Micronations: Run your own country

This micronation with a superb ocean view looks to be the size of two tennis courts. Paddy Bates and his family occupied the old WWII North Sea anti-aircraft fortress Roughs Towers in 1967 - and claimed it as an independent state a few years later. Not recognized by any state in the world, Sealand nevertheless has its own flag and currency, and is ruled today by Prince Michael.

A dream come true for Danish hippies and perhaps the best-known micronation, Christiania was created in a squatted military neighborhood of the Danish capital Copenhagen in 1971. Artists, idealists and dropouts from all over Europe proclaimed the area autonomous. Over the years, the Freetown was a recurring source of controversy with city authorities over its cannabis trade.

The above is a globe-shaped house built by Austrian artist Edwin Lipburger, set up and surrounded by a fence in Vienna's famous Prater public park. According to the Kugelmugel website, it is the smallest state in the world, and has more than 650 citizens who all have "free access to exhibitions." All free spirits are "welcome in Kugelmugel," the website promises.

Another self-proclaimed republic that has gone sadly unnoticed by the UN is Molossia in Nevada, with its President Kevin Baugh. For what it's worth, the "republic" that celebrates its 40th anniversary in 2017 recognizes several other micronations, has "colonies" in California - and took the step of banning plastic shopping bags in 2009.

New York artist Zaq Landsberg bought two very remote acres of land in Utah 11 years ago, founded the Republic of Zaqistan and declared independence from the US - an art project to see how far he could "push the boundaries of land ownership and sovereignty." Water is the main import, a squid the national animal. The empty lot is guarded by robot sentries - and people are lining up to visit.

At about 23 euros ($25) a year, you can apply for membership that entitles a person to "a passport and a share of Forvik's profits." Stuart Hill declared the islet Forvik in Shetland an independent Crown dependency, designed the Forvik Gulde currency, and set up a parliament (Ting). The weather? "Plenty of wind and rain."

In 1997, artists founded the "Republic of Uzupis" in a neighborhood of the Lithuanian capital Vilnius. Like many other micronations, it has its own flag, currency, president, anthem and constitution. One of the articles stipulates that "everyone has the right to be unique," another confirms the "right to be unhappy." Independence Day is - no joke - April 1.

It was a close call for Eli Avivi when bulldozers came rumbling in to demolish his house on Israel's northern coast in 1971 - and he proclaimed his own state in protest, Akhzivland. The tiny property with a campground and a museum is a tourist attraction today. If you're lucky, Avivi will even stamp your passport.