Freda Island: Difference between revisions

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'''Freda Island''' is a [[Pelaxia]]n [[island]] in the [[Okatian Sea]] off [[Australis]] with a large and safe natural harbor. This island is the {{Wp|caldera}} of an active {{wp|volcano}}, which seriously damaged local scientific stations in 1967 and 1969. The island previously held a whaling station; it is now a popular tourist destination with over 15,000 visitors per year with holding two scientific stations from Pelaxia and a small naval base. While various countries have asserted sovereignty, it is still administered as a Pelaxian dependency.

Although most official accounts on Peratran pre-colonial history were destroyed during the era of Daxian occupation, it is known that Freda was inhabited by a collection of tribes before the colonisers arrived. These tribes were known to have one of either two main government types, a council of elders or a single chief with absolute power. Tribal territory usually did not extend beyond the tribe's settlement, though the settlement size could vary from a couple of huts around a plantation to something more reminiscent of a city.

The Freda tribes were organized into small, tight-knit communities known as whanau, which are led by elders and chiefs who are respected for their wisdom and experience. These communities worked together to ensure the well-being of all members, sharing resources and supporting each other through the long Peratran winters.

Gabo de Pogiano's 1615 journey became an embassy after contact with the Daxians. After arriving in the port of Zong on the 10th of October, he had an audience with Digen Youdu, Viceroy of Ganshu; with whom he negotiated an agreement that allowed him to dock in Daxian ports and engage in trade, map out the surrounding seas. Pogiano in turn committed himself to on his return trip, guide a Qian squadron to the Kindreds Sea and the coast of Sarpedon. The ships that would join him on Zhijun were the Falun, the Gong and the Shen Yun; the first Daxian ships to ever make it to Sarpedon. Later contacts with Acirien representatives would lead to a similar agreement. The Qian would send goods such as slaves, bolts of silk, sugarcane, barrels of slozo, pink salt, ebony wood, cinnamon and other spices and in return would receive olives, oil, wine, cattle and fruits.

As the Qian dynasty poured resources into improving the defences of their territories, they sought to strengthen strategic locations to protect against potential threats from rival seafaring powers.

Freda, situated in a strategic position in the southern Pelaxian archipelago, likely became a focal point for fortification efforts due to its proximity to key naval routes. Recognising the island's vulnerability to enemy incursions, the Carto-Pelaxian Commonwealth invested in fortifications to bolster its defences and secure its maritime borders and declared the island an imperial governation. The fortification of Freda may have involved the construction of defensive structures such as coastal forts, watchtowers, and defensive walls.  Overall, the fortification of Freda during this period can be seen as a strategic response to the heightened tensions and security challenges posed by the Daxian Polynesian Wars, aimed at safeguarding Pelaxia's territorial integrity and maritime interests.

== Geography ==

Freda Island is situated in the Okatian Sea, near Australis. It is renowned for its large and secure natural harbor. The island is a caldera of an active volcano, with Mount Charco being its highest point, rising to 542 meters above sea level. The island spans an area of 72 km² and has approximate dimensions of 12 km in both length and width. The geological history of Freda Island is etched into its very foundations. Basalt columns line parts of the coast, remnants of ancient lava flows. Within the caldera lies a thermal lake, heated by geothermal activity below. This lake is not only a natural wonder but also a vital resource for the island’s inhabitants.

== Economy ==

=== Oil Industry ===

===Whaling===

By the second half of the 19th century, the island caught the interest of Pelaxian whose ability to kill huge numbers of whales really ratcheted up as new whaling techniques and technologies coming out of - most notably the exploding harpoon cannon and ‘factory ships’ for processing whales at sea - paved the way for a dramatic expansion of the industry.

Bahía Ballena is a small bay entered between Punta Fidel and Base Pogiano at the east side of the Island. The bay was so named by the Pelxaian Antarctic Expedition 1908–10 under Miguel Charro, because of its use at that time by whalers.

== Demographics ==