Menke Ruins

Menke lies in the interior of Kosrae, a set of basalt platforms and terraces in the forest that are held to have been a ritual site associated with Sinlaku, the goddess of agriculture, and it is reached by walking up a river through a stand of Ka trees, a species almost unique to Kosrae. The walk is the greater part of the experience: wading, mud and forest for a couple of hours each way.

What to look for

• The basalt platforms - the terraces and structures in the forest.
• The Sinlaku association - the site's link to the agricultural goddess.
• The Ka forest - the stand of trees the route passes through.
• The river walk - a couple of hours of wading each way.

When to go

December to March is the drier season. Rain raises the river and can cancel the walk. Kosrae is wet in every month.

Good to know

The walk is a genuine wade with mud and slippery rock and takes a couple of hours each way. A guide is required and fees go to landowners. The ruins themselves are heavily overgrown.

Nearby

Utwe is south, and Lelu is northeast.

Key facts