INFORMATION ABOUT VELKARJA
(1946 and might be updated for later rounds)
Flag (1946)
Map (1946)
REGIONS:
Svelmark - A region with some mountains along the border to Nordhavn, some farmlands close to the river that is the border to the region of Ránmark, some seaports at the coast but mostly boreal forest. City of administration: Granhavn.
Ránmark - Not all that different from Svelmark, but better farmlands, less seaports. City of administration: Karvholm.
Kainmark - A region with mostly boreal forest, also has the largest amounts of lakes in the country. Timber rafting down to the sawmills in the area around Björkås is still large enough to be worth mentioning in 1946. Home to the largest miniority of the country, the Viranians, living in the inner parts of Kainmark, in 1946 still in their traditional ways in log cabins, from hunting, fishing the lakes, small household farming and often naturally skilled in forestry and woodworking. Next after Karsfjell seen as the least developed region by 1946. City of administration: Björkås
Skärvala - The economically most developed region by 1946, with a large amount of seaports it is an important region for trade and for tying together the otherwise very poor infrastructure. The only area that is becoming somewhat urbanized by 1946. City of administration: Svalholm
Karsfjell - A mountain region, poor and underdeveloped by 1946. There are rumours that there might be minerals to find there, but as we speak in 1946, nobody knows yet… Home to the second largest miniority by 1946, the mountain Karsans, a partly nomadic, reindeer herding people, holding on even more to their old ways than the Viranians. City of administration: Karghella.
DEMOGRAPHICS
Population in 1946 around 9 millions. A rather large portion being children and young adults, rather few over 60. Nativity high, but childrens health generally not the best at least in the most poor regions. Most people are poor or very poor. The middle class is small and unstable. Of course the upper class and the extremely wealthy are few - but compared to the small middle class the ratio is very unbalanced to their favour. Most people are living of small scale farming, fishing and forestry work. Some small industries have emerged in mainly the Skärvala region.
CLIMATE AND WEATHER
I have gotten the question, and I am thinking of this and being somewhere rather far north, but the ocean contains warm jet streams, and the bay in the middle of the country will probably affect things a lot. Without being a weather expert, I would guess that the winters would be rather mild temperature wise but more extreme when it comes to snow. The springs short, but dramatic with all the melting of snow and ice that could cause problems. The summers chilly, short but bright, and the autumns long and very damp and foggy. Probably a more harsh climate in Karsfjell and to some extent Kainmark.
INFRASTRUCTURE
At land, very poor. Works reasonably well at sea. Electricity and telephone still a luxury for a lot of the population. The roads are mostly built for horse drawn carriages and its likes, and needs rebuilding. Private motoring was banned in the Karvelian empire and the 1946 lift of the ban will probably have some consequences on its own. Rail only goes between major cities. Right hand traffic.
RELATIONS TO THE NEIGHBOURS
As we speak in 1946, the empire has being split up with a solution that most people are happy with, and after the civil war, nobody wants war anymore. So, the relation is neutral-good in general with the neighbouring countries. nobody says that it constantly will stay that way though.
POLITICS
The country is in 1946 ran by a “temporary” government that has the main focus on building up the country to more modern standards. There is talk about democratic elections being held “at some time in the future”. Nobody knows when yet. Or if it ever will happen.
(If you’re missing something this far I will be happy to fill in, I did what I could think about this far)