The Borderlands of Almander is a huge, cultured nation, remarkable for its multi-spousal wedding ceremonies, keen interest in outer space, and absence of drug laws. The compassionate, democratic population of 705 million Almanderians are free to do what they want with their own bodies, and vote for whomever they like in elections; if they go into business, however, they are regulated to within an inch of their lives.

The large, liberal, socially-minded government juggles the competing demands of Education, Administration, and Welfare. It meets to discuss matters of state in the capital city of Celetaria. The average income tax rate is 70.5%, and even higher for the wealthy.

The powerhouse Almanderian economy, worth 73.8 trillion Zorkmids a year, is quite specialized and led by the Information Technology industry, with significant contributions from Tourism, Book Publishing, and Basket Weaving. State-owned companies are common. Average income is an impressive 104,674 Zorkmids, and distributed extremely evenly, with practically no difference between the richest and poorest citizens.

There has been a rapid increase of noise complaints over the sound of buzzing bees, young children are learning advanced physics to scientifically disprove the existence of Santa Claus, tradesmen will knock 10% off their fees if customers pay cash, and the government is under the thumb of countless special interests. Crime, especially youth-related, is totally unknown, thanks to a capable police force and progressive social policies in education and welfare. Almander's national animal is the Lynx, which frolics freely in the nation's many lush forests.

Almander is ranked 21,009^th in the world and 95^th in Refugia for Most Secular, with 61.29 Atheism Rate.