I t's not very often we can sum up the architecture of an entire country with just one structure, but Sealand is an unusual kind of country.
It starts with the Second World War when the United Kingdom erected a platform in the ocean between it, and Belgium, which was occupied at the time by England's then-enemy, Germany. The point of this structure was to serve as an early warning post, and protect vital shipping routes up the Thames River. It wasn't armed well enough to actually have an impact if Germany chose to fully invade the British Isles, but it's 200 servicemen could certainly shoot down aircraft when necessary.
When the war ended, the British military left the platform and didn't think much about it until a British family decided to make its home there in 1967. Due to the fact that the platform was built in international waters, and the British government had abandoned it for over 20 years, the new inhabitants declared it an independent nation-state. The Principality of Sealand was born amid the roiling waters between England and Germany.
It issues its own stamps, currency, and passports, and has a full system of laws and regulations. Lacking any natural resources or other means of support, it took advantage of the virtual economy that developed in the late 1990's to become a host for internet web sites that were not welcome elsewhere, or that needed to be housed in a very secure location.
That's not to say that the history of Sealand has been smooth sailing. The nation has fought off armed invaders, survived a kidnapping, and won a number of legal challenges. At this time, it appears that the people living on the platform will continue to do so indefinitely, having found the proper loopholes which have confounded every attempt to discredit them.
bingo
Tuesday, January 9th, 2007 @ 6:09pm
HEY.. lets all escape the rat race of city life and build ourselves a tower!! Just find the outer limits of a governments reach and a shallow area in which to build and bingobongo.. you got yourself a nation
Hendrik S.
Tuesday, December 28th, 2004 @ 2:28am
Rating: Three stars. A great idea - However, the platform is in great need of modernization and some much needed paint.
Fabian M.
Sunday, November 7th, 2004 @ 3:35am
Rating: Five stars. Looks quite nice - found a place for the rest of my life. ;)
Chuck N.
Thursday, June 17th, 2004 @ 7:10pm
Rating: Four stars. Great idea. I bet a lot of people wish they could do the same.
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New York, United States
bingo
Hendrik S.
Three stars.
Five stars.
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