Capitol of Palau

The Capitol of Palau sits on a hilltop above Melekeok, an unexpected echo of the United States Capitol planted in the Micronesian rainforest. The complex houses the Olbiil Era Kelulau (the national congress), the president's office, and the supreme court.

Visitors can walk around the grounds and admire the view across to the Pacific. There are no formal tours but the building is rarely busy and the air-conditioned lobby is a welcome break from the heat. Look for the traditional Palauan storyboards carved into the interior walls.

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A story
The grand domed capitol at Ngerulmud was completed in 2006 with funding from Taiwan. Critics call it wildly oversized for a country of 18,000 people; defenders say a nation deserves a proper seat of government regardless of its size.

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