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The Principality of Outer Baldonia is a defunct micronation that claimed sovereignty over approximately 4 acres (16,000 m2) of Outer Bald Tusket Island, the southernmost of the Tusket Islands off the southern tip of the Canadian province of Nova Scotia.[1][2]

Founded in 1949 by American businessman Russell Arundel,[3] the principality had a charter, a flag, currency,[4] passports, and an organized military. Its membership consisted of 69 fishermen.[5] All citizens of the principality who caught a Bluefin tuna and paid a $50 fee were accorded the rank of prince.[citation needed] Its government officials included Prince of Princes Russell Arundel, Chancellor Elson Boudreau, and Ambassador Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary Ron Wallace.[6]: 68  The text of the Charter of Outer Baldonia is preserved in the Yarmouth County Museum.[1][7]

After the Soviet state publication Literaturnaya Gazeta published a critique of the charter of Outer Baldonia, Outer Baldonia declared war on the Soviet Union on March 9, 1953.[6] The Soviets issued a series of condemnations through their various press outlets, and press coverage exposed the principality as a humorous half-truth.[2]

In 1973, Outer Bald Tusket Island was sold by Russell Arundel for the price of one Canadian dollar to the Nova Scotia Bird Society. The island was designated the Earle E. Arundel Breeding Bird Sanctuary.[2][7] In 2015, the Nova Scotia Bird Society partnered with the Nova Scotia Nature Trust to donate the Bald Islands as conservation lands.[8]

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[-] Erika3sis@hexbear.net 10 points 1 week ago

Micronationalism seems like it could be a fun hobby, but it also seems to attract some number of unsavory types, doesn't it.

[-] happybadger@hexbear.net 9 points 1 week ago

That's my exact approach to it. I would immediately make the Democratic People's Republic of Sashatown an actual country because it's over-commitment to a bit, but then I'd have to interact with libertarians who think micronations are important things. Outer Baldonia and the pirate radio stations are the only good examples I can think of. This only qualifies because they donated the land to become a bird sanctuary.

[-] ChaosMaterialist@hexbear.net 3 points 1 week ago

Not just libertarians, but also wannabe Atlas Shrugged capitalists like Thiel that want to build the "Company Town" of a state. California has some kind of ballot initiative to break up the state occasionally, and inevitably it's bankrolled by Silicon Valley Capitalists.

[-] GiorgioPerlasca@lemmy.ml 4 points 1 week ago

As somebody who lives close to the Vatican, I can confirm.

this post was submitted on 06 Mar 2026
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