Santiago

Santiago, officially the State of Santiago, is a state located in the central region of Cartadania, southeast of the Jordas Bay. It is the second-most populous Cartadanian state as well as the second-most extensive. The state capital, Suriana, is located in the state's northwestern interior, just east of Umi ridge, a topographic isolate range separated from the southern ranges by Haiki Pass. The Newport-Suriana Metro Area is the state's most populous urban region, with 10.5 million residents, and Newport, the major anchor of the aforementioned metropolitan area is Santiago's most populous city, with 4.1 million residents, making it the second-most populous city in Cartadania.

The state takes its name from the imperial designation and naming as 'Sancti', Latin for 'saint'. Santiago arose from the lands of western Verona, itself more than twice its current size prior to partitioning into Santiago and Trentino. Until 1593, Sancti was Sancti Regio, Verona, after which it became an autonomous province. Owing to its large size, Santiago has been a powerhouse within Cartadania, often referred to as the country's breadbasket due to its large agricultural sector. The main producer of coffee and milk in the country, Santiago is also known for its heritage of architecture and colonial art in historical cities such as São Caexias, Espiga, Asturia, Diamantina, Itaquagança, Aracha, Santiga, and Guarugoinhas. The landscape of the state is marked by mountains, valleys, and large areas of fertile land. In the Matai Mountains, Sete Lagoas, Baixa Cordillera, and Lagoa Santissima, the caves and waterfalls are the attractions.

Santiago's €3.6 trillion economy is the second largest in Cartadania. In 2027, Santiago's per capita personal income was €61,870, ranking 15th in the nation. The unemployment rate in June of the same year was 2.7% and ranked as the 1st in Cartadania. Santiago exports nearly €150 billion in goods made in the state, the 5th highest among all states. The state's economy relies mainly on tourism, agriculture, defense, and transportation, which developed in the late 18th century. Santiago's large population and economy also give it considerable influence in national politics, voting almost overwhelmingly in favor of SDP candidates, which, when paired with Verona, can nearly determine an election with their combined 164 electors. The state has some of the country's largest universities, with its flagship University of Santiago ranking among the top ten public universities in the country. Santiago is also among the ten overall best states based on metrics such as governance, healthcare, education, and economic opportunity.

Geography
Santiago is situated in the central portion of Cartadania along the Jordas Bay in what is known as the Luson region. It is bordered on the north by the states of Victoria and Alexandria, Verona and Trentino on the east and south respectively, and Lombardia and Ferara the west. It is the second-largest state in Cartadania, with only Verona being larger. The water boundary is 121.7 nautical miles (140 mi in open water) offshore of the mainland in the Jordas Bay, or just offshore of Carina Island (Carina County).

At 3,429 meters (11,249 ft) above mean sea level, Meridian Apex (Apex Meridiana) is the highest point in Santiago and the seventh-highest highpoint of any state. Much of the state south of west of the Ridge and Valley region lies at an elevation below 91 meters and is fairly level. However some places such as Clearwater have promontories that rise 50 to 100 ft (15 to 30 m) above the water, completely different from the flat surrounding areas. Much of Central and Eastern Santiago, typically 155 mi (249 km) or more away from the coastline, have rolling hills with elevations ranging from 100 to 250 ft (30 to 76 m). On average, Santiago is one of the flattest states in Cartadania.