A Japanese construction company plans to build a huge independent city-state, akin to the legendary Atlantis, in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. The city, dubbed 'Marination' would have about one million inhabitants, two airports, and possibly even a spaceport. Marination, if built, would be a separate country but could serve as a home for international organizations such as the United Nations and the World Bank Aside from the many political and social problems that would have to be solved, the engineering task envisaged is monumental. The initial stage requires the building of a circular dam 18 miles in diameter attached to the seabed in a relatively shallow placed in international waters. Then, several hundred pumps, operating for more than a year, would suck out the seawater from within the dam. When empty and dry, the area would have a city constructed on it. the actual land would be about 300 feet below sea level. According to designers, the hardest task from an engineering point of view would be to ensure that the dam is leak proof and earthquake proof. If all goes well, it is hoped that Marination could be ready for habitation at the second decade of the twenty-first century Whether anyone would want to live in such an isolated and artificial community, however, will remain an open question until that time.