The beautiful landscapes of Niue, a small island nation that does not belong to the UN

If I were ever asked what my idea of ​​paradise is in terms of landscapes, I would probably say one word: Galicia.

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However, many people have an even more idyllic idea of ​​paradise, with beautiful beaches, palm trees, turquoise waters, and the like. Arguably, there's a country that closely resembles that idea of ​​paradise: it's called Niue, and many people haven't even heard of it, as it's located in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, 2,400 kilometers northeast of New Zealand. The island was initially populated by Polynesians over a millennium ago. The first European to reach the place was the British navigator James Cook in 1774, who wasn't very well received.

In the 19th century, Niue became a British protectorate and in 1901 it became a territory of New Zealand. Despite its remote location, this small country participated in the First World War with 150 soldiers, all of them volunteers (a large number for a country of only 4,000 inhabitants). They served in the New Zealand Army, first in Egypt and then in France and Belgium, where many of them fell ill due to the cold climate they were not used to. In total, 15 Niuean soldiers died in that war, which was the country's last.

World War II spared this small territory. Niue reached its peak population of 5,200 in 1966. Since then, there has been significant emigration to New Zealand. Niue was granted free association status with New Zealand in 1974. Today, the country has fewer than 2,000 inhabitants, making it one of the most sparsely populated countries in the world. It just so happens that Niue is not a member of the UN. In September 2023, the United States recognized Niue as a sovereign state, in an attempt to curb the influence of communist China in Oceania. Today, Niue relies primarily on tourism, both for those seeking beautiful beaches and for scuba diving enthusiasts. You can see some images of that beautiful country here, published by Niue Tourism.

Avaiki Cave, in the west of the island.

The Anaana viewpoint, in the southwest of the island.

The impressive limestone canyon of Matapa Chasm, in the north of the island.

The Limu natural pools in northwest Niue.

Thanks to its very low pollution, Niue is an excellent place for stargazing. The island was declared the first "Dark Sky Nation" by the International Dark-Sky Association, thanks to its excellent starry skies.

Niue is also an excellent spot for whale watching. Here we see two near Alofi, on the island's west coast.

Niue is known for the spectacular photos scuba divers take in its waters. This one was taken near Alofi.

Palaha Cave, in Tuapa, in the northwest of the island.

Another image of the Anaana viewpoint.

A picture of the beaches of Niue.