2)Geographic coordinates: 14.80N Lat., 169.39 E Long.

3)Map references: Oceania 14, in the Marshall Islands Region of the North Pacific Ocean and North Pacific islands of Clipperton (off coast of Mexico) and Malpelo (off coast of Colombia); 90-150 degrees West Antarctica;   Middle East, Jerusalem (originally known as Salem in Biblical times); South Pacific, Karitane Island (south of the Cook Islands, not on maps); ; Central Europe, Carpathian and Subcarpathian Mountain Ranges of Ruthenia.

4)Area of Taongi Atoll:
land: 3.2 sq km
altitude: 5 m elevation, 3.2 sq km, sea level rise risk: 9
island type: crescent atoll with 14 inlets Natural Protection indicator: 5
nearest island: 300 km, group:1400 km, in proximity to the atolls of Bikini, Enewetak, and Kwajalein
nearest continent: Asia Distance, 4000 km, isolation index: 118
Land boundaries: 0 km
Geology/soils: dry and stony
Coastline: 37.4 km

5)Maritime claims:
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 12 nm

6)Climate: Ranges from below freezing in the Antarctica to the warm tropical climate of Taongi.  The Taongi atoll lies within the Northeast Trade Winds, thus there are steady winds from the northeast bringing mostly fair weather from November through June. The rainy season is from July to November and has a great deal of fair weather but the trades weaken then and come from the east. Total yearly rainfall is estimated at about 45 inches. Typhoons (known elsewhere as hurricanes or cyclones) seldom originate in or pass over this area, and gales are infrequent coming from the southeast when they occur . There is little variation in temperature throughout the year with a minimum of 71 degrees F and maximum of 98 degrees F, a high mean temperature of 83 degrees F and a low mean of 81 degrees F.

7) Terrain: Ranges from the base of Taongi's volcanic mountain thousands of feet below sea level to the high mountain ranges of Ruthenia and the Antactica.  The southeast "ratak" or "sunrise" side of Taongi atoll has the vegetation covered islands that remain as high as 20 feet above sea level which is two times the elevation of the capital of the Marshall Islands, Majuro Atoll, some 425 miles south of Taongi. The small islands of Taongi, the longest, at least 5 miles in length, are part of the coral reef that surrounds the central lagoon of 30 square miles. These reefs are in the form of a fat comma opening to the west on which side exists the only break in the reef where a boat may pass safely into the lagoon. Made up of the skeletal remains of countless small marine plants and animals that found a home on this formerly volcanic island or sea mountain, the reef has gradually built up as sea level changed, or the islands subsided, and now provide land area of 1.25 square miles for tall trees, and breeding grounds for migratory birds and turtles. There are at least 500 acres of real estate ready for development under the administration of the Dominion of Melchizedek. While few forms of wildlife occupy the land, marine life in the lagoon and the surrounding ocean is abundant. A recent visitor flying over the Taongi Atoll reported the lagoon to be beautiful with sandy beaches and, with the tide going out, waterfalls miles long were formed by the water flowing over the reef back into the sea. Percent shoreline: Coral Reef: 99%, Mangrove: 2%. Major seabird rookery, turtle nesting area.

8)Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Pacific Ocean Lagoon of Taongi 0 ft
highest point: unnamed location on Taongi 5 mt
 

9)Natural resources: phosphate deposits, marine products, deep seabed minerals, aquatic animals and fish.

10)Land use:
arable land: 1%
permanent crops: 1%
permanent pastures: 1%
forests and woodland: 2%
other: 40%
Irrigated land: NA sq km

11)Natural hazards: occasional typhoons, threat indicator: 1

12)Environment issues: questionable supplies of potable water on Toangi with danger of rising sea levels; meltdown in Antactica underway

13)Geography note: Taongi atoll is one of 30 atolls and 1,152 islands positioned among two archipelagic island chains -- the Ralik and Ratak Chains. In proximity are Bikini and Enewetak Atolls, former US nuclear test sites; and Kwajalein, the famous World War II battleground, which is now used as a US missile test range. The Taongi island include, North island, No.2 island, Kamwome island (Kamome), Bwdije island, (Bredje), Sibylla island, Pokak island, and Swokwla island (South) and three smaller unnamed islets.

