Difference between revisions of "Westarctica"
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'''Westarctica''', officially the '''Grand Duchy of Westarctica''', is an area of desolate land in [[w:West Antarctica|Western Antarctica]] that was unclaimed until an American declared the area his own micronation, a declaration of status not recognized by established countries, in [[2001]]. The territory consists of [[w:Marie Byrd Land|Marie Byrd Land]] with a few additional claims and has no year round residents, although research stations have been located in the region. Westarctica was founded on a supposed loophole in the [[w:Antarctic Treaty System|Antarctic Treaty]]. The claim of micronation status has been used as a basis to mint and sell coins to collectors. | '''Westarctica''', officially the '''Grand Duchy of Westarctica''', is an area of desolate land in [[w:West Antarctica|Western Antarctica]] that was unclaimed until an American declared the area his own micronation, a declaration of status not recognized by established countries, in [[2001]]. The territory consists of [[w:Marie Byrd Land|Marie Byrd Land]] with a few additional claims and has no year round residents, although research stations have been located in the region. Westarctica was founded on a supposed loophole in the [[w:Antarctic Treaty System|Antarctic Treaty]]. The claim of micronation status has been used as a basis to mint and sell coins to collectors. | ||
Westarctica was founded on 02 November 2001 as a new country project by Travis McHenry in an effort to bring increased attention (albeit by theatrical means) to one of the most desolate and inhospitable regions on the planet. Over the years, Westarctica's prestige and notoriety ebbed and flowed, especially during [[2006]] - [[2010]] when Travis took a leave of absence from his position as chief executive | Westarctica was founded on 02 November 2001 as a new country project by Travis McHenry in an effort to bring increased attention (albeit by theatrical means) to one of the most desolate and inhospitable regions on the planet. Over the years, Westarctica's prestige and notoriety ebbed and flowed, especially during [[2006]] - [[2010]] when Travis took a leave of absence from his position as chief executive. | ||
On 05 December [[2014]], Westarctica was incorporated as a nonprofit public benefit corporation in the state of California with the express goal of increasing conservation efforts in Western Antarctica. | On 05 December [[2014]], Westarctica was incorporated as a nonprofit public benefit corporation in the state of California with the express goal of increasing conservation efforts in Western Antarctica. | ||
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== Territory == | == Territory == | ||
[[File: | [[File:Westarctica_Map.jpg|thumb|left|180px|Westarctica map.]] | ||
The bulk of Westarctican territory consists of [[ | The bulk of Westarctican territory consists of [[Marie Byrd Land]]; this was the original territory claimed. It was defined as all land south of 60° S and between 90° W and 150° W. This is between the claim of Chile and the claim of New Zealand. The original capital was named Achilles. Later on, the [[Balleny Islands]] and [[Peter I Island]] were annexed. Peter I Island was declared the new capital of Westarctica. After the reformation of the Grand Duchy into a protectorate (October 2010) Grand Duke Travis reduced the Westarctican claim in order to join the [[Antarctic Micronational Union]] and recognize other micronational claims in West-Antarctica. This decision was made official after the signing of the [[West-Antarctic Treaty]]. | ||