Antimovo & Samokov

Geography

Mount Vuratanukhid, an active volcano that occasionally spews smoke and ash but has not erupted since 1902

The leatherback turtle on the beaches of Samokov where it lays its eggs.

Antimovo & Samokov actually consists of several islands, islets and atolls that are fairly far from each other. The majority of the land mass consists of the islands of Antimovo, Samokov and Yukaniyov (in that order of size by surface area). These They form part of an archipelago known by many names such as the Crencello Arc in Staynish. They are fairly small, not more than 16,000 square kilometres or 6,177 square miles. The islands are largely mountains and were formed from tectonic plate movements. They remain volcanically active, with the last volcanic eruption being in 1992. The islands are covered in thick forests. The weather is often hot and humid.

The islands receive rain for much of the year. In some parts of the year, the rain can get especially harsh and the wind strong. The islands are pronento flooding, resulting in many houses especially traditional ones being built on stilts or high ground. The islands have suffered substantial damage to their natural forests due to clearing for the construction of housing, the space port and military base and part of the marine ecosystem has been damaged by the dredging of the sea floor to construct a naval and commercial port. Nevertheless, the government has invested into efforts to reduce dependence on hydrocarbons through renewable energy sources namely offshore wind farms and parts of the islands have been protected as natural reserves.

The islands are inhabited by a diversity of plants and animals. Several species of turtles use the islands to lay eggs and every year, millions of baby turtles hatch and leave the beaches of the islands where they will return as adults. The island is also home to many different crustaceans. A bizarre natural phenomenon takes place every year where the islands are inundated with small red crabs. Many of the crabs die off from cannibalism, dehydration, and are an important food source for many of the birds that live on the island such as the Paradise tanager, hoatzin, Scarlet Ibis, Agami heron, and the wattled currasow. The waters around the islands are the home of pink dolphins and are birth grounds for large animals such as small whales due to their their shallow warm waters.

Politics

Governor's House, the official residence and workplace of the Governor and the seat of the local government

The HIMS Ekhrantumid, a Kijal-class frigate of the Packilvanian Navy patrolling the waters off Samokov

The Governor of Antimovo & Samokov is appointed by the Sultan of Packilvania at his pleasure. The incumbent Governor is Prince Yabraan who was appointed by Sultan Namdun III in 2018. He is the chief administrator of the province. He appoints the heads of departments and agencies, sets the policy direction, oversees the implementation of government policy and laws, and represents the government and people of the territory. He also appoints the Mayors of the towns and cities that comprise the territory and manages relations with the native tribal chieftains and elders.

The citizens of the territory are direct subjects of the Parliament of Packilvania in that all of the laws are passed by the central government. The tribal chieftains and elders forms the Consultative Assembly which reviews government decisions, questions government officials, and passes non-binding resolutions. The territory is part of the judiciary of Packilvania has its own High Court in the capital city and smaller courts such as Magistrate Courts appointed and managed by the central government. The Procuratorate and the Police is directly subject to the national government. The Packilvanian Armed Forces maintains a military base on the island and the State Security Agency maintains an office and listening post on the islands.

Demographics

Majam Akhnoud, Chief of the Jamab tribe of the Antimovian people wearing traditional costume

Imam Nareed Jhureen Majhid in Antimovshtar on the background with the Rakhnad Post Office in the foreground

It has a population of 980,000 people. It has a density of approximately 120 people per square kilometres. Most of the population (approximately 60%) live in rural areas as farm workers or farmers. The average birth rate of the area is approximated at 3.1 children per women. The area has a large population born outside of the island which consists of mostly retirees, military personnel, scientific personnel, government administrators, and contract workers. Each island has a distinct ethnic group: the Samokovians in Samokov, the Antimovians in Antimovo and the Yukaniyovians in Yukaniyov. Each group developed in relative isolation and thus developed their own languages, customs and practices based on their predominantly agricultural and fishing lifestyles.

The government of Packilvania imposed Paxism when the islands were conquered, resulting in the near 100% rate of Paxism specifically Melkezedekism on the islands. The islands have had exposure to tropical diseases such as dengue, typhoid, cholera, yellow fever and malaria for many years. The government introduced policies such as the widespread use of DDT, removal of stagnant water, improvements in sanitation and supply of clean piped water to combat the spread of disease. People in the province benefit from physically active lifestyles and widespread access to cheap nutrition dense locally grown goods such as tropical fruits. Most people need to be sent to the mainland for advanced medical procedures.

Economy

Ashmad I launch pad of the Antimovo & Samokov Spaceport

A cassava farm owned by the Jurmeed family in the north of the island of Yukaniyov

The island has a GDP per capita of 5,185 KRB and a GDP of 10.370 billion KRB. It is run as a free market system with some levels of regulation and welfare for the population. Most of the population benefit from pensions, social security grants, public housing, public healthcare social work and other services provided by the Imperial government. The government provides and controls many of the basic utilities such as the supply of water, public transport, electricity, and sanitation. A large part of the economy consists of the space launch industry due to the presence of a space port run by the Space Agency of Packilvania, a military base run by the Packilvanian Armed Forces, and a listening station run by the State Security Agency. Although the local population benefit from the services such as accommodation, entertainment and food required by the personnel on these projects, very few of the native inhabitants are directly involved. The various government agencies pay rents to the local government for real estate that they use which they use to provide social services.

There are many tourists other than government officials especially retirees to come to the islands. Tourists often come to vacation in the resorts to enjoy the pleasant weather, beautiful geography, low cost of living, delicious food and hospitable people. Some wealthy people have bought properties to have holiday homes that has given rise to a boost in the construction sector of the province. About 1 million people visit the islands annually. The territory does not have much in the way of industry or manufacturing. When not involved in tourism and the adjacent services, most of the population is involved agriculture. Most of the farming is done via small plots. Although the territory produces a lot of food such as most if not all of its own fruit, vegetables and meat, spices, beverages, and staples such as rice come from the Packilvanian mainland.