The Colony of Balsam and Cedar Islands is a gargantuan, pleasant nation, remarkable for its burgeoning balsam fir population. The hard-nosed, hard-working population of 20.99 billion Balsam and Cedar Islanders have some civil rights, but not too many, enjoy the freedom to spend their money however they like, to a point, and take part in free and open elections, although not too often.

The medium-sized government juggles the competing demands of Law & Order, Welfare, and Education. The average income tax rate is 23.8%.

The strong Balsam and Cedar Islands economy, worth 892 trillion lire a year, is quite specialized and led by the Basket Weaving industry, with major contributions from Book Publishing, Trout Farming, and Woodchip Exports. Average income is 42,522 lire, and evenly distributed, with the richest citizens earning only 4.0 times as much as the poorest.

Crime is relatively low, thanks to a capable police force and progressive social policies in education and welfare. Balsam and Cedar Islands's national animal is the balsam fir.

Balsam and Cedar Islands is ranked 145,908^th in the world and 20^th in Colonies for Most Beautiful Environments, with 517.24 pounds of wildlife per square mile.