Mérosar
Mérosar is the capital city of the Kiravian state of Metrea. Situated on Metrea Bay at the base of the peninsula of the same name, it is one of the oldest Coscivian settlements on the west coast of Great Kirav. It is consistently ranked among the best midsized cities of the Kiravian Federacy to live in by the periodicals that rate such things, citing its pleasant climate, high-standard of living, and quality cultural, social, and recreational institutions.
Mérosar | |
|---|---|
State Capital | |
 | |
| Country |  Kiravian Federacy |
| State |  Metrea |
| Countyship | Bay |
| Government | |
| • Provost | Antonin Vírtaléva (UIC) |
| Time zone | UTC-2:30 (West Kiravian Time) |
| Climate | Mesotemperate oceanic |
History
Humans have probably inhabited the vicinity of Mérosar since the Late Ice Age, or about 14,000 years, through the earliest substantial archæological stratum yet unearthed near the city contains mesolithic artifacts dated to the Society II period circa 9300-8000 BC. The people with the oldest known continuous presence in the area are the ancestors of the Varekthari urom tribe, whose territory encompassed the entire basin surrounding the bay and its encircling highlands during the Archæic Era. Reconstructions of prehistoric migrations of people bearing the Y-DNA haplotypes Ʒ and Q lead scientists to believe that their progenitors (hypothesised by some to have been seafarers of Audonian/Cronite origin) made landfall on Great Kirav in central Farravonia, and Mérosar is considered a likely location for this to have occurred, given its fine natural harbour. Gascanic-speaking peoples expanded into the area during the Formative Era, displacing the Varekthari from much of their traditional range. Gascanic-speaking tribes would in turn be displaced by Kasavic-speakers (antique Coscivians) who erected the many megalithic structures now noted as landmarks in the countryside surrounding Mérosar.
In 1935, Mérosar was heavily damaged in the Battle of Mérosar during the Farravonian Counterrevolution, in which the Kiravian People's Army captured the city and defeated its anticommunist defenders, which included the Federalist Kiravian Army and the Catholic & Republican Army, a volunteer force. The loss of Mérosar would prove a critical defeat for the Federalists, with their remaining lines on the mainland collapsing in short order afterward.
Government
Mérosar is governed by a municipal council elected every three years, comprised of a Provost (elected at-large by alternative vote) and four other Councilmen elected by plurality vote to represent each of the city's 'quarters'. The Provost chairs the council and appoints a professional city manager to oversee day-to-day administration of the city. The council is responsible for passing the municipal budget, and can enact local ordinances and taxes in accordance with its charter, the Fundamental Statute of Metrea, and applicable state laws.
Economy
Mérosar has maintained one of the fastest-growing local economies in Kiravia since the end of Kirosocialism. Much of this growth has been driven by the information technology and biotechnology sectors, as well as other knowledge-intensive services and skill-intensive, high value-added manufacturing.
Mérosar is a port city serving as an important transportation link with Atrassica, Æonara, Paulastra, the Cape, and the Mid-Atrassic States.
The Government of Metrea and the City of Mérosar are the two largest employers in the city, followed by the Kiravian Defence Executive. The largest private-sector employer is ShadowTex Networks SAK, a subsidiary of Paramount Atrassic.
The Mérosar Internet Exchange, an internet exchange point, is located in Mérosar, as is much of the core infrastructure supporting the non-Internet videotext online service MetNet.
Demographics
West Coast Marine Coscivian is the primary language spoken in the city, and Coscivian Catholicism is the predominant religion.
The largest ethnic groups in Mérosar are those from the surrounding region, including Kastrovans, Serradans, Vèuskans, Lunstans, Ibarrans, and West Coast Ĥeirans among Coscivians, Ekxo people (a Kiravite Minority), and urbanised members of the Varekthari and Yutuxno urom tribes. Ethnic Kir are the largest ethnic group originating outside Farravonia. Immigrant populations are mainly from South Crona, including Tierradorian-Kiravians, or East Audonia (mainly Metzettans and Daxians whose forebears came to Metrea during the Silver Rush). There is a small but growing presence of North Cronans, mainly from the Mid-Atrassic States.
Points of Interest
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- Mérosar Citadel - The oldest Kiravian military installation on the West Coast still in operation. The fort is currently home to:
- Strategic Linguistics Institute - An establishment of the Defence Executive that provides advanced language instruction and translation services to the Kiravian Armed Forces.
- Farravonian Battlegroup Headquarters - Joint command centre for the state defence forces of Metrea, Ilfenóra, and Cascada.
- Cetacean Institute - Premier marine biology institute dedicated to the study of cetaceans.
- Mérosar Institute of International Relations - Postgraduate school and research institution for international relations and comparative politics.
- VTTK DáltaRea - (Vodax Timoniútremitōklen DátaRea - "Public Economic Investment Company DáltaRea") Semiprivate corporation responsible for introducing DáltaRea, one of the first pre-World Wide Web online services, which continues to support 4.5-5.2 million connexions per month.