The Federal District of The Stratosphere Islands is a massive, genial nation, ruled by Alphalion with a fair hand, and renowned for its pith helmet sales, absence of drug laws, and punitive income tax rates. The compassionate, democratic population of 3.929 billion Stratosphereans hold their civil and political rights very dear, although the wealthy and those in business tend to be viewed with suspicion.

The large, liberal, outspoken government juggles the competing demands of Administration, Education, and Industry. It meets to discuss matters of state in the capital city of Del Faisán. The average income tax rate is 92.3%, and even higher for the wealthy.

The frighteningly efficient Stratosphere Islandsian economy, worth 607 trillion Stardusts a year, is quite specialized and led by the Information Technology industry, with major contributions from Tourism, Book Publishing, and Retail. State-owned companies are reasonably common. Average income is an impressive 154,654 Stardusts, and distributed extremely evenly, with little difference between the richest and poorest citizens.

Former weapons designers now boast about their non-jamming semi-automatic nail guns, a child's only Trickster Night scare is the sight of their parents dancing, religious households enthusiastically use whips in private, and happiness is all being miserable together. Crime is totally unknown, thanks to a capable police force and progressive social policies in education and welfare. The Stratosphere Islands's national animal is the Golden Pheasant, which frolics freely in the nation's many lush forests, and its national religion is Starlight.

The Stratosphere Islands is ranked 162,451^st in the world and 7,477^th in The North Pacific for Largest Arms Manufacturing Sector, scoring 170.36 on the Charon Conveyancy Index.