The Republic of Barikshaltam is a very large, socially progressive nation, renowned for its barren, inhospitable landscape, compulsory military service, and ubiquitous missile silos. The compassionate population of 480 million Barikshaltamians enjoy extensive civil rights and enjoy a level of social equality free from the usual accompanying government corruption.

The large, socially-minded government juggles the competing demands of Education, Defense, and Welfare. It meets to discuss matters of state in the capital city of Qaryashan. The average income tax rate is 83.0%, and even higher for the wealthy.

The all-consuming Barikshaltamian economy, worth 55.3 trillion Setars a year, is driven entirely by a combination of government and state-owned industry, with private enterprise illegal. The industrial sector, which is fairly diversified, is dominated by the Information Technology industry, with significant contributions from Arms Manufacturing, Uranium Mining, and Beef-Based Agriculture. Average income is an impressive 115,158 Setars, and distributed extremely evenly, with little difference between the richest and poorest citizens.

All telephone traffic is monitored for 'national security reasons', children have nightmares about the eerie red glow and constant whirring of newly-installed machines, in the mighty jungle the lion once again sleeps tonight, and cyber-crime and tin-foil hat sales are both increasing at record rates. Crime, especially youth-related, is totally unknown, thanks to a capable police force and progressive social policies in education and welfare. Barikshaltam's national animal is the Shaltyamim Giant Octopus, which is also the nation's favorite main course.

Barikshaltam is ranked 187,181^st in the world and 137^th in Eladria for Largest Trout Fishing Sector, scoring 648.57 on the Nemo Depletion Efficiency Index.