Sahwartik and Sahwarlap Falls

Sahwartik and Sahwarlap are two falls on the same river system in southeastern Pohnpei, reached by walking up the stream bed itself rather than on a path, wading and scrambling over boulders between banks of dense growth. Sahwarlap is the larger, dropping into a wide pool. The route is unmarked and a guide from the landowning family is the practical way to find it. Pohnpei's interior is one of the wettest places on the planet, with rainfall on the peaks measured in metres a year, which is why the rivers here run hard even in the drier months.

What you actually see

• Sahwarlap - the larger fall dropping into a wide pool.
• Sahwartik - the smaller of the pair upstream.
• The river route - the approach made by wading rather than on a path.
• The valley growth - dense forest closing over the stream.

When to go

December to March is the drier season. Rain raises the river quickly and makes the wade dangerous. The forest is wet in every month.

Honest expectations

The approach is a genuine river scramble with no path, and it should not be attempted alone. Rain upstream raises the water fast. Landowner permission and fees apply.

Nearby

Nan Madol is east, and Kolonia is northwest.