Official Name: Великое Герцогство Беринговa (The Grand Dutchy of Beringovia)
Common Name: Беринговa (Beringovia)
National Motto: "Для Бога и родина" (“For God and the Motherland”)
National Anthem: Для Бога и родина (For God and the Motherland)
Government Type: Constitutional Monarchy; Parliamentary Democracy.
Capital: Новый Петроград (Novopetrograd)
Official Language(s): Russian
Independence: 1 August 1928 (date of official declaration, though it had functioned as a de-facto independent state for most of the preceding ten years.
National holiday: Independence Day, 1st Monday in August
Official Religion: Orthodox Christianity is the established religion of the royal court, though otherwise there is complete freedom of religion and the rest of the state operates on a basically secular basis.
National Currency: Ruble; 100 Kopeks = 1 Ruble; 1 Ruble = US$2.54 (as of 5 September, 2011)
HISTORY:
Numerous indigenous peoples occupied Beringovia for thousands of years before the arrival of European peoples to the area. The Tlingit people developed a matriarchal society in what is today Southeast Beringovia, along with parts of British Columbia and the Yukon. Also in Southeast were the Haida, now well known for their unique arts, and the Tsimshian people, whose population were decimated by a smallpox epidemic in the 1860s. The Aleutian Islands are still home to the Aleut people's seafaring society, although they were among the first to be exploited by the Russians. Western and Southwestern Beringovia are home to the Yup’ik, while their cousins the Aluiq lived in what is now Southcentral Beringovia. The Gwich’in people of the northern Interior region are primarily known today for their dependence on the caribou. The North Slope and Little Diomede Island are occupied by the widespread Inuit people.
The first European contact with what is now Beringovia occurred in 1741, when Vitus Bering led an expedition for the Russian Navy aboard the St. Peter. After his crew returned to Russia with sea otter pelts judged to be the finest fur in the world, small associations of fur traders began to sail from the shores of Siberia towards the Aleutian islands. The first permanent European settlement was founded in 1784. Between 1774 and 1800 Spain sent several expeditions to Beringovia in order to assert its claim over the Pacific Northwest. In 1789 a Spanish settlement and fort were built in Nootka Sound.
New Archangel (formerly Sitka), on Baranof Island in the Alexander Archipelago in what is now Southeast Beringovia, became the capital of Russian America. Before the 1870's Beringovia was never fully colonized, and the colony was never very profitable. In 1867 Russia nearly sold the colony to the United States, though the deal with nixed at the last moment by the untimely death of US Secretary of State William Seward. Beginning in the 1870's the Russian government adopted a program of encouraging settlement in the colony, especially in the south-central and interier regions, and the expanding population consolidated Russian control over the area. The Grand Duchy of Beringovia was officially created in 1901 as a constituent part of the Russian Empire. At the same time the capital was transferred to Novopetrograd (New Saint Petersburg) on the Cook Inlet.
Following the the 1917 Russian Revolution the Bolseviks were never able to establish control over the Grand Duchy, in large part due to the intervention of the United States which feared the encroachment of communism into North America. After the Bolseviks consolidated their control over the rest of the Russia, Beringovia became a de-facto independent state. The chaos of the Russian Civil War saw an influx of settlers fleeing Bolshivik rule. The influence of these settles has resulted in a deep strain of anti-communism and political conservatism which has characterized Beringovia's political culture throughout its entire history, down to the present day. In 1928, the Grand Duchy officially declared itself a soverign and independent realm, but it wasn't until 1943 that the Soviet Union, under pressure from the other Allies, officialy recognized Beringovia's independence. In the post-war period fear of Soviet domination, if not outright annexation, compelled Beringovia to strenghen its alliance with the United States and become a charter member of NATO. At the same time, it undertook a series of reforms which transformed its political system from an aristocratic ologarchy to a Western Europoean style parliamentary democracy. The latter half of the 20th century saw rapid economic develpment, due in large part to development of its enormous mineral wealth, along with increasing economic and cultural ties to the rest of North America. Gorbachev's political reforms in the 1980s resulted in a period of reapproachment with Russia which accelerated with the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991. In the mid-1990's the Grand Duchy was offered autonomy as an incentive to join the Russian Federation, but it politely declined. Since then the Beringovian government's stated policy has been to cultivate cordial relations with Russia, though relations have sometimes been strained by the Grand Duchy's continued alliance with the United States and membership in NATO.
