Caplona

Caplona
Total Area:	km²
Area of major landmass:	{{{area_landmass}}} km²
Population:	0
Date founded:	{{{date_founded}}}
Countries:	0
Dependencies:	0
Languages:	English, German
Largest Cities:	none

Caplona is a large island close to the southern pole of Micras.

Origins and etymology

Caplona was added, along with several other islands and the continent of Cibola, in Series Seven as part of Orion's plan to expand available land area. Its existence caused an initial flurry of controversy, but it was eventually accepted as canon. The name Caplona comes from the Island of Caprona, the fictional island in Edgar Rice Burroughs' Caspak Trilogy. The name was altered slightly to Caplona, which in itself is a contraction of the longer name of Cape Lonely, an unofficial name for the island.

Geography

True to its origins, Caplona is a frozen wasteland, locked in the perpetual icepack of the South Pole. From a distance one would only see the foreboding landscape of snow and mountains. But the mountains are actually a ring, with a large valley protected by the surrounding peaks. This valley is also home to a volcanic hotspot with many thermal vents. The thermal radiation heats the valley, providing a livable region for people to survive. Condensation caused by the warm air escaping the valley creates heavy cloud formations along the tops of the surrounding mountains, which for many years helped hide the area from discovery. The clouds also increase the local greenhouse effect, thereby trapping more heat in the valley and perpetuating the cyclical environment that sustains life.

History

Caplona was occupied for many years by Gralus, and then by a succession of other nations.