Inside bizarre micro-nation in desert with own dictator and strict walrus ban
Sitting in a remote part of the vast Nevada desert is a strange micro-nation with its own dictator, a currency based on cookie dough and a complete ban on walruses.
The bizarre Republic of Molossia sounds like the fevered dream of a sleep deprived comic book writer but its very much real, even if they haven't managed to get formal recognition from the UN quite yet.
Found in the Dayton Valley, near the Carson River, it was founded on May 26, 1977, by Kevin Baugh, who serves as Dictator, and his friend James Spielman.
Although James has now left, 'President' Baugh, after who the capital of Molossia, Baughston Town, is named, stayed with it and under his steady rule the nation has flourished to include three residents.
'President' Baugh (republicofmolossia/Instagram)YouTuber The Wonton Don paid a visit to Molossia to see the odd sights, reports Daily Star.
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President Baugh, 59, told him: “[James] was king and I was Prime Minister and he moved on to other things but I stayed with the idea.”
The sovereign state has three permanent residents - President Baugh, his wife and First Lady Adrianne, and their daughter Alexis, who is Chief Constable.
While President Baugh claims Molossia is an independent country, it has not received recognition from any of the member states of the United Nations.
Baugh maintains good relations with neighbouring US (republicofmolossia/Instagram)But, like any country, Molossia has a complex legal system and its own set of rules.
Such laws include it being “illegal to cause a catastrophe” and “illegal to play percussion instruments”.
Catfish, walruses, missionaries and tobacco are also banned.
But wrong-doers beware. There's a singular jail cell for those who cause mayhem.
The micro-nation runs an intricate monetary system as President Baugh explained: “Molossia’s money is called the Valora - that means valuable in our second language, which is Esperanto.
Signs mark the Molossia cemetery for pets (Tribune News Service via Getty Images)“We are on the cookie dough standard here in Molassia. Our money is all based on cookie dough.”
President Baugh runs a tight ship, conducting his duties from his “oval office” where he also writes the country's rules.
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When asked how he comes up with policies, he replied: “Mostly from my head and stuff.”
The Molossian navy is a tight-knit operation run from the arid desert and consists of a small fleet of inflatable kayaks.
Probed on why a nation of three might need a navy, President Baugh revealed: “We are currently at war. We are in fact at war with the nation of East Germany.”
He claimed East Germany, which has ceased to exist since 1990, “disturbed his sleep while he was stationed in West Germany after World War Two”.
President Baugh claims East Germany still exists in the form of an uninhabited place just outside of Cuba called Ernst Thälmann Island.
He added: “There is no one with whom to arrange peace, so the war still goes on forever. Probably forever.”
Of course, the Supreme Leader of Molossia is a philanthropist who ensures relations with US neighbours remain sweet.
“We don’t really get involved with the politics of the United States. They’ve never really gotten involved,” he said.
He leads a tour of the micro-nation he is in charge of with an iron fist (Brian Cahn/ZUMA Wire/REX/Shutterstock)“We pay taxes, but we call it ‘foreign aid’ to the United States and as long as we give them a reasonable amount of foreign aid, then they’re fine.”
The micro-nation even has its own time zone - Molossian standard time - which is 39 minutes ahead of Pacific Time and 21 minutes behind Mountain Time, depending on which way you are facing.
One of the biggest celebrations in Molassia happens every year on March 6. The 'Day of the Dude' is held in honour of Jeff Bridges' character in the Coen brothers' comedy film The Big Lebowski.
Another important date in the calendar is ‘Kickassia Invasion Victory Day’ which celebrates Molossians seeing off invaders from the micro-nation of Kickassia on April 11, 2010.
In his recent New Year speech, his Excellency President Baugh said: “Molossia is the greatest of the small nations of the world, a beacon to those that seek self-government and sovereignty."
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