Beelandia

Beelandia
Subdivision type:	Moorland Antarctic Territory
Capital:	Bee Haven
Population:	2,460
Largest Cities:	Bee Haven
Local Leadership Title:	Commissioner
Local Government:	Witan
Current leader:	Jodie Baker
Local language:	East Moorland Dialect
Local Religion:	Church of the Holy Lance

Beelandia, sometimes referred to as Beeland, is a small Antarctic territory located on the island of Hypernostria. It is part of the Moorland Antarctic Territory, a research colony established to conduct scientific studies on the island. With a population of just over two-thousand inhabitants, most of whom are concentrated in the capital of Bee Haven, it is one of the southmost permanently-occupied locations in the world.

History

The first recorded inhabitants of Beelandia, and indeed Hypernostria, were the Beebians, who founded a kingdom on the island around 1460 AN. The Beebians migrated from Corum, as the frozen wastes of Hypernostria were devoid of any indigenous population prior to their settlement. It has been suspected by historians that they left Corum due to the early wars that afflicted the continent, likely pushed out by the Korhali or Menelmacar when they colonized Jaiha. They survived the hostile climate by hunting whales, seals and by the art of beekeeping. In fact, beekeeping became such an important part of their sustenance and lifestyle that the population took the name of Beebland, later morphing into the modern form of Beelandia or Beeland.

Unfortunately for this early kingdom, the people were warlike and often in conflict with the powers on Corum. This boiled over with an invasion by Babkha and Menelmacar when they fought with Beebland and the United Secular States in what became known as the Misfit War. The conflict ended Beebland as a viable state and the lack of resources made the area undesirable for further colonization, although Menelmacar continued to hold onto it for several more years before it became abandoned outright.

The area was resettled by Riponia when they achieved the conquest of all Corum and began to spread beyond it borders. In an effort to attract colonists they named it Liiansaari, meaning Isle of Plenty. Riponia pushed a strong program to colonize the island, setting up several cities and shipping in colonists. But the viability of a large population in so bleak a landscape proved untenable, and by 1536 Riponia had abandoned the island. Except for a couple of transitory outposts, the island would remain devoid of any measurable population and governance until the arrival of the Moorlander fleet in Bee Haven harbor when they anchored in the summer of 1729; almost two-hundred years after the last Riponians had left.

Geography

Beelandia Colony

Beelandia in detail

Beelandia is situated along a northern promontory of Hypernostria, and has a tundra climate with long, cold winters and short, cool summers. The southern portion of the territory is bounded by the Beelandia Highlands, an upland area that often remains under a blanket of snow throughout the year. The coast is dominated by the Apian Tundra, a large expanse of open plain that is dominated by tundra vegetation, such as short shrubs, herbs, grasses, and mosses. Glacial ice in the two mountains ranges - Mt Golda in the southwest, and the Dyvel Hills in the southeast, feed three freshwater rivers. The western coast is a smooth arching curve which continues the Apian Tundra known as the Arm of Ripon. The eastern end of the territory is dominated by the sharp peninsula called the Cape of Plenty, punctuated by East End Bay.

Roads are few and far between. The primary transportation route runs along the coast from roughly 5km west of Bee Haven and then east to the mouth of Clovervale River where the small village of Clovervale (population 75) sits. This road is known as the Paddock Highway. One southern access road runs from Bee Haven along the Honey River up to the highlands. This road used to extend to Dyvelsten and other inland towns but has since fallen into disuse and is only maintained as far as the edge of the highlands. Beelandia is also served by a small airport located 10km east of the town. Access to areas outside of the paved roads is typically only afforded via off-road vehicles.

While most of the population resides in Bee Haven, several small communities exist, mostly small fishing communities that are only accessible via all-terrain-vehicles. Clovervale, as previously mentioned, sits at the head of the Clovervale River. Other communities include Easton (population 82), located at the head of the Eastern River. Honeoye (population 113) is another small village located about 5km inland along the Honey River near the edge of the Beelandia Highlands. It serves as a last stop for many inland expeditions, offering provisions, fuel and other supplies. Snodgrass (population 96) is located to the west at the terminus of the Paddock Highway and is a small fishing and beekeeping community. Bardzo (population 46) is a small Polonian community on the northern shores of the Cape of Plenty. The remaining hundred or so residents live on large farms in between these areas, mostly within the Apian Tundra.

Research

The arrival of the Moorland Antarctic Expedition in 1729 and the establishment of the Beelandia Protectorate and Moorland Antarctic Territory marked the start of serious research operations on Hypernostria. The Apian Point Research Station was built in VII.1729 about a half kilometer north of Bee Haven. The facility has its own pier to dock research vessels, several buildings to house staff and apparatus, and a weather station. The facility will be used to conduct studies on bee populations, including resiliency, lifecycles and colony activity. Other research will be on flora adaptation to a polar climate in connection with reforestation efforts in Burwood Forest.

Conservation

In late 1729, scientists from the MAE began delineation of conservation boundaries for protected areas. The first swath of land to be designated was the Apian Tundra Conservation Zone, which extends from the eastern banks of the Clovervale River to the western banks of the Eastern River. It extends north to the shore and south into the Dyvel Hills; protecting the headwaters of both rivers. The designation completely limits human activities in the protected area to research, even restricting tourism in order to safeguard honey bee populations.