41°26′25″N 113°25′38″W / 41.440230°N 113.42721°W / 41.440230; -113.42721

Republic of Zaqistan
Micronation (unrecognized entity)
Claimed byZaq Landsberg
Dates claimedNovember 19, 2005 (2005-November-19)–present

Zaqistan, officially the Republic of Zaqistan, is a micronation in Box Elder County, Utah, created in 2005 by self-declared president Zaq Landsberg.[1] The land has no residents or buildings on it, although Landsberg and volunteers have installed monuments and a border patrol gate, and he refers to the money sent yearly to the State of Utah for the property not as taxes but instead a "tribute" which he pays to maintain peaceful foreign relations.[2] Its state department does not accept applications for citizenship, though previously it was granted for free to anyone who asked, with the option of a passport for a suggested fee of US$50.[2][3]

Landsberg, a sculptor who lives in Brooklyn, won the land in an eBay auction for the minimum bid of $610 in July 2005.[2] Its size has been variously described as 2 acres (8,090 m2)[2][3] and 4 acres.[1][4] The nearest town is Montello, Nevada, about 60 miles (100 km) away.[1][2]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c Cabrero, Alex (October 19, 2015). "New York man creates 'sovereign nation' in Box Elder County". KSL-TV. Retrieved November 25, 2018.
  2. ^ a b c d e Free, Cathy (October 17, 2015). "New Yorker Zaq Landsberg Creates His Own Country Called Zaqistan in Remote Utah Desert – But He Doesn't Live There". People. Retrieved November 25, 2018.
  3. ^ a b Abu, Mike (October 29, 2015). "A Trip to Zaqistan, One Man's 'Sovereign Nation' in the Middle of the Utah Desert". Vice. Retrieved November 25, 2018.
  4. ^ Minutaglio, Rose (October 26, 2015). "New Yorker Creates His Own Sovereign Nation in Remote Utah Backcountry". People. Retrieved November 25, 2018.

Further reading

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