The diversity of micronations
Micronations are usually expressions of political protest, theoretical experimentation, personal entertainment, artistic expression or the performance of criminal activities. Some micronations issue postage stamps, coins, and medals, have flags, and issue passports. The latest list of micronations reports how diverse they are, both in location and in political and social alliance.
The Republic of Whangamomona was formed as a promoter of tourism in 1989, in a rural New Zealand town. Locals were disappointed when the government revealed plans to move the district boundaries from the area. A goat and a poodle are among the elected presidents. Visitors receive a passport from Whangamomona.
In 1978 the Aeterna Lucina micronation was created, within the borders of Australia. Paul Baron Neuman is your self-proclaimed baron. Several business associates were charged in 1990 with land and visa fraud.
In 1980, Aromoana was established when a small New Zealand community declared itself independent, as an objection against building an aluminum smelter on nearby land.
In 1981 Atlantium was declared a global sovereignty group based in Australia, founded by George Francis Cruishank.
Established in 2008, Austenasia has three private estates and a constitutional monarchy. They declared independence in South London, under the leadership of Johathan Austen.
Later elected to Tasmania’s state parliament, John Charlton Rudge, an eccentric and self-proclaimed duke, founded Avram in the 1980s. He claims it is not territorial.
With the intention of reviving the British colony of the same name, British West Florida was formed in 2005.
Barony of Caux, an absolute feudal barony, was formed in 2001. It has around 80 subjects around the world. The Baron, John V Corbett, resides in Ontario, Canada.
The Republic of the Shell, formed in 1982 in the Florida Keys, claimed independence from the United States, under the leadership of Dennis Wardlow.
Run from a trailer park in Norfolk, England, by Nick Copeman, Copeman Empire was created in 2003. Copeman calls himself SM King Nicholas 1.
Established in 2004, the Gay and Lesbian Kingdom of the Coral Sea Islands is a political protest, led by Dale Anderson, in southeastern Queensland, Australia.
Elleore was formed in 1944, by a group of school teachers, as a summer camp on the island of Elleore, Denmark.
Claiming Wake Atoll in the Marshall Islands, EnenKio, was formed in 1994. A scam for selling passports and diplomatic papers has been declared.
Stuart Hill declared Forvik, an islet in the Shetlands and independent from Scotland in 2008.
Frestonia was created through a legal dispute in 1977, over Heathcote Willims’ unauthorized interpretation of his work The Immortalist.
With its capital in Iowa, the Global Country of World Peace was formed in 2000. It is a borderless country for peace-loving people everywhere, says Maharaja Adhiraj Rajaraam.
Formed in 2002, Hajducka Repoblika Mijata Tomica is a protest project based in Bosnia and Herzegovina. It was created when there were problems with the local electricity supply.
Richard Booth declared Hay-on-Wye independent in Wales in 1977, as a publicity stunt.
A large farm in Western Australia is known as the Hutt River Province. It was created in 1970.
A ball-shaped house built by artist Edwin Lipburger and located in Vienna’s Prater, Kugelmugel was formed in 1984. Lipburger was protesting against building permits.
Ladonia, was created by the Swedish artist Lars Viks in 1980, as the home of sculptors in the northwest of Skane.
Lagoan Isles, 2005, is run by the self-proclaimed Grand Duke Louis Stephans. He claims that the three small islands in Portsmouth Pond are not owned by the local council.
L’Anse-Saint-Jean was formed by Denys Tremblay in 1997, to promote tourism in a small town in Quebec.
Kingdom of Lovely was created in 2004 by Danny Wallace, as part of the BBC television series How to Start Your Own Country. This micronation is based on the Internet.
Lundy, an island off the west coast of England, has had semi-independent status under various warlords. Established in 1925.
Melchizedek, established in 1986, is well known for facilitating large-scale bank fraud in many different parts of the world. It is directed by Richard James McDonald.
Formed by Kevin Baugh in 1977, Molassia occupies a semi-rural residential area in Nevada. Baugh uses poker chips for money.
Northern Forest Archipelago, formed in 1998, has an environmental focus and is located in the northeastern United States. He has several privately owned properties in the Northern Forest area of New York State.
Nova Roma is an organization of Roman Renaissance, founded in 1998.
Another Kingdom of the World, formed in 1996, is an absolute monarchy / matriarchy where women rule over all men, located in the Czech Republic.
Pescenica, set in the 1990s, is a parodic satirical project, ruled by the Croatian-based dictator Zeljko Malnar.
Rainbow Creek was formed in 1979, when Tomas Barnes was separated from Victoria, Australia, due to damage to farmland caused by flooding.
Established in 1947, Saugeais is an officially licensed micronation located in eastern France.
Paddy Roy Bates, also known as His Royal Highness Prince Roy, seized Sealand in 1967. It is located in the ocean, as a WWII man-made base off the coast of England.
Serboga, formed in 954, claims that it has never been part of the modern Italian state.
Robert Ben Madison created Talossa as a bedroom kingdom in 1979, in Wisconsin.
Created in 1997, Uzupis in Lithuania flies its own flag, has its own currency, president and constitution.
Vikesland was founded in Canada in 2005, for the purpose of a television documentary.
Valtio was formed by Ari Peltonen in 2006, as a joke. It is located in Finland.
In 1994 Wanstonia was formulated by protesters against the M11 motorway link road in north-east London.
Waveland was founded in 1997. It is located on a rocky islet in the North Atlantic, to protest the oil extraction in the area.
Westarctica, established in 1989, claims a large chunk of unclaimed land in Marie Byrd Land, Antarctica.
Wirtland is an experiment in the legitimacy and self-sustainability of a country without its own soil. It transcends national borders and was formulated in 2008.
