Sacard Beach

Sacard Beach, also known simply as Sacard, is a beach and affluent municipality in Castra Vetera, in the Ovalutia Province of Caphiria. The beach itself extends for 8 kilometers (5 mi) while the overall area of the municipality covers 85 km2, with an estimated population of 21,500 inhabitants.

The beach, one of the most famous in Caphiria, was created by a landslide in 1922; it is renowned for its high pinnacle 143 meters above the cove. Another feature of the beach is the natural arch that opens on the right side of the bay. The beach is composed of small white pebbles and is known for its white sand. Due to its overwhelming popularity, the local government has begun collecting an entrance fee of $15 and restricts up to 1,000 people during the peak season. The entrance fee enables the city to "protect and clean" the beach. The coast (approximately 100 meters) is completely closed to traffic of motorboats to preserve the beach from pollution and the assault of tourists.

The municipality of Sacard has been called a city-within-a-city as it features its distinctive gastronomy, exclusive clothing boutiques, beauty salons, extensive water park rides, casinos, and year-round nightlife. As a vacation area, Sacard receives a large influx of tourists during the summer months; the primary tourist areas are clustered around the main beach, which is referred to locally as "downtown." During the summer, house and techno houses (cortiocă) open throughout the day, and beach activities such as beauty contests, surfing, rugby, and beach volleyball take place. The lower part of the hill overlooking the beach is covered with residential buildings that sprawl up the hillside. These apartments are owned mainly by outsiders and remain empty during the September–March off-season. It has been one of Caphiria's pre-eminent resort towns since the early 20th century.

The southern coastline of Urlazio has been famed for its lakes, hot springs, and dunes that possessed "mystical properties" since antiquity and quickly became a health resort area for wealthy Patricians throughout the First Imperium. However, it wasn't until 1793, when Imperator Variaccus turned the area into his personal playground and vacation spot, that it became one of the first modern resort areas in the world. Sacard Beach, in particular, became popular amongst the Caphirian aristocracy and was frequented by artists and writers worldwide by the end of the 20th century. After the Second Great War, Sacard Beach became a popular tourist destination and convention site. Many celebrities and influential people, including musician Adriana Dutra, celebrity chef Antoine Lebâtard, Emperor Hachi of Metzetta, actor Maglius Balvitena, own property in Sacard Beach.

Sacard Beach is a major yachting and cruising area with several marinas along its coast and features 18 golf courses, 14 resorts, over 3,000 restaurants, and several major events are hosted yearly.

History
Sacard Beach has been occupied since at least the 10th Century BC during the time of Adonerum. However, it wasn't until 1246 when explorer Dasto Sacard found the first thermal springs. Named after his wife Adoria, the Adorian Springs' therapeutic properties attracted many visitors. Dasto built many bathhouses where visitors had to pay a fee to use the indoor facilities. He - along with his descendants through the Sacard Estate, constantly renovated the bathhouses, and in 1928, they were equipped with more modern tools for various diagnostic needs, such as the radioscopic and radiograph room and the microscopic and chemical analysis laboratory.

Geography
According to the Köppen climate classification, Sacard Beach has a tropical monsoon climate. Its summers are long and warm, with summer daytime temperatures regularly hitting 30 °C (86 °F), while average temperatures are about 25 °C (77 °F). Temperatures remain high from June to September, the busiest time of the year. Mean temperatures drop below 10 °C (50 °F) for only three months of the year (December to February). The spring and autumn are also warm, although more suited to those who prefer slightly cooler weather. It has never reported temperatures below 0 °C (32 °F).

The coastline of Sacard Beach is generally high and rocky, with long, relatively straight stretches of coastline, many outstanding headlands, a few wide, deep bays, rias, many inlets, and various smaller islands off the coast. It has an ancient geoformation and, unlike mainland Caphiria, is not earthquake-prone. Its rocks date from the Palaeozoic Era (up to 500 million years old). Due to long erosion processes, the highlands, formed of granite, schist, trachyte, basalt, sandstone, and dolomite limestone, average at between 300 to 1,000 m (984 to 3,281 ft).

