Golden Shanty of Saint Bens

Overview

The Golden Shanty of Saint Bens an enormous region that stretches vertically from north to south touching both poles. It is home to many nations, the largest being Pochinco and Alfredistan. Other nations include: Yamatuko Dynasty, Saint Marc du Lac Long, New Heckleburg, San Bransisco, Folkington and DeBlanci Populo. UN members include San Bransisco, DeBlanci Populo, Yamatuko Dynasty, Pochinco and Alfredistan.

UN World Factbook Entry

This wonderful little enclave exists physically and spiritually 2.3 miles underneath the Seattle Space Needle. It is also formerly known as the "we hate foghorns" State and currently reAKAed as the "on second thought, yeah, actually we love foghorns" State. The Shanty is also home to the universe's largest desert. The "Sandy Coca Cola Desert" makes Tatooine look like a circular donkey. So welcome! Or as we like to say: HERAUSKOMMEN!

Herauskommen!

Herauskommen is an Alfredistani word used to describe an intense or impossible happiness. The word itself has no real meaning in modern times, though before it was brought to Saint Bensish culture it was a german word meaning "get out". The origins of the word came about when the Alfredistan people drove the Germans out of the capital in 2019. Being mostly an English/Spanish speaking country at the time, they had no idea what they were saying when they began exclaiming "HERAUSKOMMEN, HERAUSKOMMEN!" Or, literally telling the germans, "GET OUT, GET OUT!

The word is now used rarely in it's country of origin, but is thriving throughout the rest of the region ever since it became the Alfredistani government's tag line while running for UN delegate in 2007. Herauskommen is especially popular in the nation of Folkington, where the word is used so often that visitors have difficulty communicating with the natives.

Sandy Coca Cola Desert

"Petunia" and size comparison (average adult)

The Shanty is also home to the largest desert in the universe, as mentioned in the World Factbook. Spanning over 3 billion square miles, the Sandy Coca Cola desert is also the most biologically diverse desert as well as the largest. While it is mostly sand, it also hosts millios of square miles of cacti forrests and the largest and oldest cactus in history. At over 500 feet and still growing, "Petunia" can be seen from miles around and is the highlight of the area.

Although no nations reside in the desert, it is home to numerous animal species, most notably the Tuskan Raiders who were featured (although falsely credited) as themselves in the Star Wars series of movies. Several road runners also call the desert home as well as a thriving camel communities.

The name "Sandy Coca Cola" itself was once thought to have come from the beverage company who may have at one point bought the naming rights. The true story is the exact opposite, however, as the soda was named for it's color which strongly resembles the color of the northern sands which cover 75% of the total landmass. The dark brown color comes from years of "pollution" which was not actually trash but a failed effort to make the area more hospitable using an experimental technique to enrich the soil.

The Holy Hymn of Saint Benedict

The Holy Hymn reads as the following:

'O Shantyland, Land of Tree and Sea,

'O Shantyland, we all hold our hearts to thee!

What lands compare to your holy majesty,

Your radiance of Land and Sky are really my cup of tea,

You fell all rivals, in your desert heat,

Deserts, Mountains and Pochincans to Greet!

Never forget, Alfredi's don't eat cheese!

'O Shantyland, Land of Tree and Sea,

'O Shantyland, we all hold our hearts to thee!