Lake Ngardok. 18/10/02. Melekeok. 500 ha. 07°31'N 134°36'E. Nature Reserve. A small, natural, freshwater lake on Babeldaob island with some swamp vegetation and is the largest permanent freshwater body in Palau and the largest natural freshwater lake in the bioregional context. The site includes the entire protected Nature Reserve and catchment of the lake and thus also includes several streams and small areas of riverine marsh and freshwater swamp forest as well. It supports indigenous fishes representative of Palauan fish fauna and has a small breeding population of the CITES-Appendix I listed estuarine crocodile (Crocodylus porosus). The site includes bird species of conservation value such as the endemic Palau Fruit Dove (Ptilinopus pelewensis), Palau Fantail (Rhipidura lepida), Palau Flycatcher (Myiagra erythrops), and Palau Ground Dove (Gallicolumba canifrons). The lake is particularly important to the small population of Melekeok State for control of floods and maintenance of water quality. It is the only important source of water supply for Melekeok State and the National Capitol of Palau. The site is strictly utilized for educational awareness and scientific research and there are no other forms of landuse in the surrounding areas, all being part of the Reserve .Ramsar site no. 1232. Most recent RIS information: 2012.