and South American Committees of the AOU and the IOC have voted on or before July 2011 to split the American forms into a new species Common Gallinule, however, no other committee has voted to...
s and Pacific Black Duck
Pacific Black Duck
The Pacific Black Duck is a dabbling duck found in much of Indonesia, New Guinea, Australia, New Zealand, and many islands in the southwestern Pacific, reaching to the Caroline Islands in the north and French Polynesia in the east. It is usually called the Grey Duck in New Zealand...
s (both called debar), Palau Flycatcher (charmelachull), and a fruit bat
Fruit Bat
Fruit Bat can refer to:* Megabats, a species of bat which eats fruit* Les "Fruitbat" Carter, guitarist of Carter the Unstoppable Sex Machine* Fruit Bats , an American band...
species (olik).
The Chief Council of Melekeok State has established the Ngardok Nature Reserve to protect the watershed's slow degragating process, because the importance of the forests are critical to preserving the water quality in the lake. The lake however will soon be established as a reservoir for Palau's New National Capitol in Melekeok.