What a happy flag! But if it was flown today, it would be a frowny face because it represents a nation that no longer exists: the North Caucasian Emirate. In 1919, in the midst of the Russian Civil War, Muslims in what is now Dagestan and Chechnya rose up, attacked the White Russian forces in the region, and established this state. Uzun Haji, a Chechan nationalist, ruled it for a year before the Red Army conquered the area.
That nation's flag is one of eight odd-looking flags rounded up by Evan Bartlett of The Independent.
-via Marilyn Terrell