Bir Tawil
en.wikipedia.orgHere's the Map Men episode covering it:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J5iJSXaVvao&list=PLfxy4_sBQd...
Their videos are a delight of map details, and I love their style. Jay Foreman is also one of perhaps only two youtubers where I'll actually watch their sponsorship ads rather than skip (internet historian is the other).
The wikipedia page claims that no-one lives there, but on aerial imagery, i can see quite some amount of huts: https://satellites.pro/#21.839354,33.804339,19
According to an article I found [0] there are gold mines there controlled by some tribal leaders. It seems to be inhabited but not under any nation state's control.
[0] https://www.youngpioneertours.com/strange-tale-bir-tawil/
Good find! This explains the odd patterns of dug up ground to the northwest.
The wikipedia page says "transient populations", actually.
One problem with claiming this area is that you'll be landlocked by 200Km to the nearest sea point. It also doesn't help that the area is in the middle of a land conflict between two countries.
Also, while it's "habitable", it's still the desert. You don't have access to the nile, or the sea. Which means living there will be quite challenging.
It's not a land conflict. It's a territorial dispute. There's no actual conflict happening with regards to Bir Tawil.
If you had enough drilling equipment you might be able to tap into the Nubian Sandstone Aquifer. From a quick glance at some maps it seems like at least the western part of this territory might have access to it.
I swear I watched a fun documentary about some guy who travelled there just for the fun of it, but I can't find it. However, it seems radio hams don't disappoint and travelled there in 2016 to get some QSOs: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ro5jmvu4jkM
Give me 7 expedition members and some pickaxes, we'll do the rest.
Great place for the next Las Vegas
I hereby claim this territory!
From the article itself
"Due to its status as de jure unclaimed territory, a number of individuals and organizations have attempted to claim Bir Tawil as a micronation. However, none have been taken seriously by the international community, and due to the remoteness and hostile climate of the region, the vast majority of these claims have been by declarations posted online from other locations."
Don't be jealous
Do you have a flag?
No flag, no country!
You're not even there!