Welcome to Sealand (3478536@Sealandofficial)
If you think you'd have to fly to the other side of the world to visit one of the most remote and smallest countries in existence, you probably haven't heard of the Principality of Sealand.
This unique sea fortress sits about 12 km east of Suffolk in the North Sea, but despite being close to Britain - it claims to be its own nation - and that claim is certainly supported by the few who live there. The Principality of Sealand even has its own flag and national anthem, currency, stamps and passports - and in case you weren't convinced of its sovereignty, there is even a football team for Zealand.
As BBC Travel explained, the principality was built in 1942 by the British government during World War II as a naval fort.
The platform, also known as Rough Tower, was used for various purposes until 1956, when it was vacated and remained empty.
However, this all changed in 1966 when a man named Paddy Roy Bates took over the fort.
Paddy needed a place to run his pirate radio station, Radio Essex.
Although he initially set up camp on Knock John, another derelict naval fort, he was forced to leave after Britain passed the Maritime Broadcasting Offenses Act 1967, intended to shut down offshore stations.
Due to the problems with the law, Paddy declared the fortress to be the Principality of Sealand - and not long after, his family moved there.
That's all she is:
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With Paddy's death at the age of 91, his son, Michael Bates, succeeded him in 2012 and he currently serves as head The state and government of the micro-nation - as well as the owner of a fishing business that exports seafood to Spain.
Michael even got married in Sealand in 1978 in a ceremony that included a helicopter landing on board the Princesses.
Like many countries, Zealand also has its disputes and painful history.
In 1968 Sealand fired defensive warning shots at the British Navy, when the military was sent to destroy all remaining forts in international waters.
As Roy was still a British citizen, he was issued a summons for trial under the UK's "Firearms Act".
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In 1978, Alexander Echenbach - the former prime minister of Zealand - hired some German and Dutch mercenaries to lead an attack on Zealand while Roy and his wife were in Austria.
Michael was taken hostage, but he managed to retake Sealand and capture Alexander and the mercenaries using weapons hidden on the dock.
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Not surprisingly, Sealand is not a place that can be visited easily and currently visits are not allowed and the chance of getting a visa there is slim.
If you do succeed, there's not much you can do there.
There isn't an abundance of accommodation options or a list of places to eat out.
Their government website states: "Due to the current international situation and other factors, visits to the Principality of Sealand are not normally permitted. Accordingly, the list of visa applications is closed for the time being."
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Visits to Sealand may not be possible soon, but you can still become Lord or Lady of the island for a fee of $36.
In addition, you can also purchase a Sealand ID card.
Although not officially recognized as a country, Prince Michael previously told the BBC that Sealand "still retains its independence" and that it continues to be populated by many residents, including two full-time security guards.
People from all over the world continue to send requests to the micro nation's officials asking them to join Zealand and leave behind the laws of the land.
"We don't live in a society where people like being told what to do - and everyone likes the idea of freedom and freedom from government," concluded Michael, "the world needs inspiring territories like ours - and there aren't many places like that."
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