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{{Infobox settlement | {{Infobox settlement | ||
| name = Province of Halfway | | name = Province of Halfway | ||
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The etymology of Halfway is not generally known. The original [[Ancient Istroyan civilization|Ancient Istroyan]] authors use a number of names for the island but primarily just refer to the city-states that existed upon it, using terms such as the "Island of Koureiros" and other city-states dependent on context. [[Adonerii]] people and the later [[Great Levantia|Great Levantines]] used the term ''Alvenensis'', the earliest documented form of "Halfway", though the source and meaning of this term is unclear. "Halfway" as a term emerged likely from [[Gothic people|Gothic]] sources probably from the [[Urlazian Kingdom]] and introduced into Ænglish later during the medieval period. A minority of scholars have suggested the "-way" originates as an [[Audonia]]n corruption during the island's brief control by allies of the [[Oduniyyad Caliphate]], but this position has largely been characterized as speculation. | The etymology of Halfway is not generally known. The original [[Ancient Istroyan civilization|Ancient Istroyan]] authors use a number of names for the island but primarily just refer to the city-states that existed upon it, using terms such as the "Island of Koureiros" and other city-states dependent on context. [[Adonerii]] people and the later [[Great Levantia|Great Levantines]] used the term ''Alvenensis'', the earliest documented form of "Halfway", though the source and meaning of this term is unclear. "Halfway" as a term emerged likely from [[Gothic people|Gothic]] sources probably from the [[Urlazian Kingdom]] and introduced into Ænglish later during the medieval period. A minority of scholars have suggested the "-way" originates as an [[Audonia]]n corruption during the island's brief control by allies of the [[Oduniyyad Caliphate]], but this position has largely been characterized as speculation. | ||
== Geography == | == Geography == | ||
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[[File:Monte Scuderi 92.JPG|thumb|left|200px|Mount Pinefor and its adjacent range and highlands, picture here, dominate much of the central part of Halfway.]] | [[File:Monte Scuderi 92.JPG|thumb|left|200px|Mount Pinefor and its adjacent range and highlands, picture here, dominate much of the central part of Halfway.]] | ||
Halfway is a roughly triangular island in the [[Sea of Canete]], sitting about two hundred miles to the east of northeastern [[Sarpedon]]. Halfway has an area of about 10,600 square miles. The island is situated just below the equator. The island was formed from an ancient volcano, known as Mount Pinefor and the associated Mount Pinefor range, which is the primary topographical feature of the island. Mount Pinefor sits at the center of the island, with the island's highest point being roughly its geographical center; Mount Pinefor gently slopes down from the island's center to a ring-shaped coastal plain that makes up the island's coasts. Accordingly, the island's bays and harbors are well suited for human settlement and commercial applications, giving Halfway its historic reputation as a trade center. | Halfway is a roughly triangular island in the [[Sea of Canete]], sitting about two hundred miles to the east of northeastern [[Sarpedon]]. Halfway has an area of about 10,600 square miles. The island is situated just below the equator. The island was formed from an ancient volcano, known as Mount Pinefor and the associated Mount Pinefor range, which is the primary topographical feature of the island. Mount Pinefor sits at the center of the island, with the island's highest point being roughly its geographical center; Mount Pinefor gently slopes down from the island's center to a ring-shaped coastal plain that makes up the island's coasts. Accordingly, the island's bays and harbors are well suited for human settlement and commercial applications, giving Halfway its historic reputation as a trade center. | ||
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In terms of its political geography, Halfway is divided into five counties and one {{wp|Consolidated city-county|consolidated city-county}}, [[Koureiros]]. Each of the five counties is broadly coterminous with the metropolitan area of five of the island's six major cities. They are Elatia County, Pertoulo County, Damasa County, Chasini County, and Pedino County, each being named for the County's major city center. | In terms of its political geography, Halfway is divided into five counties and one {{wp|Consolidated city-county|consolidated city-county}}, [[Koureiros]]. Each of the five counties is broadly coterminous with the metropolitan area of five of the island's six major cities. They are Elatia County, Pertoulo County, Damasa County, Chasini County, and Pedino County, each being named for the County's major city center. | ||
