In a remote part of southern Sweden, there is a self-declared micronation where the national anthem is not a song but the sound of a stone being thrown into water.

       This micronation is called Ladonia, officially proclaimed in 1996 following a legal dispute between Swedish artist Lars Vilks and local authorities over two of his sculptures.

       Vilks began building the sculptures, Nimis (made of driftwood) and Arx (constructed from stone), in the Kullaberg Nature Reserve in 1980.

       The structures went unnoticed for two years due to their remote location. When discovered, local authorities declared them illegal buildings and ordered their removal.

       After a series of legal battles, Vilks lost his case and responded by declaring the area an independent nation named Ladonia.

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       Ladonia is not officially recognised by Sweden or any other country, but it claims over 29,000 registered citizens from around the world as of January 2024.

       The micronation has no permanent residents, and its "territory" remains part of Sweden's natural reserve.

       Ladonia operates a unique government structure with a Queen, currently Queen Carolyn (based in the USA), and a Prime Minister, Jorgen Stenberg (living in Malta).

       The constitution explicitly prohibits the existence of a king as only queens can hold the monarchy.

       The government includes over 125 ministries, many with artistic or humourous titles and the legislative body, known as the Cabinet, conducts its operations online.

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       The constitution of Ladonia was amended in 2019, replacing the presidency with the role of Prime Minister, elected from within the Cabinet to prevent election disputes.

       Ladonia also has its own currency, the ？rtug, valued at approximately 10 Swedish Krona or 1 Euro, and its own time zone, Ladonia Standard Time (LST), set at UTC +0:57, making it three minutes ahead of Sweden.

       In addition to its unusual anthem, Ladonia’s official language consists of just two words: “waaaaalll”, used for celebratory occasions, and “？p”, reserved for serious matters.

       The micronation maintains a symbolic stance on diplomacy, having “recognised” several territories, including Tibet, South Korea, and even Sweden, despite claiming to be at war with the latter due to the ongoing legal disputes over Vilks' sculptures.

       Ladonia attracts thousands of visitors annually, particularly to the wooden structure Nimis, which are now a popular tourist site despite not being officially marked on Swedish maps. Visitors must hike through rugged terrain to reach it, following unmarked trails.