14) Human occupation: Taongi is presently uninhabited with plans for occupation by the year 2000 by citizens and government officials of the Dominion of Melchizedek, formerly taboo.  Ruthenia is occupied by approximately 1,000,000 Ruthenians

15)Human impacts: Japanese relay station and bomb dump destroyed on Taoni in 1944. Proposed as a dump site for 25 million tons of American solid waste in 1988.

16)Protected areas: Protected area coverage indicators - Taongi - Terrestrial: 7, Marine: 0, protected by order since 1958 (324 ha); Antarctica is protected by internataional treaties

17)Government
Country name: Dominion of Melchizedek
conventional long form: Government of the Dominion of Melchizedek
conventional short form: Islands of Melchizedek
short-short forms: Melchizedek (also sometimes spelled, Melchizedech or Melchizedec) or
                             : DOM

former: Kingdom of Salem; Kingdom of Melchizedek; Sovereign Order of Melchizedek

18)Data Code: me (to be applied for, not yet confirmed)

19)Government type: governed and controlled by House of Elders, the Legislative branch of government of the Dominion of Melchizedek, an ecclesiastical and constitutional State.  The Government of the Dominion of Melchizedek consists of three branches, similar to the structures of the United States of America and that of the United Kingdom.
 

20)National capital: Jerusalem, DOM [Biblical situs] Taongi has been designated as the new capital

21)Administrative divisions: Taongi Atoll; ARAD

22)Independence: Declaration of Sovereignty 1991

23)National holiday: Declaration of Sovereignty of the Dominion of Melchizedek, July 18, 1991

24)Constitution: July 18, 1991

25) Legal system: The Supreme Court is the Judiciary Branch of constitutional government based on the principles of the Melchizedek Bible and the Constitution of Melchizedek.

26) Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

27)Nationality:
noun: Melchizedekian (singular and plural)
adjective: Melchizedekian

28)Ethnic groups: all ethnic groups

29) Religions: of all monotheistic religious persuasions (at least 99% monotheistic)

30)Languages: English, Hebrew with English translation, and Ruthenian with English translation.

31)Literacy:
definition: age 12 and over can read and write
total population: unkown
male: 100%
female: 100% (1999 est.)

32)Executive branch: The Executive Branch is made up of the senior officers of the Dominion, namely the President, Vice President, Cabinet members, Ambassadors, and certain others.

33)Legislative branch: The Legislative Branch is comprised of the House of Elders which is the governing body of the Dominion, similar to parliament in the United Kingdom. Its members are more commonly known as "Elders".

34)Judicial branch: The Judiciary Branch consists of a senior court known as the Supreme Court. Its functions, with certain exceptions, are not to try cases of law, but are to review and to consider appeals of cases previously tried in a competent court of law.

35)Party: The DOM operates on a one-party ecclesiastical system.

36)Diplomatic representation in the US:
Because DOM is an ecclesiastical sovereignty, its diplomatic representatives need not be accredited in and by the USA.  DOM has appointed 20 diplomatic representatives in 7 states in the U.S.A.

37)Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission:  N/A
embassy:  N/A
mailing address: N/A
telephone: N/A
FAX: N/A

38)Flag description:  Gold crown with gold and silver seal of Solomon, silver crescent moon and star centered by gold cross with white dove of peace and silver seal of eternity in atmosphere above those three symbols of the great three monotheistic religions.  Original flag was angled gray cross overlapped with  blue Star of David and a golden crown.

39)Economy:

The ecomony is largely based on farming (Ruthenia), fishing (Pacific Ocean) and banking (worldwide).

