New Eiffel–United Kingdom border
The small European micronation of the Principality of New Eiffel was entirely enclaved within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Sharing a border of some 156 metres (511 feet), the rectangle-shaped principality had four named borders designated by the four cardinal directions (points of the compass), three of which had border barriers for their entire lengths. The longest, the New Eiffel–United Kingdom North and South Borders, were 68.2 metres (224 feet) long and had no border crossings. The East Border (nicknamed the "main border") was the most frequently crossed border, with between 950 and 1,300 documented crossings annually. The West Border ("back border") was the most fortified border, and had only 20 to 45 crossings annually.
History
The territory which New Eiffel claimed was located in the Greater London administrative area of England, a constitute state of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. A predecessor state to the Principality of New Eiffel, the Republic of New Finland, was founded on 31 December 2017 and laid claim to the rectangle-shaped British territory on 4 January 2018. It was succeeded by the Kingdom of New Finland on 4 June and finally by New Eiffel on 11 August. All borders was slightly redefined in a minor territorial change on 8 May 2019. Following New Eiffel's dissolution on 1 November 2020 after a nearly year-long crisis, all borders were dissolved, and the territory succeeded back to the United Kingdom.
Borders
- See also: Borders of New Eiffel
Sharing a border of some 156 metres (511 feet) with the United Kingdom, the rectangle-shaped principality had four named borders designated by the four cardinal directions (points of the compass), three of which had border barriers for their entire lengths. The New Eiffel–United Kingdom North and South Borders were the longest, both at 68.2 metres (224 feet). They had ho border crossings due to being adjacent to private property on the British side. Both borders had a hedgerow barrier consisting of bush and trees for 10 metres (33 feet), as well as a wooden fence for 40 metres (131 feet). The barrier for the North Border also consisted of a structure on the British side, as did the South Border; the latter also continued through a wall between the semi-detached Main Building and a house on the British side.
The East Border—nicknamed the "main border" for its prominence—was the most crossed border annually, with between 950 and 1,300 documented crossings. The crossing had no gate, while the barrier was a small brick wall with a metal topper. Fronting the border on the New Eiffelic side were three potted plants and lights for decoration. The West Border—known locally as the "back border"—was the most fortified border, and had only 20 to 45 crossings annually. The barrier, a metal fence with sharp spikes and anti-climb paint, was built to replace the previous rotted wooden border fence in mid-February 2019 following a break-in in the neighbouring house on the British side. The gate, located at the centre and leading to the Main Route 1's ǃkhās Street, was permanently locked and required a key to open.
