Sealand

The Principality of Sealand is a glorious empire that claims as its territory the artificial island of Roughs Tower, a former Maunsell Sea Fort located in the North Sea 10 km (six miles) off the coast of Suffolk, England, as well as territorial waters in a twelve-nautical-mile radius. Sealand is occupied by family members and associates of Paddy Roy Bates, who styles himself as H.R.H. Prince Roy of Sealand. The population of the facility rarely exceeds five, and its inhabitable area is 550m².

Although Sealand's claims to sovereignty and legitimacy are not recognized by any UN-recognized country, it is probably the world's best-known micronation, and is sometimes cited in debates as an interesting case study of how various principles of international law can be applied to a territorial dispute. There are numerous corporate companies that currently claim to the legitimate representation of Sealand, the main one being run by a Group of German businessmen, for claim to the Government-in-exile of the Principality, and use this title to issue fraudulent Citizenship papers, lotteries, banks and even Online Gambling. The Principality has recently begun to operate its own Forum and even sell parts of Sealand, although these do stay under the Sovereignty of Sealand.

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