40)Economic overview:

41)Agriculture:

42)Budget:
revenues: $100,000,000 (estimated 1999)
expenditures: $100,000,000 (estimated 1999)

43)Industries: offshore banking (embryonic), insurance, stock trading, and investments.
Industrial production growth rate: 0%
Electricity; capacity: 0 kW (1999)
Electricity; production: 0 million kWh (1999)
Electricity; consumption: 0 million k w

44)Exports:
total value: $0 million (f.o.b., 1991 est.)
commodities: fish, coconut oil, trochus shells
future partners: US, China, Japan, Australia, NZ

45)Imports:
total value: $0 million (c.i.f., date NA est.)
commodities: 0

46)Economic aid:
recipient: None

47)Currency: 1 Dominion dollar (DOM$) = 100 cents; Holy Half Shekel = 1 ounce of silver

48)Communications:
The Melchizedek government has established satellite communications to be used in Melchizedek's Pacific Territories.  The main telephone number is +(872) 683-137-397 and fax (872) 683-137-398.

49)Transportation
Note: footpaths and by sea and air (Pacific region); cars (Jerusalem and Ruthenia)
Ports and harbors: Taongi Beach, Lagoon and Reef Sea Wall (Pacific region)
Merchant marine: none

51)Airports:
Airports; with paved runways:
total: none
Airports; with unpaved runways:
total: 1 overgrown originally built by Japanese occupation (Taongi)

52) Military
Military branches: no regular military forces authorized (a coast guard may eventually be established); Police Force in organizational stage

53)Military note: National defense is according to the Constitution of the Dominion of Melchizedek (in joint cooperation with the Iroijlaplap of the Northern Ratak Authority for Taongi).

54)Transnational Issues:

55)Disputes; international: the Dominion of Melchizedek claims the international City of Jerusalem as its ancient Capital City which is cross claimed by Israel and the PLO.  Malpelo is claim by Colombia.    Clipperton is claimed as a dependency by France.  Areas of Ruthenia are claimed by Ukrain, Hungary, Slovoka.

Additional Information (some repetitious):
 
 

1) Description2) Activities3) Sovereignty4) Government5) Future Capital City6) Interim Capital City7) History8) Population9) Government Officials10) Legislation11) Diplomatic Recognition12) Commerce13) Governmental Independence14)Human Rights Platform15) DOM Citizenship16) Cultural Freedom17) Citizens Credentials18) The Melchizedek Bible 19) DOM University 20) DOM World Wide Stock Exchange 21) DOM Bar Association 22) DOM Court of Arbitration23) DOM Country Codes24) Inquiries & Information25) Government Communications26) Satellite Communications27) Defined Territories

1)Description:
The Dominion of Melchizedek (mal-khay-zed'-ek) is a worldwide ecclesiastical and constitutional sovereign State inspired by the principles of the Melchizedek Bible. It is the most unique, post-modern state now in existence. Because much of the early information regarding the DOM was almost exclusively found on the Internet, the Dominion of Melchizedek was declared by NBC News to be "the first nation founded in cyberspace". Resulting from acquisitions of islands [a defined territory] throughout the 1990's, tax-free, minimal banking legislation, and maximum banking secrecy laws, Melchizedek is fast becoming known as "the Switzerland of the Pacific".

2)Activities:
The Dominion's activities are 1) governmental, 2) spiritual, 3) political, 4) educational, and 5) humanitarian.

3)Sovereignty:
Melchizedek's eternal sovereignty is referred to throughout Hebrew and Christian Holy Writ. Melchizedek was the righteous king of peace and history's first monotheistic teacher of the Most High God. All monotheistic religions spring from the blessing Melchizedek bestowed upon Old Testament Abraham. The DOM has also been referred to as the "Sovereign Order of Melchizedek", [SOM], the "Kingdom of Melchizedek" [KOM], and/or the "Kingdom of Salem" [KOS].

4)Government:
The Government of the Dominion of Melchizedek (also sometimes spelled, Melchizedech or Melchizedec) consists of three branches, similar to the government structures of the United States of America and of the United Kingdom. These branches are The Executive Branch, The Legislative Branch, and The Judicial Branch.

1. The Executive Branch: is made up of the senior officers of the Dominion, namely the President, Vice President, Cabinet members, Ambassadors, and certain others.
2. The Executive Branch: is made up of the senior officers of the Dominion, namely the President, Vice President, Cabinet members, Ambassadors, and certain others.
3. The Judicial Branch: is comprised of the House of Elders which is the governing body of the Dominion, similar to Parliament in the United Kingdom. Its members are more commonly known as "Elders".