| Republic of Zaqistan | |
|---|---|
| Micronation (unrecognized entity) | |
| Claimed by | Zaq Landsberg |
| Dates claimed | November 19, 2005 (2005-November-19)–present |
| Website www  | |
41°26′25″N 113°25′38″W / 41.440230°N 113.42721°W / 41.440230; -113.42721
Zaqistan, officially the Republic of Zaqistan, is a micronation in Box Elder County, Utah, created in 2005 by self-declared president Zaq Landsberg. 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. 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.
Landsberg, a sculptor who lives in Brooklyn, won the land in an eBay auction for the minimum bid of $610 in July 2005. Its size has been variously described as 2 acres (8,090 m) and 4 acres. The nearest town is Montello, Nevada, about 60 miles (100 km) away.
See also
References
- ^ Cabrero, Alex (October 19, 2015). "New York man creates 'sovereign nation' in Box Elder County". KSL-TV. Retrieved November 25, 2018.
- ^ 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.
- ^ 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.
- Minutaglio, Rose (October 26, 2015). "New Yorker Creates His Own Sovereign Nation in Remote Utah Backcountry". People. Retrieved November 25, 2018.
Further reading
- Alex Cabrero (October 20, 2015), "Man creates Republic of Zaqistan in Box Elder County", Deseret News
- Brian Noonan and Zaq Landsberg (October 25, 2015). Zaq Landsberg interview (MP3) (Radio show archive). Chicago: WGN-AM radio. Event occurs at 35:00. Retrieved 2015-10-27.
- Cynthia Okoroafor (October 26, 2015), "There's more to micronations than lunacy", Ventures Africa
- Brenna Visser (October 26, 2015), "Brenna's Take on the News: Zaqistan and Marco Rubio", The Western Front, Bellingham, Washington: Western Washington University, archived from the original on August 13, 2020, retrieved May 1, 2020
- Jason Silverstein (October 27, 2015), "Welcome to Zaqistan! New York artist founds his own nation in Utah desert — and keeps it going for a decade", New York Daily News
- Miranda Lorenc (September 29, 2016). "Did you know there's a micro-nation in Utah? Believe it, it's called Zaqistan". The Utah Statesman. Logan, Utah: Utah State University.
- Andrew Whalen (April 10, 2020). "Micronations in the United States Prepare for Coronavirus". Newsweek – via MSN.
- Candice Brown (September 22, 2016). "Tips for traveling to Utah's Republic of Zaqistan: Bring gas, water, patience". Standard-Examiner. Ogden, Utah.
External links
- Official website
- Utah's Republic of Zagistan in Box Elder Co. is getting renewed attention on YouTube, upload by KSL-TV, September 2016, with exhibit at Central Utah Art Center
