[OT] Another 'quite-similar' fact happened (in Italy) in 1967, when italian engineer Giorgio Rosa built an artificial island in Adriatic Sea, named it "Rose Island" and declared indipendence. The micro-nation adopted Esperanto as official language, issued a number of stamps and had its own currency. Unfortunately, Italian government ordered the militar police to destroy it, even thought it was placed in international water. It was one of the few wars that Italy actually won [/OT]