The first European contact with what is now Beringovia occurred in 1741, when Vitus Bering led an expedition for the Russian Navy aboard the St. Peter. After his crew returned to Russia with sea otter pelts judged to be the finest fur in the world, small associations of fur traders began to sail from the shores of Siberia towards the Aleutian islands. The first permanent European settlement was founded in 1784. Between 1774 and 1800 Spain sent several expeditions to Beringovia in order to assert its claim over the Pacific Northwest. In 1789 a Spanish settlement and fort were built in Nootka Sound.
New Archangel (formerly Sitka), on Baranof Island in the Alexander Archipelago in what is now Southeast Beringovia, became the capital of Russian America. Before the 1870's Beringovia was never fully colonized, and the colony was never very profitable. In 1867 Russia nearly sold the colony to the United States, though the deal with nixed at the last moment by the untimely death of US Secretary of State William Seward. Beginning in the 1870's the Russian government adopted a program of encouraging settlement in the colony, especially in the south-central and interier regions, and the expanding population consolidated Russian control over the area. The Grand Duchy of Beringovia was officially created in 1901 as a constituent part of the Russian Empire. At the same time the capital was transferred to Novopetrograd (New Saint Petersburg) on the Cook Inlet.
Following the the 1917 Russian Revolution the Bolseviks were never able to establish control over the Grand Duchy, in large part due to the intervention of the United States which feared the encroachment of communism into North America. After the Bolseviks consolidated their control over the rest of the Russia, Beringovia became a de-facto independent state. The chaos of the Russian Civil War saw an influx of settlers fleeing Bolshivik rule. The influence of these settles has resulted in a deep strain of anti-communism and political conservatism which has characterized Beringovia's political culture throughout its entire history, down to the present day. In 1928, the Grand Duchy officially declared itself a soverign and independent realm, but it wasn't until 1943 that the Soviet Union, under pressure from the other Allies, officialy recognized Beringovia's independence. In the post-war period fear of Soviet domination, if not outright annexation, compelled Beringovia to strenghen its alliance with the United States and become a charter member of NATO. At the same time, it undertook a series of reforms which transformed its political system from an aristocratic ologarchy to a Western Europoean style parliamentary democracy. The latter half of the 20th century saw rapid economic develpment, due in large part to development of its enormous mineral wealth, along with increasing economic and cultural ties to the rest of North America. Gorbachev's political reforms in the 1980s resulted in a period of reapproachment with Russia which accelerated with the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991. In the mid-1990's the Grand Duchy was offered autonomy as an incentive to join the Russian Federation, but it politely declined. Since then the Beringovian government's stated policy has been to cultivate cordial relations with Russia, though relations have sometimes been strained by the Grand Duchy's continued alliance with the United States and membership in NATO.
GOVERNMENT:
Head of State: Her Royal Highness Grand Dutchess Marina Vladimorvna Romonova (reigned since 21 April, 1992)
Head of Government: Prime Minister Kondrati Nikolaiovich Ivonov (since 16 October 2009)
Legislature: unicameral Duma consists of 69 seats; members directly elected by popular vote to four-year terms from (mostly) multi-member districts on the basis of a single-transferrable vote.
