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World's smallest country up for sale!

Many of us remember learning at school that the world’s largest country is Russia and the smallest is Vatican City. However, there seems to be another claimant of title of world’s smallest country - and it’s also for sale.

The Principality of Sealand is an abandoned WWII anti- aircraft defense base, which measures around 550 square meters. It’s supported by two huge concrete towers and can only be reached by boat or helicopter. Sealand is located about seven miles off the coast of Harwich, England.

Sealand was occupied by a former British Army major, Paddy Roy Bates, in 1967 who declared it an independent state – he later introduced passports, currency and a national anthem. Sealand has even had problems with people trying to forge its passports! The UK declared that Sealand was outside UK territorial waters, so Sealand has just about succeeded in clinging to its status as an independent state.

But now Sealand is for sale, partly due to a fire that severely damaged the structure in 2006, for a price tag rumored to be around $997 million – although other offers may be considered. Sealand is apparently described in the listing as a “micronation”. The general public isn’t allowed to visit Sealand – although I imagine if you were making an offer to buy the place, they would have to show you around.

It isn’t the first time that someone has tried to declare their town or home as an independent country. If you haven’t ever been there, the small town of Hay-on-Wye which straddles the border between England and Wales, boasts about 30 second hand bookshops, and is a fascinating place to visit.

The town has become known as the “Town of Books” and is the forerunner of several other “booktowns” throughout the world, partly due to the foresight of Richard Booth who opened the first bookshop in the town in 1961.

One of several publicity stunts that Booth undertook was to declare home rule for Hay and to declare Hay as an Independent Kingdom on April 1st, 1977 – April Fool’s Day, of course. You can purchase the title of Duke or Duchess of the town, as well as a passport to Hay for about $100. I have been to Hay several times but have no intention of taking out citizenship!

Has anybody actually visited Sealand? Or has anyone visited any other self-proclaimed nations? There’s even a guidebook to these places: Micronations published by Lonely Planet books.

Guest entry by Mancunian

Posted by James Trotta at August 26, 2007 1:31 PM | TrackBack