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The Republic of Palau, a chain of islands at the far western end of Micronesia, consists of nine inhabited islands and more than 700 small islets in the Philippine Sea. The archipelago contains a range of geological features but, when viewed from above, it is the archipelago's many turquoise coral reefs that command attention. The island chain is comprised of 459 sq km (179 sq mi) of dry land, and approximately 525 sq km (203 sq mi) of reefs spread through the ocean. NASA's Terra satellite acquired this view of Palau on 11 December 2012. Image courtesy of NASA.