Judiciary: Supreme Court (nine justices, appointed by the Grand Duchess upon nomination by the Judicial Nomination and Tenure Committee)
Political parties:
Major Parties: Christian Democratic Party (center-left); Motherland Party (center-right)
Minor Parties: *Cooperative Coalition (leftist/environmentalist); Libertarian Party; Party of Slavic Unity (far right Pan-Slavic party)
* Formed through the merger of the Social Democratic and Green parties
Political pressure groups: Beringovia Orthodox Church; Beringovian Council of Evangelical Churches; League of Native Peoples (indigenous group); Union of Slavic Peoples (far-right racist group); Beringovian Peoples Union (anti-racist group); Beringovian Chamber of Commerce (business group); Beringovian Labor Federation (labor unions); Beringovian Environmentalist League
Administrative divisions: 16 Self-Governing Okrugs (districts); 11 Non Self-Governing Okrugs
Constitution: effective 1 September 1947
Legal system: Civil law system based on conitinental European model, with influences from common law systems
International law organization participation: accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction with reservations.
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Head of Government: Prime Minister Kondrati Nikolaiovich Ivonov (since 16 October 2009)
Legislature: unicameral Duma consists of 69 seats; members directly elected by popular vote to four-year terms from (mostly) multi-member districts on the basis of a single-transferrable vote.
Judiciary: Supreme Court (nine justices, appointed by the Grand Duchess upon nomination by the Judicial Nomination and Tenure Committee)
Political parties:
Major Parties: Christian Democratic Party (center-left); Motherland Party (center-right)
Minor Parties: *Cooperative Coalition (leftist/environmentalist); Libertarian Party; Party of Slavic Unity (far right Pan-Slavic party)
* Formed through the merger of the Social Democratic and Green parties
Political pressure groups: Beringovia Orthodox Church; Beringovian Council of Evangelical Churches; League of Native Peoples (indigenous group); Union of Slavic Peoples (far-right racist group); Beringovian Peoples Union (anti-racist group); Beringovian Chamber of Commerce (business group); Beringovian Labor Federation (labor unions); Beringovian Environmentalist League
Administrative divisions: 16 Self-Governing Okrugs (districts); 11 Non Self-Governing Okrugs
Constitution: effective 1 September 1947
Legal system: Civil law system based on conitinental European model, with influences from common law systems
International law organization participation: accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction with reservations.
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
POPULATION
Population: Approximately 1.1 million
Nationality:
noun: Beringovian(s)
adjective: Beringovian
Ethnic Groups:
White (predominanly Slavic): 79.4%
Indigenous Beringovian (Eskimo, Aleutian, Amerindian): 7.9%
East Asian: 2.2%
Other: 0.7%
Mixed Race: 9.8%
Nationality:
noun: Beringovian(s)
adjective: Beringovian
Ethnic Groups:
White (predominanly Slavic): 79.4%
Indigenous Beringovian (Eskimo, Aleutian, Amerindian): 7.9%
East Asian: 2.2%
Other: 0.7%
Mixed Race: 9.8%
GEOGRAPHY:
Geographic coordinates:
Latitude: 51°20'N to 71°50'N
Longitude: 130°W to 172°E
Area:
total: 1,717,854 sq km
land: 1,518,800 sq km
water: 199,054 sq km
Area - comparative: Exactly the same size as Alaska (actually, in our timeline, we occupy exactly the same space Alaska would otherwise have occupied)
Elevation Extremes:
Lowest point: Sea Level
Highest point: Mount Denali 6,194 m
Land boundaries:total: 2,475 km
border countries: Canada
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 nautical miles
contiguous zone: 24 nautical miles
exclusive economic zone: 200 nautical miles
Georgraphic Description: Beringovia occupies the extreme northwest corner of North America. It is borderd by Canada to the East, the Pacific Ocean to the South, the Arctic Ocean to the North, and is separated from Russia to the west by the Bering strait.
Climate: The climate in the Southeast is a mid-latitude oceanic climate in the southern sections and a subarctic oceanic climate in the northern parts. On an annual basis, the Southeast is both the wettest and warmest part of Beringovia with milder temperatures in the winter and high precipitation throughout the year. Some areas receive over 7,000 mm of precipitation a year. This is also the only region in Beringovia in which the average daytime high temperature is above freezing during the winter months.
