Great Bitter Lake

  • Micronations
  • Founded October 1967
  • Dissolved 24 May 1975

The Great Bitter Lake is a saltwater lake in the middle of the Suez Canal. During the Six-Day War between Egypt and Israel, fourteen cargo ships from eight different countries were trapped and could not go back or forth. A ceasefire was reached quickly but the blockade remained. In October of 1967 the trapped sailors founded the Great Bitter Lake Association: The aim was to cultivate friendships, organize events and regulate the exchange of goods. Suez Canal did not reopen till 1974, by then most of the ships were no longer operable and had to be towed away. Only two of the ships made it home to Hamburg, where they were greeted by 30.000 spectators.

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