== History == | == History == | ||
Halfway has been home to continuous human settlement since the earliest emergence of {{wp|Cro-Magnon|early modern man}}, and has been home to agricultural societies for thousands of years. Halfway was the site of some of the earliest cities of the [[Ancient Istroyan civilization|ancient Istroyan civilization]]. Istroyan civilization thrived on the island for centuries, even during the reign of the [[Latin Kingdom]] and subsequent control of the island by [[Caphiria]]. The Istroyan civilization of antiquity on the island is considered to have ended with the arrival of the [[Oduniyyad Caliphate]] and its allies to eastern Sarpedon, some of whom conquered Halfway and ruled it as an independent Emirate. The destruction of the island's major cities and disruption of its economy by the arriving Audonians not only ended the island's ancient history, it also weakened it significantly allowing for its liberation during the [[Crusades#First_Crusade_(1084)|First Crusade]]. Halfway was ruled by Levantine nobles from the 1080s until [[1474]] when it was inherited by Urcea's [[House de Weluta]]. It has been ruled by Urcea since. As one of the longest-settled provinces of Urcea, which includes several periods of independence, Halfway has among the most storied histories of all Urcean territories. | Halfway has been home to continuous human settlement since the earliest emergence of {{wp|Cro-Magnon|early modern man}}, and has been home to agricultural societies for thousands of years. Halfway was the site of some of the earliest cities of the [[Ancient Istroyan civilization|ancient Istroyan civilization]]. Istroyan civilization thrived on the island for centuries, even during the reign of the [[Latin Kingdom]] and subsequent control of the island by [[Caphiria]]. The Istroyan civilization of antiquity on the island is considered to have ended with the arrival of the [[Oduniyyad Caliphate]] and its allies to eastern Sarpedon, some of whom conquered Halfway and ruled it as an independent Emirate. The destruction of the island's major cities and disruption of its economy by the arriving Audonians not only ended the island's ancient history, it also weakened it significantly allowing for its liberation during the [[Crusades#First_Crusade_(1084)|First Crusade]]. Halfway was ruled by Levantine nobles from the 1080s until [[1474]] when it was inherited by Urcea's [[House de Weluta]]. It has been ruled by Urcea since. As one of the longest-settled provinces of Urcea, which includes several periods of independence, Halfway has among the most storied histories of all Urcean territories. | ||
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== Economy == | == Economy == | ||
Halfway's economy is primarily reliant on tourism given its tropical location, safe environment, and built-up infrastructure. The island's pink sands are considered to be iconic and a major tourist draw; many huge resorts dot the nation's shoreline. The economy is also dependent on the [[Armed Forces of the Apostolic Kingdom of Urcea]], whose major presence on the island since the [[Occidental Cold War]] has been enhanced. The demilitarization of Lariana in the wake of the [[Assumption Accords]] has | Halfway's economy is primarily reliant on tourism given its tropical location, safe environment, and built-up infrastructure. The island's pink sands are considered to be iconic and a major tourist draw; many huge resorts dot the nation's shoreline. The economy is also dependent on the [[Armed Forces of the Apostolic Kingdom of Urcea]], whose major presence on the island since the [[Occidental Cold War]] has been enhanced. The demilitarization of Lariana in the wake of the [[Assumption Accords]] has led to an increased military presence on the island, strengthening the local economy. Urcea's major [[Royal Navy (Urcea)|Royal Navy]] base for the east [[Sarpedon]] theater is located on Halfway, where it has been since 1905. | ||
[[File:Ariane 5ES rolls out.jpg|thumb|left|200px|Halfway is home to the Lucás IV Starport and Launch Facility (LSLF), the primary headquarter of the Royal Orbital Service and Space command.]] | [[File:Ariane 5ES rolls out.jpg|thumb|left|200px|Halfway is home to the Lucás IV Starport and Launch Facility (LSLF), the primary headquarter of the Royal Orbital Service and Space command.]] | ||
