<p><br> The picturesque nation of Palau forms an island chain southeast of the Philippines roughly 125 miles (200 kilometers) long. A trust territory of the United States from 1947 until 1994, this Micronesian archipelago is made up of eight large islands and some 250 islets.</p>

Palau's Rock Islands


The picturesque nation of Palau forms an island chain southeast of the Philippines roughly 125 miles (200 kilometers) long. A trust territory of the United States from 1947 until 1994, this Micronesian archipelago is made up of eight large islands and some 250 islets.

Photograph by Stephen Alvarez

Palau Photos

See photos of Palau in this photo gallery from National Geographic.

Read This Next

10 of the best remote getaways in the Indian Ocean
A guide to island-hopping in the Seychelles
10 of the best hotels in Bali, Indonesia's spiritual island

Go Further

Subscriber Exclusive Content

Why are people so dang obsessed with Mars?

How viruses shape our world

The era of greyhound racing in the U.S. is coming to an end

See how people have imagined life on Mars through history

See how NASA’s new Mars rover will explore the red planet

Why are people so dang obsessed with Mars?

How viruses shape our world

The era of greyhound racing in the U.S. is coming to an end

See how people have imagined life on Mars through history

See how NASA’s new Mars rover will explore the red planet

Why are people so dang obsessed with Mars?

How viruses shape our world

The era of greyhound racing in the U.S. is coming to an end

See how people have imagined life on Mars through history

See how NASA’s new Mars rover will explore the red planet