Most People Have No Idea This Tiny Independent Country Exists In Utah

Did you know that there is a tiny, independent country in Utah? It’s very small – just two acres – and surrounded on all borders by the state of Utah. No other country in the world recognizes Zaquistan. It’s not possible to live in Zaquistan, due to its very remote location, lack of water and lack of housing.

In July of 2005, Zaq Landsberg purchased two acres in the Utah desert, near the Great Salt Lake. He made his purchase on eBay, paying $610 for the land, sight unseen. In August, he and his friend Jake left Los Angeles and traveled to the land to see it and plant a flag, declaring it “The Republic of Zaquistan.” Check out this video that shows Zaq Landsberg planting the flag at the summit of Mt. Insurmountable.

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Zaquistan is very remote and difficult to reach, requiring a 15-mile drive on a sandy road, followed by a long walk of 5.5 miles. There is no water there, and it is basically uninhabitable. In August, 2006, Zaq and Jake traveled to Zaquistan and built four robot sentinels to guard the perimeter of the country.

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In 2009, Zaq was accompanied by nine other people, who spent three days in the heat and wind, to construct the Victory Arch.

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Subsequent trips with varying numbers of citizens resulted in the installation of a port of entry, signage and other improvements.

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Zaq Landsberg is the President of Zaquistan, and a duel citizen of both the United States and Zaquistan. He resides in New York City and visits his country a few times per year.

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For $40, you can obtain a Zaquistan passport. Processing time is noted on the country’s website as, "a minimum of two weeks and a maximum of three months." The site also notes that the passport is not recognized in any other country, and that if you leave the U.S. and try to re-enter with a Zaquistan passport, the odds are good that you’ll be sent back, detained, or arrested.

What do you think? Would you like to be a citizen of the Republic of Zaquistan?