Relative location: The Grand United Peoples of Malikov is located within the region of Azhukali. It is located north of the Pudite Empire, north-west of Ustio, and West of Prycuse. It is the first nation encoutered in the north-western waters of Azhukali.
Absolute location: Undetermined
Area: 1,206,483 sqkm (749,708.5 sqmi)
Comparative area: N/A
Bordering nations: N/A
Coastline Length: 20,694 km (12,859.25 mi)
Maritime claims:
Territorial Waters (12 nautical miles): 727.5 sqkm (392.82 sqmi)
Contiguous Waters (24 nautical miles): 1013.85 sqkm (555.53 sqmi)
Exclusive Economic Waters (200 nautical miles): 2926.75 sqkm (1603.7 sqmi)
Terrain: Malikov, with its large northern mountain range, has weather systems, and thus terrain, that varies greatly over the entire country. There are multiple rivers that come down out of the ice-capped mountains, which dominate the northern portion of Malikov, essentially creating a twenty-thousand high barrier of rock and ice. There are, officially, no islands within Malikov territory.
The northern territory of Trew rests at the base of a massive mountain range, (which spans from the East coast, to the West coast, of Malikov) under which lie massive reserves of oil. As such, Trew is relatively under populated, when compared to its larger Southern cousins.
The Eilodon mountain range is very mineral rich, but also very perilous. The mountain range is incredibly high, an average height of 21,672 feet, almost reaching as high as 26,000 feet in some places. Avalanches are a problem year round, particularly in the summer months. The mountains are mined heavily for their minerals, as the number of people living there (and thus affected by the impact of heavy mining) are greatly reduced.
The Southern territory’s in Malikov are perfect for farming, thanks to multiple freshwater streams that pour out of the northern mountains. The soil is incredibly fertile, and the weather provides a year round growing season for farmers (if they plant the correct crops). The southern area of Malikov is divided into three provinces. Farthest east is Herra, which is centred around the Eastern Bay. Teraff is farthest west, and encompasses Malikovs Western shore, which extends into the West Gulf. The middle territory, called Vokilam, rests in the heart of Malikov. A large river runs down the territory, which meets up with a few smaller rivers in the far south, and forms a small, but treacherous, marshland, which runs horizontally across the southern coast for roughly ten miles in either direction.
Climate: Malikov, being a large country, has weather systems unique to each geographic area of the country. The east and west coasts have very benign weather systems, attributed to its proximity to large cold freshwater sources (ie. The Western Gulf, The Eastern Bay). Precipitation levels remain average there, and the winters are rarely snowy. During the summer, temperatures rarely peak over 20 degree’s Celsius.
The Eilodon remains snow-locked year round, making farming impossible. Winter time can see up to four feet of snow in the foothills on a bad day, and up to ten feet on the mountain side. Temperatures rarely peak above freezing, save during the summer months, during which the snow is turned into runoff, and drains into southerly running rivers.
The central portion of Malikov receives very little precipitation, though large rivers crisscrossing the land provide more than enough freshwater for the inhabitants. Temperatures here area generally the most varied in the country. During the winter, temperatures are generally quite cold, dropping regularly to -30, while during the summer, temperatures commonly hit +30.
Malikov’s generally cold climate is due mainly to the prevailing winds, and the Eilodon range. West winds drive off of the Eilodon range, and meet oncoming East winds, that would normally drive across Malikov in an East-to-West direction. This point of oncoming forces drives the warmer East winds farther south, while dropping their temperature in the meantime, before they begin to curl back in on themselves and rejoin the Western winds. This results in a loop, which drives cooling winds throughout the whole of Malikov, dropping the temperature far lower than that of its neighbours. Therefore, the borders of Malikov are much colder then the center, as the winds affect it much less.
Elevation extremes: The highest point in Malikov would be ice-capped mountain of Deman, which extends 7,747m (25,416.62ft) into the sky. Mount Deman is located within the Eilodon mountain range that runs the length of Malikov’s northern borders. The lowest point in Malikov is the Abyssal Canyon, though one can hardly call it abyssal. It drops roughly 500 meters below sea level, and is located roughly fifty miles offshore, in the Western Gulf.
Natural resources: Malikov’s mineral riddled mountains, fertile farmland, and large fishing industry are the major natural resources that the United Peoples exploit.
