The Golden Shores Monarchy of Island Union is a gargantuan, cultured nation, ruled by King Nick Jensen with an even hand, and notable for its pith helmet sales, daily referendums, and anti-smoking policies. The compassionate, cheerful population of 33.154 billion Islanders enjoy extensive civil rights and enjoy a level of social equality free from the usual accompanying government corruption.

The enormous, socially-minded government juggles the competing demands of Education, Law & Order, and Environment. It meets to discuss matters of state in the capital city of Tropicana. The average income tax rate is 93.1%, and even higher for the wealthy.

The frighteningly efficient Islander economy, worth a remarkable 4,972 trillion Isles a year, is highly specialized and mostly made up of the Tourism industry, with significant contributions from Book Publishing and Information Technology. State-owned companies are common. Average income is an impressive 149,969 Isles, and distributed extremely evenly, with practically no difference between the richest and poorest citizens.

Gardeners must genetically test weeds for unique traits before digging them up, the richest individuals apparently buy nothing but noodles and toilet paper, one does not simply walk into the tundra, and schoolboys who turn to watch pretty girls go by are given detention. Crime is totally unknown, thanks to the all-pervasive police force and progressive social policies in education and welfare. Island Union's national animal is the Phoenix, which soars majestically through the nation's famously clear skies, and its national religion is Atheism.

Island Union is ranked 261,150^th in the world and 17^th in Equinox for Largest Timber Woodchipping Industry, scoring -26.72 on the Tasmanian Pulp Environmental Export Index.