Although many utopian societies seem doomed from the outset, the Republic of Minerva was up against a unique challenge: creating a libertarian micro-nation on reclaimed reefs in the Pacific Ocean, when the land already had an owner.
Situated 250 miles from Tonga, the Republic of Minerva was conceived by wealthy Nevada real estate mogul Michael Oliver. According to Oliver, his organization the Ocean Life Research Foundation had raised $100 million to create a utopian society on Pacific reefs. Oliver's plan was to create a micro-nation without taxes, welfare or economic intervention, that lived chiefly off of tourism and fishing.
In 1971, Minerva's construction began by bringing barges of sand to the reefs to raise them out of the ocean. Oliver then led a conference of neighboring states in which he delcared his intentions, only to find out that Tonga had issued a claim over the land. At that point, Oliver and his organization jumped the gun a little bit. Ignoring other claims to Minerva, Oliver issued a declaration of independence and created a coin currency for his new nation and was all set to launch into his experiment in nation building.
Unfortunately, the King of Tonga did not accept the new country's legitimacy, and issued a document laying official claim to the reefs. Within months, representatives from Tonga made it clear they were in control of the reefs, and Oliver and his followers left without a fight.
Since that time, a few other groups have tried to set up shop on the islands of Minerva, only to be rebuffed once again by the Tongan government. Almost all of the land brought to the reefs has since been reclaimed by the Pacific Ocean.
Read more:
Republic of Minerva Tonga | Atlas Obscura
- Just mindblowing: Northland chopper crews courage, skill praised ... - Northern Advocate - May 18th, 2023 [May 18th, 2023]
- 4 days on the Minerva Reefs, then onto Fiji Sailing Logic - March 4th, 2023 [March 4th, 2023]
- Republic of Minerva - Wikipedia - March 4th, 2023 [March 4th, 2023]
- Fiji, Tonga war over Minerva Reef | Stuff.co.nz - March 4th, 2023 [March 4th, 2023]
- Battle of Grand Port - Wikipedia - December 23rd, 2022 [December 23rd, 2022]
- AP News Digest 3 am - Newsday - December 12th, 2022 [December 12th, 2022]
- People who tried to start own countries including squatters, farmers and icon's brother - Daily Star - July 17th, 2022 [July 17th, 2022]
- Minerva Reefs - GlobalSecurity.org - March 20th, 2021 [March 20th, 2021]
- South Minerva Reef SVWHISTLER - March 20th, 2021 [March 20th, 2021]
- Republic of Minerva - MicroWiki - March 20th, 2021 [March 20th, 2021]
- Minerva Reefs Travel guide at Wikivoyage - May 4th, 2020 [May 4th, 2020]
- Fiji and Tonga to hold talks on the Minerva Reef - FBC News - February 19th, 2020 [February 19th, 2020]
- North Minerva Reef | YIT - December 11th, 2019 [December 11th, 2019]
- Minerva Reefs Wikipedia | Prometheism.net - August 25th, 2017 [August 25th, 2017]
- Can China Be Taken Seriously on its 'Word' to Negotiate Disputed Territory? - The Diplomat - August 20th, 2017 [August 20th, 2017]
- Andaman And Nicobar Islands - Blue Seas, Virgin Islands And Colonial Past - Andhrawishesh (blog) - August 3rd, 2017 [August 3rd, 2017]
- Lau Islands - Wikipedia - June 1st, 2017 [June 1st, 2017]
- A list of Caribbean Shipwrecks | Pirate Shipwrecks ... - March 29th, 2017 [March 29th, 2017]
- No threat from 6.6 earthquake south of Tonga - Matangi Tonga - February 24th, 2017 [February 24th, 2017]
- Minerva Reefs - Wikipedia - February 18th, 2017 [February 18th, 2017]
- FijiTonga relations - Wikipedia - December 23rd, 2016 [December 23rd, 2016]
- Balvenie: Magical Moments at Minerva Reef.. November 2016 - December 8th, 2016 [December 8th, 2016]
- Chesterfield Islands - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia - October 17th, 2016 [October 17th, 2016]
- The Queen & the Republic of Minerva - September 22nd, 2016 [September 22nd, 2016]
- FijiTonga relations - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia - September 20th, 2016 [September 20th, 2016]
- Minerva - MicroWiki - Wikia - August 23rd, 2016 [August 23rd, 2016]
- Minerva Reefs - Surfer's Path - July 29th, 2016 [July 29th, 2016]
- Minerva Reefs : Map (The Full Wiki) - June 22nd, 2016 [June 22nd, 2016]
- Minerva Reefs - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia - June 21st, 2016 [June 21st, 2016]
- The Danger and Bounty of the Minerva Reefs - June 21st, 2016 [June 21st, 2016]
- Queensland gold - gold maps - June 21st, 2016 [June 21st, 2016]
- Minerva Reef Directions | Island Cruising Association - June 12th, 2016 [June 12th, 2016]