MInerva Reef "Republic of Minerva"

 island, navigation beacon - marine

The Republic of Minerva was one of the few modern attempts at creating a sovereign micronation on the reclaimed land of an artificial island in 1972. The architect was Las Vegas real estate millionaire and political activist Michael Oliver, who went on to other similar attempts in the following decade.

Lithuanian-born Oliver formed a syndicate, the Ocean Life Research Foundation, which allegedly had some $100,000,000 for the project and had offices in New York and London. They anticipated a libertarian society with "no taxation, welfare, subsidies, or any form of economic interventionism."

In addition to tourism and fishing, the economy of the new nation would include light industry and other commerce. According to Glen Raphael, "The chief reason that the Minerva project failed was that the libertarians who were involved did not want to fight for their territory."

According to Reason, Minerva has been "more or less reclaimed by the sea." The site chosen for the Republic was the Minerva Reefs at 23°38′S 178°54′W in the Pacific Ocean.

The reef is claimed by both Fiji and Tonga as part of their territorial waters... and often subject to disputes and minor clashes.

Minerva Reefs / North Minerva (Teleki Tokelau) Navigational Beacon (destroyed)


The area is thought to have significant undersea reserves. It is a popular stop for yachties on the southbound trek to NZ.