By owning land, does that mean I own all the way down to the Earth's core?
When you own a piece of land, it's natural to wonder just how deep your property rights extend. Traditionally, under the principle of "Cuius est solum, eius est usque ad coelum et ad inferos," which translates to "For whoever owns the soil, it is theirs up to the sky and down to the depths," it might seem that your ownership stretches all the way down to the Earth's core.
This legal doctrine, originating from Roman times, suggests a theoretically infinite extension of property rights above and below the ground. However, the practical application of this principle in modern law is far more complex and constrained.
In reality, property rights are subject to national and local laws which significantly limit the extent of your ownership below the surface. While you do own a certain depth where you might build structures or extract resources (like wells), this ownership doesn't literally extend to the core of the Earth. Governments usually retain the rights to sub-surface minerals and resources, such as oil, gas, and minerals.
This means that while you may own the surface land, the rights to exploit the resources beneath it can be leased or owned by the government or other entities. The specific depth to which you own your land can vary greatly depending on the local laws and regulations.
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