The climate of Novopetrograd and South Central Beringovia is mild by Beringovian standards due to the region's proximity to the seacoast. While the area gets less rain than the Southeast, it gets more snow, and days tend to be clearer. On average, Novopetrograd receives 400 mm of precipitation a year, with around 190 cm of snow, although there are areas in the South Central which receive far more snow. It is a subarctic climate due to its brief, cool summers.
The climate of Western Beringovia is determined in large part by the Bering Sea and the Gulf of Beringovia. It is a subarctic oceanic climate in the southwest and a continental subarctic climate farther north. The temperature is somewhat moderate considering how far north the area is. This region has a tremendous amount of variety in precipitation, ranging from less than 250 mm of precipitation annually (technically a desert) on one extreem, to around 2,500 mm on the other.
The climate of the interior of Beringovia is subarctic. Some of the highest and lowest temperatures in Beringovia occur around the area near Tananagrad. The summers may have temperatures reaching into the 90s°F (the low to mid 30s °C), while in the winter, the temperature can fall below −60 °F (−51.1 °C). Precipitation is sparse in the Interior, often less than 250 mm a year, but what precipitation falls in the winter tends to stay the entire winter.
The highest and lowest recorded temperatures in Beringovia are both in the Interior. The highest is 100 °F (37.8 °C) recorded just 13 kilometers inside the arctic circle on June 27, 1915. The lowest official Beringovian temperature is −80 °F (−62.2 °C) on January 23, 1971.
The climate in the extreme north of Beringovia is arctic with long, very cold winters and short, cool summers. Even in July, the average low temperature in Barrograd at the extreem northern tip of Beringovia is 34 °F (1.1 °C). Precipitation is light in this region, with many places averaging less than 250 mm per year, mostly as snow which stays on the ground almost the entire year.
Terrain: With its myriad islands, Beringovia has nearly 54,720 km of tidal shoreline. Many active volcanoes are found in the Aleutian Islands and in coastal regions. Beringovia has more than three million lakes. Marshlands and wetland permafrost cover 487,747 square km, mostly in northern, western and southwest flatlands. Glacier ice covers some 41,440 square km of land and 3,110 square km of tidal zone. The Bering Glacier complex near the southeastern border with Yukon covers 5,827 square km alone. With over 100,000, Beringovia has about half of the world's glaciers.
Latitude: 51°20'N to 71°50'N
Longitude: 130°W to 172°E
Area:
total: 1,717,854 sq km
land: 1,518,800 sq km
water: 199,054 sq km
Area - comparative: Exactly the same size as Alaska (actually, in our timeline, we occupy exactly the same space Alaska would otherwise have occupied)
Elevation Extremes:
Lowest point: Sea Level
Highest point: Mount Denali 6,194 m
Land boundaries:total: 2,475 km
border countries: Canada
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 nautical miles
contiguous zone: 24 nautical miles
exclusive economic zone: 200 nautical miles
Georgraphic Description: Beringovia occupies the extreme northwest corner of North America. It is borderd by Canada to the East, the Pacific Ocean to the South, the Arctic Ocean to the North, and is separated from Russia to the west by the Bering strait.
Climate: The climate in the Southeast is a mid-latitude oceanic climate in the southern sections and a subarctic oceanic climate in the northern parts. On an annual basis, the Southeast is both the wettest and warmest part of Beringovia with milder temperatures in the winter and high precipitation throughout the year. Some areas receive over 7,000 mm of precipitation a year. This is also the only region in Beringovia in which the average daytime high temperature is above freezing during the winter months.
The climate of Novopetrograd and South Central Beringovia is mild by Beringovian standards due to the region's proximity to the seacoast. While the area gets less rain than the Southeast, it gets more snow, and days tend to be clearer. On average, Novopetrograd receives 400 mm of precipitation a year, with around 190 cm of snow, although there are areas in the South Central which receive far more snow. It is a subarctic climate due to its brief, cool summers.
