United Cities of the Vales
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This article or section is a work in progress. The information below may be incomplete, outdated, or subject to change. |
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| Capital | Bashkim (de facto) | ||
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| Demonym | Valeser | ||
| - Adjective | Valeser | ||
| Government | Confederation of independent city states | ||
| - Head of State | Council of the Twelve | ||
| - Executive | Assembly of the Vales | ||
| - Legislature | Assembly of the Vales | ||
| Establishment | 9.IX.1717 | ||
| Area | |||
| Population | 8,560,000 (1717 est.) | ||
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| Driving side | Varies | ||
| Track gauge | No railways | ||
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| Abbreviation | UCV | ||
The United Cities of the Vales is a confederation of independent city states founded in 1717 out of the proto-polities of the Keltian interior. The country is centered around the Verdhe, Sev and Kesk rivers extending through the rolling hills and mountains to the southwest of Lake Morovia. The most densely populated area are the fertile lowlands to the southwest of Lake Morovia, serving as the melting pot of the country, with different cultures and peoples mixing. A large share of the food produced in the country comes from the lowlands, with the valleys contributing coal mining, forestry, cattle farming, wheat and potato farming and dairy production to the economy. The city-states operate under a system of internal free trade. Each state ensures that all needs of their people are met, and then trade remaining resources inside the country. Whatever is left is pooled together and exported to bring products into the country that are not produced domestically, as well as foreign currency. The proceeds from foreign trade are retained by the confederate government to finance its budget, with any remaining funds being distributed between the city-states based on population.
Geography
The main territory of the country consists of a number of valleys opening onto three rivers, the Verdhe, Sev and Kesk rivers. The rivers are named after their colors in the native language of the area. The Verdhe ("yellow" in Verdhese) river runs through soils heavy with sand, which leak into the water coloring it yellow. The Sev ("black" in Sevan) river slowly meanders through a landscape littered with open coal mines, while the Kesk ("green" in Keskish) river suffers from overfertilisation, leading to algal bloom each year, turning the river green. The rivers merge before emptying into Lake Morovia, creating a thick layer of clay up to 80 meters deep, topped by a layer of loam several meters thick. This area forms the breadbasket of the country, while also being home to a rich flora and fauna. The valleys in turn are surrounded by hills and mountains, with the highest peaks reaching 1,500 meters. Each valley floor is also crossed by one or more creeks, rivers and streams, providing the local communities with fresh water, fishing opportunities and in several areas, a means of transportation.
Economy
The Verdhe valley, with its people residing in small communities in several city-states, is mainly focused on sheep and goat farming, as well as small scale logging and vegetable farming. Vast grazing areas are common in the valley, interspersed with small farms. As a consequence of the animals farmed in the valley, several sheep and goat cheeses as well as milk are produced there. The Sev valley on the other hand is heavily affected by vast deposits of coal which started to be mined eons ago. Since many of the mines are day mines with little to no concern for the environment, coal leaks into the rivers and streams of the valley turning them black. Coal mining has affected both the culture and language of the Sev people. Several larger city-states are responsible for a large share of the coal produced in the country. Other industries in the valley are potato and legumes farming. The Kesk valley is mainly focused on the farming of saffron, wine and various fruits, such as apples, pears and plums. It is primarily farming that cause the overfertilisation contributing to green algal bloom in the river.
The plains between the mouths of the valleys and Lake Morovia are responsible for the production of a large majority of the food consumed by Valesers. The area around Bashkim and between the three rivers consists mostly of vast farmland, growing various kinds of cereals and other crops. The main crops grown in the area are wheat, sugarcane, oilseeds, tomatoes, peppers, beans, cucumbers, onions, lettuce, radishes, eggplant, carrots, strawberries, sage, basil and thyme. In the area between the Sev and Kesk rivers, several large farms grow cinnamon, roses and other ornamental flowers. Vales is one of the largest producers of ornamental flowers in the world. The industry that exists in the country is centered around the Storin river and consists mostly of food and floral industry, coal export, and fisheries industry. Energy production comes mostly from several hydroelectrical and coal plants. Mechanical and electronic equipment, vehicles, chemicals, fuels and other more advanced goods are imported.
