Looking at the world map, it seems that every piece of land belongs to a country. After all, there are 195 of them in the world, so it’s hard to accept that around 1% of the earth’s surface doesn’t belong to any one country. No law works there, people don’t even live there. And although this piece of land is surrounded by quite influential countries, none of them claim this territory. And not without reason.
Return to no man’s land. Avid readers will immediately say: it is located in Antarctica. Yes, most of this territory is in fact located on a continent discovered 200 years ago and bears the name of Mary Baird’s Land. It is similar in size Mongolia, which in turn is the 18th largest country in the world. Not bad, right?
Until the Second World War, these territories were claimed Japan. His claims covered the area between the Ross and Falkland sectors (between 80 ° and 150 ° western parallels). However, it was concluded in 1951 San Francisco peace treaty, and in accordance with it Japan waived all claims on any territory Antarctica in the district.
Mary Baird’s land thus became a no-man’s land, unclaimed by any country in the world. However, since 1959, it has not even been possible to do so, because it was then that the Antarctic Agreement was signed, which provides for its use only for peaceful purposes and blocks claims on any land below 60 degrees. north latitude without a deadline.
Furthermore, any mining of minerals in Antarctica is prohibited Madrid protocol on environmental protection, so much so that even claiming the lands of the sixth continent makes no sense. Now only scientific stations can be located on the territory of Antarctica, the total number of which – permanent and temporary – currently exceeds 70.
OK, so Mary Baird’s Land makes up 99% of no man’s land on earth, but what is that remaining 1%? This small approx of Luxembourg plot of land is located in Africa, between Egypt and Sudan.