A large mountain range covers the entire northern border in the United peoples, and is filled with all kinds of precious minerals, such as gold, platinum, and iron. As well, copious amounts of oil and coal have been found in, and underneath, the mountains foothills, most of which is not exported but used for Malkovian projects. Deep within the mountain range are large gem mines, the rarest, but also most difficult to mine, being diamonds of incredible purity.
In the southern territories of Malikov almost two thirds of the moist, mineral rich soil is devoted to farmland. Major crops include wheat, canola, and almost all types of grain. Major herds include dairy cows, meat cows, and some types of sheep. Horse farms are few and far between. The United Peoples is completely self sufficient off of its own crops and herds.
The gulf on the western side of Malikov is filled with all kinds of fish, and strict fishing laws keep it that way. Still, through diligence monitoring, and breeding programs, large amounts of fish are caught each year, although none of it is exported to keep the cost of fish down within the United Peoples.
Land use: Malikov is divided into roughly two different geological areas, though each of these areas have their own unique districts, devoted to different parts of Malikov’s economic structure.
Trew provides Malikov with all necessary raw minerals, and local factories and production facilities, ensure that metalwork goods are of a local origin. Raw minerals, as well as some processed materials, are exported in large quantities from Trew. Due to Trew’s relative under population, it is also used as the major military training ground for new Malkovian recruits.
Herra is where the major city centres are located. As Herra borders a large bay, with Prycuse gaurding any approach from the East, almost all of Malikov’s luxury items are imported, and exported, through here.
Vokilam is the major breadbasket of Malikov, accounting for more than seventy-five percent of all crops, both vegetable and grain. Utilization of the multiple rivers running out of the north provide the entire territory with ready access to large amounts of fresh water, which are vital to maintain the large number of crop farmers.
Teraff is the major importer, and exporter, of non-luxury items, such as heavy equipment, automobiles, factory equipment, ect. Large factories in the northern regions make good use of the mountain ranges various minerals. These raw goods are shipped all over the world, making Teraff the economical backbone of Malikov. The south-east of Teraff is devoted to livestock, very little of which is exported. As well, there is a booming fishing industry in Teraff, although laws have been enacted to prohibit the sale of any fish caught within Malkovian waters, to any non-Malkovian nation, or citizen.
Irrigated land: Malikov’s crop farms are mostly located in Vokilam, with a few in the far west reaches of Herra. Water runs down out of the northern mountains year round, though during the winter water levels drop significantly. Farmers plant low maintenance crops during this time, ones that require little water, and are well adapted to harsh conditions. During the summer water floods down through Vokilam, and the real harvest season begins. Crops receive all water necessary for maximum growth potential. Most of the water is stored in large man-made lakes, and is released during times of drought. Locals joke with each other that if global-warming was real they’ll all need to buy boats in a few years, or they’ll all drown.
Natural hazards: Malikov is home to very few natural disasters. The only one that has any presence is the ever present hazard that is the mountain range. The northern mountain range can be quite deadly. Rockslides and avalanches occur year round, though due to the lack of human habitation the losses these occurrences incur are minimal. The unique weather pattern around Malikov generally sweeps foreign weather systems away from Malikov, though the outer ranges will sometimes receive odd weather. The Western Gulf of Malikov is protected from tsunamis, and tidal waves, by natural land barriers that are wide enough to prevent any waves of danger from reaching the mainland. The Eastern Bay while not protected by any land barriers, is at the very back of a deep harbour. For a tsunami to hit the eastern shores, it would have to be extremely powerful, as most wear themselves out on the north and south shores coming in, as well as accurately aimed, or it would expend itself on non-Malkovian shores.
Environmental issues: Malikov is currently not facing any major environmental issues, although many environmental activist group have criticized the amount of carbon gases released by Malkovian factories, and production facilities. However, due to scientific inquiry groups that have investigated the environmental impacts these emissions have on the environment, and populous of Malikov, these claims are generally dismissed. Studies have shown that the weather patterns around Malikov drive the gases almost immediately from Malkovian airspace, and that so called “global warming” is a completely natural event, virtually free from human interference. Attempts to accelerate, and slow the effects of global warming, result in a lot of wasted money, and as such, the United Peoples decide not to waste any money on it.
Current Environmental Agreements: Malikov is currently in no environmentally binding contracts with any other nations, or organizations.
Posted: Wed Aug 05, 2009 11:38 am