We looked a while ago at some of the world’s largely unknown countries, such as Vanuatu and Tokealua. Well, as strange as it may seem, there are yet more countries out there which you probably haven’t heard of either.
Sealand
Photo Credit: misterbisson via Flickr
I have to confess that I once lived a few hundred miles away from here without knowing anything about its existence. It has been called the smallest nation in the world and it is really an artificial fortress island the British built during WWII. The current occupiers claim that it is an independent state, though. It was once the home to a “pirate” radio station and these days it lies within UK waters. The Bates family own it and one of them even ended up in court for firing warning shot to a British vessel which approached Sealand. It is unlikely to be the scene of a gigantic battle for independence any time soon, as no more than 5 people are thought to live here at any one time. [Read more…]