Besides tourist and military sources, a major cornerstone of Halfway's economy is the presence of the [[Royal Orbital Service and Space Command]] (ROSSC), Urcea's space program. The ROSSC's primary spaceport, the [[Royal_Orbital_Service_and_Space_Command#Luc.C3.A1s_IV_Starport_and_Launch_Facility_.28LSLF.29|Lucás IV Starport and Launch Facility]], is on Halfway, whose advantageous near-equator location allows for easy orbital launches. Consequently, the technology sector is very well developed on the island as many engineers and engineering firms have relocated to the island since the ROSSC's establishment in 1952. The ROSSC's service to other Levantine nations, such as Burgundie, has only served to further develop the island's economy and reliance on the technology sector, and the [[Government of Urcea]] has taken special care to use some of the fees assessed for ROSSC services for use in development of the island. | Besides tourist and military sources, a major cornerstone of Halfway's economy is the presence of the [[Royal Orbital Service and Space Command]] (ROSSC), Urcea's space program. The ROSSC's primary spaceport, the [[Royal_Orbital_Service_and_Space_Command#Luc.C3.A1s_IV_Starport_and_Launch_Facility_.28LSLF.29|Lucás IV Starport and Launch Facility]], is on Halfway, whose advantageous near-equator location allows for easy orbital launches. Consequently, the technology sector is very well developed on the island as many engineers and engineering firms have relocated to the island since the ROSSC's establishment in 1952. The ROSSC's service to other Levantine nations, such as Burgundie, has only served to further develop the island's economy and reliance on the technology sector, and the [[Government of Urcea]] has taken special care to use some of the fees assessed for ROSSC services for use in development of the island. | ||
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===Demographics=== | ===Demographics=== | ||
In [[2014]], Halfway's population was estimated to be 10,582,573. Of these, the vast majority identify themselves as [[Urcean people|Urceans]], speak [[Julian Ænglish]], and are members of the [[Catholic Church]]. However, 82% of the island's population self-described themselves as having part or entirely "[[Istroyan people|Istroyan]] ancestry". Additionally, the Julian Ænglish spoken on Halfway is spoken with a regional accent reminiscent of other places in northeastern Sarpedon, as is the case with many residents of the [[The Islands (Urcea)|Urcean insular region]]. Additionally, significant vocabulary additions from Istroyan have created what some have referred to as the "Halfway dialect", though many of these terms have entered common use as slang throughout Urcea since becoming prominent in Halfway. | In [[2014]], Halfway's population was estimated to be 10,582,573. Of these, the vast majority identify themselves as [[Urcean people|Urceans]], speak [[Julian Ænglish]], and are members of the [[Catholic Church]]. However, 82% of the island's population self-described themselves as having part or entirely "[[Istroyan people|Istroyan]] ancestry" with regard to their ethnicity. Additionally, the Julian Ænglish spoken on Halfway is spoken with a regional accent reminiscent of other places in northeastern Sarpedon, as is the case with many residents of the [[The Islands (Urcea)|Urcean insular region]]. Additionally, significant vocabulary additions from Istroyan have created what some have referred to as the "Halfway dialect", though many of these terms have entered common use as slang throughout Urcea since becoming prominent in Halfway. | ||
===Sports=== | ===Sports=== | ||
Halfway does not have a team from any of the Urcean major leagues, but teams from the major leagues as well as college sports are very popular in the province. The University of Koureiros is the most popular sporting institution on the island. UK, as it is known, is generally competitive at the highest levels of Urcean college basketball on a perennial basis. The primary inter-island competition is at the {{wp|high school}} sports level. Indoor ice hockey at the school level is very popular among both students and spectators due to the island's hot climate. Matches in the Halfway Hockey Varsity Association - HHVA - are well attended and feature the largest on-island sporting arenas; attendance of 2,000 or more for a weekly varsity hockey match is not uncommon. | Halfway does not have a team from any of the Urcean major leagues, but teams from the major leagues as well as college sports are very popular in the province. The University of Koureiros is the most popular sporting institution on the island. UK, as it is known, is generally competitive at the highest levels of Urcean college basketball on a perennial basis. The primary inter-island competition is at the {{wp|high school}} sports level. Indoor ice hockey at the school level is very popular among both students and spectators due to the island's hot climate. Matches in the Halfway Hockey Varsity Association - HHVA - are well attended and feature the largest on-island sporting arenas; attendance of 2,000 or more for a weekly varsity hockey match is not uncommon. | ||
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[[Category: Subdivisions of Urcea]] | [[Category: Subdivisions of Urcea]] | ||
[[Category:IXWB]] | [[Category:IXWB]] | ||
[[Category:Map Completion Project]] | [[Category:Istroya]] | ||
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[[Category:Map Completion Project (Completed)]] | |||