The climate of Western Beringovia is determined in large part by the Bering Sea and the Gulf of Beringovia. It is a subarctic oceanic climate in the southwest and a continental subarctic climate farther north. The temperature is somewhat moderate considering how far north the area is. This region has a tremendous amount of variety in precipitation, ranging from less than 250 mm of precipitation annually (technically a desert) on one extreem, to around 2,500 mm on the other.
The climate of the interior of Beringovia is subarctic. Some of the highest and lowest temperatures in Beringovia occur around the area near Tananagrad. The summers may have temperatures reaching into the 90s°F (the low to mid 30s °C), while in the winter, the temperature can fall below −60 °F (−51.1 °C). Precipitation is sparse in the Interior, often less than 250 mm a year, but what precipitation falls in the winter tends to stay the entire winter.
The highest and lowest recorded temperatures in Beringovia are both in the Interior. The highest is 100 °F (37.8 °C) recorded just 13 kilometers inside the arctic circle on June 27, 1915. The lowest official Beringovian temperature is −80 °F (−62.2 °C) on January 23, 1971.
The climate in the extreme north of Beringovia is arctic with long, very cold winters and short, cool summers. Even in July, the average low temperature in Barrograd at the extreem northern tip of Beringovia is 34 °F (1.1 °C). Precipitation is light in this region, with many places averaging less than 250 mm per year, mostly as snow which stays on the ground almost the entire year.
Terrain: With its myriad islands, Beringovia has nearly 54,720 km of tidal shoreline. Many active volcanoes are found in the Aleutian Islands and in coastal regions. Beringovia has more than three million lakes. Marshlands and wetland permafrost cover 487,747 square km, mostly in northern, western and southwest flatlands. Glacier ice covers some 41,440 square km of land and 3,110 square km of tidal zone. The Bering Glacier complex near the southeastern border with Yukon covers 5,827 square km alone. With over 100,000, Beringovia has about half of the world's glaciers.
ECONOMY
Overview:
The 2010 gross domestic was $46 billion. Its per capita personal income for 2010 was 15,765 Rubles (about US$49,500.) The oil and gas industry dominates the Beringovia’s economy, with more than 80% of central government revenues derived from petroleum extraction. Beringovia’s main export product (excluding oil and natural gas) is seafood, primarily salmon, cod, Pollock and crab.
Agriculture represents only a fraction of the Beringovia’s economy. Agricultural production is primarily for domestic consumption and includes nursery stock, dairy products, vegetables, and livestock. Manufacturing is limited, with most foodstuffs and general goods imported from elsewhere.
Employment is primarily in government and industries such as natural resource extraction, shipping, and transportation. Its industrial outputs are crude petroleum, natural gas, coal, gold, precious metals, zinc and other mining, seafood processing, timber and wood products. There is also a growing service and tourism sector. Tourists have contributed to the economy by supporting local lodging.
Energy: Beringovia has vast energy resources. Major oil and gas reserves are found along the northern coast and Cook Inlet basins. The highest yielding oil field in North America, typically producing about 400,000 barrels per day (64,000 m3/d), is located near the northeast corner of the country. Beringovian oil production peaked in 1988 and has declined 60% since.
The Trans-Beringovian Pipeline can transport and pump up to 2.1 million barrels (330,000 m3) of crude oil per day. Substantial coal deposits are found in Beringovia’s bituminous, sub-bituminous, and lignite coal basins, but they have yet to be extracted to any significant degree. It is estimated that there are 85.4 trillion cubic feet (2,420 km3) of undiscovered, technically recoverable gas from natural gas hydrates along the northern coast. Beringovia also offers significant hydroelectric power potential from its numerous rivers. Large swaths of the coastline offer wind and geothermal energy potential as well. Until recently these sources have remained undeveloped, though there are several major public works projects underway aimed at developing hydroelectric and wind power generation.
Cost of living: The cost of goods in Beringovia has long been significantly higher than in other industrialized countries, though the situation has improved in recent years, especially in Novopetrograd and, to lesser extent in Tananagrad. The introduction big box stores and discount stores opened by U.S. and Canadian chains (such as Wal-Mart and Canadian Tire) has done did much to lower prices. However, rural Beringovia continues to suffer from high prices for food and consumer goods, due to the relatively limited transportation infrastructure. Many rural residents come into the cities and purchase food and goods in bulk from warehouse clubs.