The Adorian Springs originate from a layer of rock 400 meters (1,300 ft) below the surface, where it is mineralized from contact with limestone and volcanic rocks. The springs are located at the foot of a dolomite mountain wall which favors the formation and replenishment of a mineral water basin. The water then seeps to depths of over 700 m (2,300 ft) and flows underground to a distant aquifer.

Economy
The economy around Saccard Beach has developed into a high-tech cluster, however the economic environment is based on tourism, business fairs, trade and entertainment.

Music
Sacard Beach holds two significant musical events each year. These are:

AVES Festival
The AVES Festival is a week-long international art fair hosted in Sacard Beach in April of every year. Created by music platform giant Songbird in 2011, the event has evolved from a simple two-day music festival into a week-long event featuring art exhibits, experimental and interactive sculptures, buildings, performances, and cars, among other media. Across its 7 days, the AVES attracts over 100,000 visitors. The AVES runs several initiatives that concentrate on the broader art world: it offers over 1,000 grants that support emerging creatives and enables them to go on an artistic journey of their own definition, and it also funds thousands of programs which include artist residencies, education programs, public installations and other innovative artistic projects all over the world.

Leže Weekend
Leže Weekend is an annual two-day music and arts festival held in Sacard Beach. The event features musical artists from many genres of music, including rock, pop, indie, hip hop, and electronic dance music, as well as art installations and sculptures. Across the grounds, several stages continuously host live music. The event showcases popular and established musical artists as well as emerging artists and reunited groups. Leže Weekend is considered a trendsetter in music and fashion, and the event's popularity has only increased; it is the most profitable music festival in Caphiria.

Yachting and sailing
Sacard Beach has over 30 yacht clubs and hosts over 300 events, competitions, and races yearly. The most famous event is the Devča Circuit, which consists of a week-long set of races, beginning with inshore races and climaxing with the primary race - a 243 nautical mile (450 km) circuit race. The distance has been a constant in the race, although the starting and ending points have been adjusted over time.

The Micarum Championship Series is the leading student sporting event in Sarpedon and the world's oldest and largest intercollegiate offshore regatta, having been held every year since 1959. Today, over 3,000 participants coming from 23 countries and from more than 165 universities compete across three diverse sports: The Sea Series (a regatta), the Land Series (a multi-sport raid), and the Sand Series (a game of beach soccer, beach rugby, and beach volley competition). The Sea Series - which takes place in Sacard Beach every August, is the historic heart of the Micarum Championship Series and remains the most popular series. The Sea Series Championship also has the largest trophy in the series. The Micarum Championship Series is unique in that it is organized by students for students; the entire event is organized by students, from the logistics to the communication of the event and its 3 trophies. Divided into four divisions - Logistic, Sports, External Relations, and Communication - with a head office, the association works like a proper authority, with presidents that devote their whole gap year to this mission.

Golf
Sacard Beach is home to 2 of the 6 most exclusive country clubs in Caphiria - the Aroris Club and the Occhrotta. Established in 1888 as a polo club by a group of prominent noblemen, the Occhrotta is notorious for being closely associated with the Tervarinus Estate. Consequently, it is well known for its strict membership policy. For almost half a century, admission remains closed; only sons, daughters, and spouses of existing members are allowed to join (the latter lose their status as members if they seek divorce). The golf courses at the Occhrotta have hosted several world cups and tournaments and are considered "one of the finest and most classic courses in continental Sarpedon." The club has been subsequently referred to as "the most exclusive and segregated club not only in Caphiria but possibly in the world, where one can fraternize with the restrictive high society of the Imperium." Besides golf, the Occhrotta has a long-recorded history and sections in the fields of equestrianism, polo, tennis, padel, and croquet.