Republic of Minerva Coral Reefs (photo)

Republic of Minerva North Reef

Republic of Minerva South Reef

The Republic of Minerva is an unrecognized micro-state, proclaimed on the coral reefs of Minerva south of the Fiji Islands on January 19, 1972.

The founder of the republic was the American millionaire of Lithuanian origin Michael Oliver. As he assumed, the new state would be founded “without taxes, benefits and subsidies, and the main forms of income for its inhabitants would be fishing, tourism and light industry.

In 1971, sand barges arrived from Australia to create an artificial island, and the construction of a city called Sea City (Sea City).

On the construction of the island was spent 200 thousand dollars and on January 19, 1972, the republic declared its independence and elected President Morris S. Davis. The state also received its own flag, anthem and currency.

On February 24, 1972, the State of Tonga declared the reefs and the adjacent waters its own, and in November 2005, the Republic of Fiji also declared its claims to Minerva. And despite all these events, Morris S. Davis continues to consider himself the president of Minerva …

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Republic of Minerva North Reef (1252 downloads )
Republic of Minerva South Reef (1166 downloads )