Agriculture/Fishing/Food Production: Due to the northern climate and steep terrain, relatively little farming occurs in Beringovia. Most farms are in either the Matanuska Valley (about 65 km northeast of Novopetrograd), the Kenai Peninsula (about 100 km southwest of Novopetrograd, and in the Delta area (about 160 km southeast of Tananagrad.) The short 100-day growing season limits the crops that can be grown, but the long sunny summer days make for productive growing seasons. The primary crops in the Matanuska Valley and Kenai Peninsula are potatoes, carrots, lettuce, and cabbage, while crops in the Delta area consist primarily of barley and hay.
Beringovia has an abundance of seafood, with the primary fisheries in the Bering Sea and the North Pacific, and seafood is one of the few food items that is often cheaper within the Beringovia than outside it. Many Beringovians take advantage of salmon seasons to harvest portions of their household diet while fishing for subsistence, as well as sport. This includes fish taken by hook, net or wheel.
Hunting, primarily caribou, moose, and Dall sheep is common in the Beringovia, particularly in remote bush communities where is most often done for subsistence rather than recreation. In rural areas, subsistence hunting and gathering is an essential activity due to the expense of importing food from outside. An example of a traditional native food is Akataq, sometimes called Eskimo ice cream, which can consist of reindeer fat, seal oil, dried fish meat and local berries.
Transportation:
Roads:
Beringovia’s road system covers a relatively small area of the country, linking the central population centers and the Beringovia Highway, the principal route which links Beringovia with the rest of North America. Most communities in the Southeast have no direct connection to the road system except by car ferry. The western part of Beringovia has no road system connecting the communities with the rest of the country.
Rail:
The Beringovian National Railroad played a key role in the development of Beringovia in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. It links north Pacific shipping through providing critical infrastructure with tracks that run from Baronovograd on Ressurection Bay on the southern coast, thence though the South Central Region by way of Novopetrograd, and thence to Tananagrad in the Interior. The National Railroad is not directly connected to the rest of North America’s rail system, though currently the government is studying the feasibility of establishing such a connection through Yukon Territory and British Columbia. The cities, towns, villages, and region served by rail tracks are known as "The Railbelt". More than 90% of Beringovia’s population lives within 30 kilometers of the main rail line. In recent years, the ever-improving paved highway system began to eclipse the railroad's importance in Beringovia economy.
In the Southeast, the White Pass and Yukon Route is a narrow gauge railway which connects Beringovia with British Columbia and Yukon Territory in Canada, crossing the border at White Pass Summit. This line is now mainly used by tourists, often arriving by cruise liner.
Marine transport:
Many cities, towns and villages in Beringovia do not have road or highway access; the only modes of access involve travel by air, river, or the sea. A well-developed government-owned ferry system serves the cities of Southeast, the Gulf Coast and the Alaska Peninsula. The ferries transport vehicles as well as passengers, and also serves as an important marine link for many communities in the Southeast Island Region. The system also extends to Bellingham, Washington in the US and Prince Rupert, British Columbia in Canada. In recent years, cruise lines have created a summertime tourism market, mainly connecting the British Columbia and Pacific Northwest of the United States to Southeast Beringovia and, to a lesser degree, towns along the gulf coast.
Air transport:
Cities not served by road, sea, or river can only be reached only by air, foot, dogsled, or snowmobile accounting for Beringovia’s extremely well developed bush air services. Novopetrograd and to a lesser extent Tananagrad, are served by many major international airlines. Because of limited highway access, air travel remains the most efficient form of transportation in and out of Beringovia.
