Sealand

  • Micronations
  • Independence declared 2 September 1967
  • Area 4000 m²
  • Founder Roy Bates
  • Population 27

The Principality of Sealand is located on an anti-aircraft defense gun platform which was built in 1943 but fell into disuse after WWII. At the time it was located in international territorial waters, approximately 12 kilometres off the coast of England. In 1967 Former British major Roy Bates seized the platform from a group of pirate radio broadcasters with the intention of setting up his own station at the site, but he never made any broadcasts. Instead he declared the platforms independence and named it the Principality of Sealand. Since 1987, Sealand lies within the territorial waters of the United Kingdom.

Explore De Facto

Northern Cyprus

The Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (Turkish: Kuzey Kıbrıs Türk Cumhuriyeti), is a de facto state that comprises the northeastern portion of the island of Cyprus. It unilaterally declared independence in 1983, and is recognized only by Turkey. A buffer zone under the control of the United Nations stretches between Northern Cyprus and the rest of the island and divides Nicosia, the island's largest city and capital. Attempts to reach a solution to the Cyprus dispute have been unsuccessful. The Turkish Army maintains a large force in Northern Cyprus.

Glorioso Islands

The Glorieuses lie north of Madagaskar and is made up of Grande Glorieuse, Île du Lys and eight rock islets—together they form a coral reef and a lagoon. In 1880 Frenchman Hippolyte Caltaux settled and started a coconut plantation on the largest island, Grande Glorieuse. In the late 19th century the islands were officially claimed by the French and became part of the colony of Mayotte, an insular department of France in the Indian Ocean. The Comores and Madagaskar both claim the islands but the French reinstated their claim when the France–Seychelles Maritime Boundary Agreement was drawn in 2001. Fifteen soldiers are stationed on the islands to ensure the sovereignty of France.

EnenKio

The Kingdom of EnenKio (meaning island of the orange flower), is an atoll located near the Marshall islands that claimed its sovereignty in 1994 after nearly a century of dispute with various colonial powers. The self-declared Kingdom of EnenKio has also claimed Wake Island as a separate sovereign nation and has issued passports. In 1997 the Dominion of Melchizedek, another micronation which was engaged in financial fraud, reported that the two had entered into relations. In 2000, Robert Moore, who claimed to be the head of state of EnenKio, was prevented by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission from fraudulently issuing bonds for the non-existent nation.