This week in 1819 was probably the first European sighting of Antarctica (it’s complicated).
This continents is different from the others in so many ways, including how, from a certain point of view, a big chunk of Antarctica is “ruled” by a guy who’s never even been there.
That “ruler” is Travis McHenry, aka Grand Duke Travis.
As a kid he tried to turn a house his parents owned into an independent country he called the Kingdom of Casbah.
That didn’t work out, but he kept looking for a place where he could “get away from everyone else.”
And there aren’t many places better for solitude than the world’s southernmost continent: it doesn’t really have a permanent human population, just a few thousand scientists.
There’s an international agreement, the Antarctic Treaty of 1959, that spells out the rules around this unusual space.
The treaty says Antarctica is only to be used for peaceful purposes, that scientific work done there should be shared freely, and that no country can lay claim to any of its land beyond those who had done so before 1959.
Travis McHenry noticed that the treaty prohibits countries from making territorial claims on Antarctica, but not individuals.
And he saw what’s known as Marie Byrd Land, a big western section of Antarctica that no country had or could claim.
In 2001, he decided it would be his.
McHenry named it Westarctica and declared himself Grand Duke, undeterred by the lack of international recognition, or the fact that he’d never been to the “country” he claimed.
Also, the getting away from everyone else part didn’t work out: Westarctica now has several thousand “citizens,” an online community, as well as relations with many other micronations.
There’s an official Westarctica nonprofit, which raises awareness about climate change and its effects on Antarctica.
They have their own hockey team based in New England, the Westarctica Ice Krakens, as well as postage stamps, flags, ministers and two national anthems.
One is “God Save Westarctica,” sung to the tune of “God Save The King,” the other is “Go West” by the Village People.
Starting this week in Tomah, Wisconsin, it’s the annual Freeze Fest.
The winter community event includes ice skating, a medallion hunt and disc golf for outdoorsy types – plus bingo, jigsaw puzzles and euchre for people who prefer to spend winter inside.
And after all of that, there’s a potluck supper.
How a Pennsylvania man started an imaginary country in Antarctica and got 2,300 people to join him (The Times Leader)