The government heavily subsidizes regular air service to most villages and towns within Beringovia through Beringovia Airlines, which is the only major airline offering domestic travel with jet service (sometimes in combination cargo and passenger planes) from Novopetrograd and Tananagrad to several regional hubs and other larger communities. The smallest towns and villages must rely on scheduled or chartered bush flying services using general aviation aircraft. Much of this service can be attributed to the Beringovia’s postal service which subsidizes bulk mail delivery to rural communities, and requires that air mail carriers offer passenger service to the these communities. Many communities have small air taxi services, which originated from the demand for customized transport to remote areas. The world's busiest seaplane base is located adjacent to the main terminal of Novopetrograd International Airport. Beringovia has the highest per capita number of licensed pilots in the world, at more than 1% of the total population.
Other transport:
In areas not served by road or rail, primary transportation in summer is by all-terrain vehicle and in winter by snowmobile. The dogsled is the quintessential Beringovian transportation method, though since it has since been rendered largely obsolete by the snowmobile. However, it remains a popular sport, with races held nationwide every winter, the most famous being the one from Novopetrograd to Tananagrad.
The 2010 gross domestic was $46 billion. Its per capita personal income for 2010 was 15,765 Rubles (about US$49,500.) The oil and gas industry dominates the Beringovia’s economy, with more than 80% of central government revenues derived from petroleum extraction. Beringovia’s main export product (excluding oil and natural gas) is seafood, primarily salmon, cod, Pollock and crab.
Agriculture represents only a fraction of the Beringovia’s economy. Agricultural production is primarily for domestic consumption and includes nursery stock, dairy products, vegetables, and livestock. Manufacturing is limited, with most foodstuffs and general goods imported from elsewhere.
Employment is primarily in government and industries such as natural resource extraction, shipping, and transportation. Its industrial outputs are crude petroleum, natural gas, coal, gold, precious metals, zinc and other mining, seafood processing, timber and wood products. There is also a growing service and tourism sector. Tourists have contributed to the economy by supporting local lodging.
Energy: Beringovia has vast energy resources. Major oil and gas reserves are found along the northern coast and Cook Inlet basins. The highest yielding oil field in North America, typically producing about 400,000 barrels per day (64,000 m3/d), is located near the northeast corner of the country. Beringovian oil production peaked in 1988 and has declined 60% since.
The Trans-Beringovian Pipeline can transport and pump up to 2.1 million barrels (330,000 m3) of crude oil per day. Substantial coal deposits are found in Beringovia’s bituminous, sub-bituminous, and lignite coal basins, but they have yet to be extracted to any significant degree. It is estimated that there are 85.4 trillion cubic feet (2,420 km3) of undiscovered, technically recoverable gas from natural gas hydrates along the northern coast. Beringovia also offers significant hydroelectric power potential from its numerous rivers. Large swaths of the coastline offer wind and geothermal energy potential as well. Until recently these sources have remained undeveloped, though there are several major public works projects underway aimed at developing hydroelectric and wind power generation.
Cost of living: The cost of goods in Beringovia has long been significantly higher than in other industrialized countries, though the situation has improved in recent years, especially in Novopetrograd and, to lesser extent in Tananagrad. The introduction big box stores and discount stores opened by U.S. and Canadian chains (such as Wal-Mart and Canadian Tire) has done did much to lower prices. However, rural Beringovia continues to suffer from high prices for food and consumer goods, due to the relatively limited transportation infrastructure. Many rural residents come into the cities and purchase food and goods in bulk from warehouse clubs.
Agriculture/Fishing/Food Production: Due to the northern climate and steep terrain, relatively little farming occurs in Beringovia. Most farms are in either the Matanuska Valley (about 65 km northeast of Novopetrograd), the Kenai Peninsula (about 100 km southwest of Novopetrograd, and in the Delta area (about 160 km southeast of Tananagrad.) The short 100-day growing season limits the crops that can be grown, but the long sunny summer days make for productive growing seasons. The primary crops in the Matanuska Valley and Kenai Peninsula are potatoes, carrots, lettuce, and cabbage, while crops in the Delta area consist primarily of barley and hay.
