Said works – "Nimis," a massive sculpture made of driftwood, and "Arx," a monumental stone sculpture – punctuate Ladonia's landscape.
When the local council demanded that these sculptures to be taken down after deeming them illegal buildings (construction in the nature reserve is banned), Vilks declared the area a sovereign country, and Ladonia was born.
In 2002, Vilks, the self-proclaimed state secretary of Ladonia, said that over 3,000 Pakistanis sought to become citizens of his “country” after they found the micro-nation’s website.
However, as they started asking about Ladonia’s embassy and how to get there, it became clear that moving to the micro-nation wasn’t possible.
Vilks passed away on 3 October, 2021.
Check out Sputnik's photo gallery showing Ladonia in all its glory.
