Nauru

The Republic of Nauru is the smallest republic and smallest island state in the world. It is also the smallest island of Oceania. Nauru became independent from Australia in 1968. One of the sights is the Nauru military museum. Exports of phosphates from Nauru started in the last century. This made Nauru and the residents more prosperous. The residents no longer paid taxes. They were flown to Australia for free medical care. The residents received part of the income from phosphate sales. At the end of the last century it appeared that the phosphate reserves were not unlimited. Large parts of Nauru have now been plowed into a moon landscape. Even the president's house has since been demolished to search for phosphates.