Beringovia has an abundance of seafood, with the primary fisheries in the Bering Sea and the North Pacific, and seafood is one of the few food items that is often cheaper within the Beringovia than outside it. Many Beringovians take advantage of salmon seasons to harvest portions of their household diet while fishing for subsistence, as well as sport. This includes fish taken by hook, net or wheel.
Hunting, primarily caribou, moose, and Dall sheep is common in the Beringovia, particularly in remote bush communities where is most often done for subsistence rather than recreation. In rural areas, subsistence hunting and gathering is an essential activity due to the expense of importing food from outside. An example of a traditional native food is Akataq, sometimes called Eskimo ice cream, which can consist of reindeer fat, seal oil, dried fish meat and local berries.
Transportation:
Roads:
Beringovia’s road system covers a relatively small area of the country, linking the central population centers and the Beringovia Highway, the principal route which links Beringovia with the rest of North America. Most communities in the Southeast have no direct connection to the road system except by car ferry. The western part of Beringovia has no road system connecting the communities with the rest of the country.
Rail:
The Beringovian National Railroad played a key role in the development of Beringovia in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. It links north Pacific shipping through providing critical infrastructure with tracks that run from Baronovograd on Ressurection Bay on the southern coast, thence though the South Central Region by way of Novopetrograd, and thence to Tananagrad in the Interior. The National Railroad is not directly connected to the rest of North America’s rail system, though currently the government is studying the feasibility of establishing such a connection through Yukon Territory and British Columbia. The cities, towns, villages, and region served by rail tracks are known as "The Railbelt". More than 90% of Beringovia’s population lives within 30 kilometers of the main rail line. In recent years, the ever-improving paved highway system began to eclipse the railroad's importance in Beringovia economy.
In the Southeast, the White Pass and Yukon Route is a narrow gauge railway which connects Beringovia with British Columbia and Yukon Territory in Canada, crossing the border at White Pass Summit. This line is now mainly used by tourists, often arriving by cruise liner.
Marine transport:
Many cities, towns and villages in Beringovia do not have road or highway access; the only modes of access involve travel by air, river, or the sea. A well-developed government-owned ferry system serves the cities of Southeast, the Gulf Coast and the Alaska Peninsula. The ferries transport vehicles as well as passengers, and also serves as an important marine link for many communities in the Southeast Island Region. The system also extends to Bellingham, Washington in the US and Prince Rupert, British Columbia in Canada. In recent years, cruise lines have created a summertime tourism market, mainly connecting the British Columbia and Pacific Northwest of the United States to Southeast Beringovia and, to a lesser degree, towns along the gulf coast.
Air transport:
Cities not served by road, sea, or river can only be reached only by air, foot, dogsled, or snowmobile accounting for Beringovia’s extremely well developed bush air services. Novopetrograd and to a lesser extent Tananagrad, are served by many major international airlines. Because of limited highway access, air travel remains the most efficient form of transportation in and out of Beringovia.
The government heavily subsidizes regular air service to most villages and towns within Beringovia through Beringovia Airlines, which is the only major airline offering domestic travel with jet service (sometimes in combination cargo and passenger planes) from Novopetrograd and Tananagrad to several regional hubs and other larger communities. The smallest towns and villages must rely on scheduled or chartered bush flying services using general aviation aircraft. Much of this service can be attributed to the Beringovia’s postal service which subsidizes bulk mail delivery to rural communities, and requires that air mail carriers offer passenger service to the these communities. Many communities have small air taxi services, which originated from the demand for customized transport to remote areas. The world's busiest seaplane base is located adjacent to the main terminal of Novopetrograd International Airport. Beringovia has the highest per capita number of licensed pilots in the world, at more than 1% of the total population.
Other transport:
In areas not served by road or rail, primary transportation in summer is by all-terrain vehicle and in winter by snowmobile. The dogsled is the quintessential Beringovian transportation method, though since it has since been rendered largely obsolete by the snowmobile. However, it remains a popular sport, with races held nationwide every winter, the most famous being the one from Novopetrograd to Tananagrad.