Vôtaska
Vôtaska (/vɔɪ.taska/) is a state of the Kiravian Federacy located in northern Great Kirav.
| State of Vôtaska Ārka Vôtaska | |
 Flag | |
| Country |  Kiravian Federacy
|
| Theme |  Federation
|
| Capital | Kōlmastron |
| Population | 17,572,000 |
| Chief Executive | Páuv Hōvkastra |
| Chancellor | Erasmus Tarsévin |
| Legislature | State Stanora |
| Stanora seats | 3 |
| Official languages | Coscivian Norborian Coscivian Antaric Coscivian |
| Recognised languages | Korskan Coscivian Venskan Coscivian Erasan Coscivian |
| Postal Abbreviation | VSK |
| Time Zone | Valēka Standard Time |
Society & Culture
The territory of Vôtaska extends into both the North Coast and Mid-Continental cultural regions of Great Kirav, and the state's culture draws primarily from these two regional cultures and the contributions of various Coscivian ethnic groups that have settled in the state. Vôtaska's culture, demographics, geography, lifestyle, and politics are similar to that of its eastern neighbour, Intravia, with both Intravians and Vôtaskans affectionately referring to theirs as "the Twin States" (Medhliārkæ).
Ethnosocial Groups
The largest Coscivian ethnic groups and supergroups living in Vôtaska are the Antaric Coscivians, Norborian Coscivians, Northern Coscivians, Erasan Coscivians, and Arnórian Coscivians, though a wide range of other ethnic groups are present, especially in urban areas of the state. Norborian Coscivians are descended from the earliest waves of Coscivian settlers to arrive in Vôtaska and Intravia overland from the United Provinces, while the Arnórian Coscivians settled along the coast after the Cromwelute Wars after exterminating the Cromwelutes. There are also several corridors of Kandan Coscivian settlement in hemiboreal central Vôtaska where Kandan Kiravic is spoken.
Block settlements
Religion
The major religious groups in Vôtaska are the Catholic Church, the Coscivian Orthodox Church, Læstorianism, Sarostivism, the Archepiscopal Church of Kiravia, the Insular Apostolic Church, and the Lutheran Church of Kirav.
In rural areas, many Vôtaskans are communicants of the United Flock of Christ the Good Shepard, an Artotyrite sect that uses cheese as part of its celebration of the Eucharist.
340 Vôtaskans listed Hockey as their religion on the 21200 Kiravian Census.
Sports and Recreation
Outdoor recreation occupies a very important place in Vôtaskan culture. The state's hundreds of well-conserved glacial lakes are ideal for boating, fishing, sampakuv, and (in the summer) swimming. The state government, as well as countyships and municipalities, maintain extensive park systems to provide the general public with access to the outdoors and maintain Vôtaska's enviable natural landscape.
Hockey, Kiravian-rules football, and sampakuv are the most popular team sports in Vôtaska, with hockey being more popular in the North Coast counties and Kiravian football being more popular in the Mid-Continental counties. In professional sports, the state is home to the Nameisar Teamnamers of the Levantian Hockey League; the X, Y, and Z of the Northern Hockey Union; the Q of the Federated Fieldball League and the R and S of the Unified Fieldball League; and the TUV/VUT of the Sampakuv Premier League of Great Kirav. Vôtaskans are passionate followers of collegiate sports, both the powerhouse Vôtaska State University teams and those of smaller institutions found throughout the state, often as a marker of local identity and pride.
Economy
Vôtaska has a diversified ordoliberal capitalist economy. A predominantly agrarian state until the Template:H:title, Vôtaska's early growth was boosted considerably by the ice trade, and Vôtaska began to industrialise along with the other states of Upper Kirav. Despite significant challenges during the post-Kirosocialist economic transition, most areas of the state have adjusted well to liberalisation, and the state's high human capital, strong social stability, and sound public policies have resulted in robust growth and high standards of living.
Although fewer large nationwide and multinational firms are headquartered in Vôtaska than in the Eastern and Farravonian states, it is home to a significant share of Kiravia's dharnagrám of small- and medium-sized industrial and service enterprises, many of which are family- or employee-owned. In the last two decades, its larger cities have become important destinations for startups and for medium-sized firms relocating from Escarda and expensive Eastern Seaboard cities.
Brewing is a very important industry. There are 165 commercial breweries in Vôtaska, and a further nine monastic breweries with local or regional distribution. Fualmún Brewing SAK, based in Skúamonta, is the third-largest Kiravian brewing company by annual domestic sales, surpased only by Alquifer Incorporated and Xūrosar's Kilika Brewing SAK. It produces several brands of low-cost Kiravian Mild Ales (KMAs) and lagers sold throughout the country.
Like several other Kiravian states, Vôtaska employs a tripartite model for industrial relations.
Vôtaska has very high rates of homeownership and household savings and very low rates of consumer debt, even among the lower income brackets.
Major Companies
- Banya Sēora SAK - Multinational producer of condensed and powdered dairy products.
- Brasik Department Stores SAK - Nationwide retailer.
- Archangel-Caledonian Mills - Largest Kiravian producer and distributor of printer paper.
Notable Vôtaskans
- Féraluir Sekerin - Leader of the Popular Democratic Front caucus.