Under an 1856 law a US citizen can claim any unclaimed island for America, provided it is covered in bird droppings.
The Guano Islands Act was written for fertiliser and is still on the books.
More amazing facts
- 1854 When the Americans 'opened' Japan, they gave it a toy train.
- 1854 The safety lift was sold with a stunt.
- 1855 · 1908 A Crimean War officer lived to be filmed.
- 1856 · 1865 Everest was named after a man who objected.
- 1856 Purple went from emperors to London fashion thanks to a student's failed experiment.
- 1858 The first transatlantic telegram took 16 hours to send: Queen Victoria's 98-word greeting to the US president in 1858.