1) Location:
Oceania, Among a group of atolls and reefs in the North Pacific Ocean about midway between Hawaii and Papua New Guinea, On the northern end of the Ratak Chain Archipelago of the Marshall Islands. 

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 

4)Area:
land: 62.4 sq km, rank 18 
lagoon: 78.04 sq km, rank 23 
ratio of land to lagoon: 4:5 ratio, rank 7 
number of inlets: 11 
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 contintent: Asia Distance, 4000 km, isolation index: 118 
Land boundaries: foreign lands seperated by sea
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:
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) selNLBA 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:
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 similar to 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 Republic of New Lemuria. 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 0 ft 
highest point: unnamed location 5 mt 

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

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

11)Natural hazards:
occasional typhoons originate from, but do not strike Taongi, threat indicator: 1 

12)Environment issues:
questionable supplies of potable water 

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. 

14) Human occupation:
Development planned. 

15)Human impacts:
Japanese relay station and bomb dump destroyed in 1944.

16)Protected areas:
Protected area coverage indicators - Terrestrial: 7, Marine: 0, protected by order since 1958 (324 ha) 

17)Government:
country name: Taongi 
conventional long form: The Taongi Atoll of the Republic of New Lemuria 
conventional short form: Taongi Atoll Islands 
short-short form: Taongi 

18)Data Code:
999 (temporary) 

19)Government type:
governed and controlled by the Republic of New Lemuria, an ecclesiastical and constitutional state. 

20)National capital:
Jerusalem (Salem) [Biblically claimed] 

21)Administrative divisions:
Taongi Atoll Authority

22)Independence:
1991 

23)National holiday: 
Declaration of Sovereignty of the Republic of New Lemuria, July 18, 1991 

24)Constitution:
July 18, 1991 

25) Legal system: 
Legislation is enacted by the Republic of New Lemuria House of Elders, executed by the Executive Branch with the Supreme Court of Republic of New Lemuria the final court of jurisdiction.

26) Suffrage: 
18 years of age; universal 

27)Nationality:
noun: Taongian and Republic of New Lemuriaian (singular and plural) 
adjective: Taongian and Republic of New Lemuria

28)Ethnic groups:
various 

29) Religions: 
various religious persuasions (100% monotheists) 

30)Languages:
English, Hebrew, Rotuman, and Rutenian with English translation required for all non-English filings. 

31)Literacy:
definition: age 12 and over can read and write 
total population: Estimated to reach 10,000 by end 2001 
male: 50% 
female: 50% (2000 est.) 

The Government of the Republic of New Lemuria (also sometimes spelled, Melchizedech or Melchizedec) consists of three branches, similar to the structures of the United States of America and that of the United Kingdom. 

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:
Only one political party has applied for status.  The House of Elders elects the President.

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

Republic of New Lemuria Embassy-at-Large, 585 Box Canyon Road, Canoga Park, Ca., 91304 (USA)  Tel: 1-818-703-6236   Fax: 1-818-887-3217 (appointment required before visit)  ambassador@melchizedek.com

Embassy of Republic of New Lemuria 
Telephone 00 1-202-508-3692 (on forwarding) 
Fax 00 1-202-637-0145 (on forwarding) 
Telex 292388 DOMBNK UR       E-mail: embassy@melchizedek.com

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:
Fishing (Pacific Ocean) and banking (worldwide). Republic of New Lemuria derives most of its income from bank licensing, incorporation formation, Melchizedek Bible sales and donations from citizens. Copra abundant in the region and could be cultivated on Taongi.

40)Economic overview:

The government of the Republic of New Lemuria, while not yet permanently settled on Taongi, is planning a capital to be established in the Taongi atoll islands. 

41)Agriculture:
Copra abundant in the region and could be cultivated on Taongi.

42)Budget:
revenues: $5,000,000 (estimated 2002) 
expenditures: $5,000,000 (estimated 2002)

43)Industries:
offshore banking (embryonic), insurance, stock trading, and investments. Tourist facilities are planned to be an important part of the Taongian economy.
Industrial production growth rate: 0% 
Electricity; capacity: 0 kW (1999)  A 1 megawatt power plant is under construction, will be completed on 2004.
Electricity; production: 0 million kWh (1999) 
Electricity; consumption: 0 million k Wh 

44)Exports:
total value: $2,000,000 (F.O.B., 2002 est.)
commodities: fish, coconut oil, trochus shells 

45)Imports:
total value: $4,000,000 (C.I.F., 2000 est.)
commodities: 0 

46)Economic aid:
recipient: NONE 

47)Currency:
1 Dominion dollar (DOM$) = 100 cents 

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

49)Transportation:
Note: Motor bike paths and by sea and air 
Ports and harbors: Taongi Beach, Lagoon and Reef Sea Wall 
Merchant marine: none 

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

52) Military: 
Military branches: no regular military forces (a coast guard may eventually be established); Police Force in organizational stage with recent appointment of Minister of Police.

53)Military note:
Taongian defense is according to the Constitution of the Republic of New Lemuria in joint cooperation with the Northern Ratak Authority. 

54)Transnational Issues: Republic of New Lemuria is also a transnational nation-state.

55)Disputes; international:
On the front page of the May 21, 1999 RMI Journal, the government of the RMI Foreign Affairs Minister is alleged to have "discouraged all diplomatic and commercial ties with the 'Republic of New Lemuria'"; however, the map surrounding that statement records Republic of New Lemuria as the political authority over Taongi also know as Bokaak; and the map linked above posted on the RMI's official web site as of October 31, 2000 fails to reflect the area wherein Taongi lies north of RMI territory, north of Bikar.  There is only one reference in the Constitution of the RMI where it refers to "Bokak" in Article IV Section 2 it reads, "Bokak .... shall ... be included in the electoral district with which it is most closely associated, (but it is only associated with the Iroijlaplap and not a district) pursuant to the customary law or any traditional practice."  The customary law and traditional practice of Taongi or Bokak is that the exclusive land rights including sovereignty belong to the Iroijlaplap. Even if it were argued that this obscure reference to Bokak placed it under the control of the RMI, a closer inspection of the signatures on said constitution reveals that the Iroijlaplap of Bokak never sign it, so the reference would be inapplicable.  However, here is another quote from the same Constitution."Article X Traditional Rights Section 1. Traditional Rights of Land Tenure Preserved. (1) Nothing in Article II shall be construed to invalidate the customary law or any traditional practice concerning land tenure or any related matter in any part of the Marshall Islands, including, where applicable, the rights and obligations of the Iroijlaplap, ..... (2)  Without prejudice to the continued application of the customary law pursuant to Section 1 of Article XIII, and subject to the customary law or to any traditional practice in any part of the Marshall Islands, it shall not be lawful or competent for any person having any right in any land in the Marshall Islands under the customary law or any traditional practice to make any alienation or disposition of that land, whether by way of sale, mortgage, lease, licensing or otherwise, without the approval of the Iroijlaplap, Iroijedrik, where necessary, Alap and the Senior Dri Jerbal of such land, who shall be deemed to represent all  persons having an interest in the land.    In the case of Taongi or Bokak,  there is no Senior Dri Jerbal or Iroijedrik since it was an uninhabited atoll when Republic of New Lemuria acquired its sovereign lease to develop and administer it; and both the Iroijlaplap and the Alap also known as "Alab" have signed the master lease in sovereignty to Republic of New Lemuria under their absolute authority. 

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