Zaqistan#Further reading
{{Short description|Unrecognized micronation in Box Elder County, Utah}}
{{Infobox micronation
| conventional_long_name = Republic of Zaqistan
| image_flag =
| claimed_by = Zaq Landsberg
| established_date1 = {{start date|2005|11|19}}
| official_website = {{Official URL}}
}}
{{Coord|41.440230|-113.42721|display=title}}
Zaqistan, officially the Republic of Zaqistan, is a micronation in Box Elder County, Utah, created in 2005 by self-declared president Zaq Landsberg.{{cite news|url=https://www.ksl.com/?sid=37022657|title=New York man creates 'sovereign nation' in Box Elder County|last=Cabrero|first=Alex|date=October 19, 2015|work=KSL-TV|access-date=November 25, 2018}} 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.{{cite news|url=http://people.com/celebrity/new-yorker-zaq-landsberg-creates-his-own-slice-of-nothing-called-zaqistan/|title=New Yorker Zaq Landsberg Creates His Own Country Called Zaqistan in Remote Utah Desert – But He Doesn't Live There|last=Free|first=Cathy|date=October 17, 2015|work=People|access-date=November 25, 2018}} 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.{{Cite news|url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/a-visit-to-zaqistan-the-sovereign-nation-in-the-middle-of-the-utah-desert-1028/|title=A Trip to Zaqistan, One Man's 'Sovereign Nation' in the Middle of the Utah Desert|last=Abu|first=Mike|date=October 29, 2015|work=Vice|access-date=November 25, 2018}}
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 {{convert|2|acres|m2|-1}} and 4 acres.{{cite news|url=http://people.com/celebrity/zaq-landsberg-creates-sovereign-republic-zaqistan-in-utah/|title=New Yorker Creates His Own Sovereign Nation in Remote Utah Backcountry|last=Minutaglio|first=Rose|date=October 26, 2015|work=People|access-date=November 25, 2018}} The nearest town is Montello, Nevada, about {{convert|60|miles|-1}} away.
See also
References
{{Reflist}}
Further reading
- {{citation|title=Man creates Republic of Zaqistan in Box Elder County
|author= Alex Cabrero|newspaper= Deseret News|date=October 20, 2015|url=http://m.deseretnews.com/article/865639464/Man-creates-Republic-of-Zaqistan-in-Box-Elder-County.html}}{{dead link|date=January 2025|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}
- {{cite AV media
| people =Brian Noonan and Zaq Landsberg
| date =October 25, 2015
| title =Zaq Landsberg interview
| trans-title =
| medium =Radio show archive
| language =
| url =http://wgnradio.com/2015/10/26/brian-noonan-full-show-october-25-2015-zombie-squirrel-michael-jordan-real-estate-agents-commercial-sales-pitch-zaqistan-john-kass-on-halloween-candy-karen-conti-law-advice/
| access-date =2015-10-27
| format = MP3
| time = 35:00
| location =Chicago
| publisher =WGN-AM radio
}}
- {{citation|title= There's more to micronations than lunacy|work=Ventures Africa|author=Cynthia Okoroafor|date=October 26, 2015|url=http://venturesafrica.com/theres-more-to-micronations-than-lunacy/}}
- {{citation|title=Brenna's Take on the News: Zaqistan and Marco Rubio|author=Brenna Visser|newspaper=The Western Front|publisher=Western Washington University|location=Bellingham, Washington|date=October 26, 2015|url=http://www.westernfrontonline.com/2015/10/26/brennas-take-on-the-news-zaqistan-and-marco-rubio/|access-date=May 1, 2020|archive-date=August 13, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200813005201/https://www.westernfrontonline.com/2015/10/26/brennas-take-on-the-news-zaqistan-and-marco-rubio/|url-status=dead}}
- {{citation|title=Welcome to Zaqistan! New York artist founds his own nation in Utah desert — and keeps it going for a decade |author=Jason Silverstein|work=New York Daily News|date=October 27, 2015|url=http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/brooklyn/new-york-artists-founds-nation-runs-decade-article-1.2411729}}
- {{cite news|newspaper=The Utah Statesman|publisher=Utah State University|location=Logan, Utah|title=Did you know there's a micro-nation in Utah? Believe it, it's called Zaqistan.|author=Miranda Lorenc|date=September 29, 2016|url=https://usustatesman.com/did-you-know-theres-a-micro-nation-in-utah-believe-it-its-called-zaqistan/}}
- {{cite news|work=Newsweek|via=MSN|title=Micronations in the United States Prepare for Coronavirus|author=Andrew Whalen |date=April 10, 2020|url=https://www.msn.com/sv-se/nyheter/utrikes/micronations-in-the-united-states-prepare-for-coronavirus/ar-BB12rRph}}
- {{cite news|title=Tips for traveling to Utah's Republic of Zaqistan: Bring gas, water, patience|newspaper=Standard-Examiner|author=Candice Brown| date=September 22, 2016|location=Ogden, Utah|url=https://www.standard.net/entertainment/2016/sep/22/tips-for-traveling-to-utahs-republic-of-zaqistan-bring-gas-water-patience/}}
External links
- {{Official website}}
- {{YouTube|QDQLpLaNyAw|Utah's Republic of Zagistan in Box Elder Co. is getting renewed attention}}, upload by KSL-TV, September 2016, with exhibit at Central Utah Art Center
{{Micronations}}