Principality of Sealand, Artificial island with military platform in North Sea near Harwich, United Kingdom.
The Principality of Sealand is a former military platform made of steel and concrete rising on two hollow towers about 6 miles (10 kilometers) off the coast of Harwich in open water. The construction stands on legs roughly 60 feet (18 meters) tall and supports a deck the size of two tennis courts, surrounded by wind and waves.
The British Navy built this station in 1942 as HM Fort Roughs, an anti-aircraft position to defend the Thames Estuary against German bombers during World War II. After the war ended the military abandoned the site, which was then occupied by private individuals in 1967.
Since 1967 the platform has operated with its own flag, stamps, and titles of nobility granted to supporters worldwide. The small community considers itself an independent state and maintains ceremonies and traditions that visitors can witness during a stay.
The site lies in open water and can only be reached by boat, with crossings heavily dependent on weather and sea conditions. Anyone planning a visit should prepare for seasickness and unstable conditions, as the platform has no sheltered landing points.
A British court ruled in 1968 that the structure lies beyond national territorial waters, enabling claims of sovereignty. Since then there have been occupation attempts and even an armed incident recorded as a coup attempt in its history.
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