Did you know that France purchased a Caribbean island owned by Sweden, or that the United States bought Florida from Spain? How about the British buying Singapore? And Japan took a chance by securing an island from a private vendor despite China's claim to the same territory. Yes, history has recorded numerous examples of countries snapping up other countries and territories, and not always for the better. But where have the most extraordinary and controversial transactions taken place?
Click through this portfolio of land and city exchanges and find out who got the best bargain.