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São Ricardo: Difference between revisions
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The archipelago is {{convert|170|km|mi}} northeast of mainland Cartadania and roughly equidistant between it and the Urlazian region. São Ricardo is the northernmost Cartadanian state when taking into account all of its islands and {{wp|islet}}s as a single unit (although Cascália extends further north the main island). São Ricardo, being an archipelago like Porta Bianca, does not border any other Cartadanian state by land. The island of São Ricardo is the largest and most populous island of the archipelago, accounting for nearly sixty-five percent of the state's population. | The archipelago is {{convert|170|km|mi}} northeast of mainland Cartadania and roughly equidistant between it and the Urlazian region. São Ricardo is the northernmost Cartadanian state when taking into account all of its islands and {{wp|islet}}s as a single unit (although Cascália extends further north the main island). São Ricardo, being an archipelago like Porta Bianca, does not border any other Cartadanian state by land. The island of São Ricardo is the largest and most populous island of the archipelago, accounting for nearly sixty-five percent of the state's population. | ||
In addition to the five main islands, the state has many smaller islands and islets. These land features allowed the construction of the bridge and causeway systems between Cartadania's mainland (via [[Alexandria]]) and the Urlazian region (via [[ | In addition to the five main islands, the state has many smaller islands and islets. These land features allowed the construction of the bridge and causeway systems between Cartadania's mainland (via [[Alexandria]]) and the Urlazian region (via [[Maresia]]), two marvels of engineering that would other be impossible (whether physically or financially) without their presence. The Northern Fortuna Islands is a group of nine small, older islands to the northwest of Maceres that extend from Penremo to Mareserta Cay; these are remnants of once much larger volcanic mountains. Across the archipelago are around 130 small rocks and islets, such as Toniche, which are either volcanic, marine sedimentary or erosional in origin. | ||
Magnetic anomalies identified in the vicinity of the archipelago indicate that the structures forming the islands date back 125–150 million years: the islands themselves date from 8 million (in the north and northwest) to 20 million years (in the east and southeast). The oldest exposed rocks occurred on Graciosa and southern peninsula of São Ricardo and are 128–131 million year old pillow lavas. The first stage of volcanism in the islands began in the early {{wp|Miocene}}, and reached its peak at the end of this period, when the islands reached their maximum sizes. Historical volcanism (within human settlement) has been restricted to the island of Gravarre and minor islets into the southern Odoneru. | Magnetic anomalies identified in the vicinity of the archipelago indicate that the structures forming the islands date back 125–150 million years: the islands themselves date from 8 million (in the north and northwest) to 20 million years (in the east and southeast). The oldest exposed rocks occurred on Graciosa and southern peninsula of São Ricardo and are 128–131 million year old pillow lavas. The first stage of volcanism in the islands began in the early {{wp|Miocene}}, and reached its peak at the end of this period, when the islands reached their maximum sizes. Historical volcanism (within human settlement) has been restricted to the island of Gravarre and minor islets into the southern Odoneru. | ||