Flag for the State with the Largest Maritime Area

The flag for the state with the largest maritime area is composed of the colours red, white and blue.  Along the fly is a trident which represents the powers of the sea.  On the field are lines of latitude, which are important in seafaring. 

Alaska is a state of many superlatives - biggest, tallest, coldest, most northern, most western - and it also holds the title of Largest Area of Maritime Waters under its jurisdiction.  But this wasn't always so.  Ten other states had once laid claim the America's Trident. 

Previously Michigan was the Sea King from 1837 until 1959.  Michigan reigned for 122 years, and is still the Sea King for the UCF - United Contiguous 48. 

Before Michigan, Louisiana was Sea Queen from 1812 until 1837.  Louisiana sailed as The Water Lord of America for 25 years, beating out New York's record by one year.  

Before Louisiana, New York had the biggest pool from 1788 until 1812.  New York's position as the Prince of American Pools lasted for 24 years.

Before New York, Virginia was the Princess of American Pools.  Virginia's reign lasted a solid month from June 25, 1788 until July 26, 1788. 

Before Virginia, Massachusetts was the Dominant Duck of American Seas.  Massachusetts' reign dominated the entire duration of America's "first" spring, from February 6, 1788 until June 25, 1788. 

Before Massachusetts, Georgia was the Crabby King of American waters. Georgia's reign lasted for a complete month with a little extra from January 2, 1788 until February 6, 1788. 

Before Georgia, New Jersey was the American Salty Dog.  New Jersey's reign was short one month, from December 18, 1787 until January 2, 1788. 

Before New Jersey, Delaware was the biggest Prince of Prawns.  It may seem unfair but Delaware holds all claims, including this one. But only for a week and a half from December 7, 1787 until December 18, 1787. 

Since these states no longer hold the title of the State with the Largest Maritime Area, they can fly the flag with the years or year listed when their were the largest water rulers of American Seas, or the most powerful "Waterbender" of the nation. 

Flags form Superfusion Book by Zachary Karabell

Flags on book covers are a popular motif. Especially for non-fiction international expositions and opinions, and secondly for espionage thrillers.  But every once and a while really snappy and original flags are created.

Here on the cover of Superfusion 2009 by Zachary Karabell the flags of China and United States have been fused.  To the average person they may just look like some strange nation, but after a moment the crossing of cantons becomes obvious.

This book delivers as its covers suggests, "How China and America become one economy and why the world's prosperity depends on it."

Note if you dig directly under the United States you won't hit China.  However the US has small antipodal parts that are directly underneath a portion of Antarctica and Africa -  Nigeria, Namibia; and the remote islands of the South India Ocean - Kerguelen.

Likewise if you are in China - parts of South America are directly underneath, notably Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay, Chile, Peru and a remote part of the UK. 
 

Here the United States canton is superimposed on  the red field of China.

In contrast we have the field of American stripes overtaking the flag of China.








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US Flag in AVGN Movie 2014

During a silly scene in the 2014 AVGN Movie the US flag appears on a fake moon landing shot.

Hesh Flag from Sea Lab 2021

The Hesh flag from the animated adult oriented comedy show Sea Lab 2021 is a horizontal tribal of white, blue, and white.  Off center to towards the hoist is the silhouette of Hesh holding a microphone raising his right hand.

Sea Lab 2021 Flag

The flag for the experimental sea lab station of the future in the animated series Sea Lab 2021 has yellow background and the silhouette of the station in blue centered in the middle.

International Extended Continental Shelf Flag

The International Extended Continental Shelf Flag is composed of the colours black, white, yellow, and lime green.  It indicates that a particular seabed area is under sovereignty of a nation.  As this is an internationally coded flag, it should be flown with a national flag to indicate respective control.

Note this flag does not have to be flown on the bottom of the seabed.  It can be flown on ship, rig, or buoy to indicate a national claim along the sea floor, but remember that the waters are international and fishing rights extended to all official nations.
The seven stripes represent the seven seas of ancient lore.

US Sea Floor Continental Shelf Flag

Flag for the US Sea Floor Continental Shelf Claim - Beyond the Exclusive Economic Zone

The Extended and regular Continental Shelf claim is the modern day frontier of the United States.  All nations get an extra "Sea Floor Claim" of 150 Nautical Miles beyond their Exclusive Economic Zone. Note, this only applies to the sea floor and not to the air and ocean above, at least yet.   Sea Floor rights are related to minerals and creatures on the bottom of the ocean.  Thus oil deposits found in this area belong to one particular nation.  Likewise any crabs, sponges, starfish, lobsters, and clams are under sovereign marine jurisdiction.  But any fish swimming in these waters are in International Waters, free for the pickings of any fisherman. 

Unlike the unresolved Lunar and Antarctica claims, the Extended Continental Shelf Claims are a hot topic for industries in the mining, crabbing, scientific exploration communites, and James Cameron.

The Extended Continental Self claim of the United States is estimated to be about half the size of the Louisiana Purchase.  Certainly a strange claim, since, it can extend the sea floor rights of a nation a maximum of 100 Nautical Miles beyond the established 150 Nautical Mile seafloor claim further out from the Exclusive Economic Zone but only if certain requirements are met.

First this measurement must fall at a depth of 2500 meters below sea; and within the established continental shelf claim.  To restate that's 2.5 kilometers below sea level.  Then perpendicular from this point (the 2500 meter isobath depth) a nation's Extended Seafloor Claim can reach out an extra 100 Nautical Miles.  Thus in theory, a nation could have extended seafloor rights that reach up to a maximum of 450 Nautical Miles out to Sea from a nations low tide coastline mark.  This only applies if the 2500 meter depth Isobath (depth from sea level) just happens to be on the 350th Nautical Mile out to sea.


 Note that Extended Continental Shelf claims are all in, or rather under, international waters.  This means that the Extended Continental Shelf Claim applies only to the surface of the Earth underwater.  All waters and airspace directly above the Extended Continental Shelf Claim does belong to any one particular nation.

Eventually this situation will change when people colonize the bottom of the sea in the 22nd Century.  In theory, as it has not yet happened, a person born on the bottom on the sea floor has the right to fly this flag.