Saint Raphael Lake

Saint Raphael Lake (San Raflu) is a small rural area just outside the locality of Kerċem, at the south-west of the island of Gozo.

The area centers around a man made hole which gathers water and is home to several different marine organisms.

The area boasts of a diversity of flora and fauna throughout the year, making it an ecological place of high importance.

This is because the soil is quite fertile, and that there are several patches of land which are left unused, and therefore it is very easy for wildlife to regenerate and grow.

Although some say that the presence of goldfish was reported in the pond, there has certainly been an introduction of an alien species of fish, the Gambusia Holbrooki, also known as the Eastern Mosquitofish.

Originally, the Maltese native frog (Discoglossus pictus) inhabited the pond, but today an alien species almost completely ruined and replaced it.

It is also the one which has most interfered with the natural landscape of the area, as it was responsible for the demolition of stretches of garrigue and agricultural land.

Therefore, the quarry contributed heavily to increasing the levels of soil erosion and dispersal in the area, whilst also ruining the natural landscape and environment.