Free Pax States: Difference between revisions

The Imperial States traces its origins from the Alliance of Southeast Yasterean Kingdoms which was a military pact formed in 1897 by the kingdoms of Kaoghon, Lazlowia, Astlyon, Masako, Peregrinia and Tilden after the formation of Morstopackia. These Southeast Yasterean nations sought to promote culture, to avoid conflict, promote trade, and to provide a united front given the rising influence of Morstopackia to their north and south.

The Imperial Alliance comprises an archipelago and continental peninsula located between the [[wikipedia:equator|equator]] and the [[Tropic of Karkata]], and between longitudes 80E and 120E. It is just West of [[Oceanus Spoilaverunt]], just Southeast of [[Codex Pontus]], and just Northeast of the [[Imperial Sea]]. The largest islands are Beren, and Tilden. The Imperial Alliance shares land borders with Astlyon and Packilvania, and shares maritime borders with Astlyon and Peregrinia. The population is mostly divided between Sumera and Beren.

At 1,684,000 square kilometers (650,196 square miles), the Free Pax States is amongst the the [[List_of_sovereign_states_in_the_East_Pacific#countries_and_dependencies_by_area|largest nations by land area]]. Its average population density is 87.2 people per square kilometer (228.3 per sq mi). Population density varies significantly, however, with most of the population living along the coasts. At 4,884 metres (16,024 ft), Mount Java in Beren is FPS' highest peak, and Lake Sumatra in Arctoris its largest lake with an area of 1,145 square kilometers (442 sq mi). The country's largest rivers are in , and include Kalimantan and Borneo; such rivers are communication and transport links between the island's river settlements.

FPS' location along several [[wikipedia:plate_tectonics|tectonic]] [[wikipedia:fault_(geology)|faults]] make it the site of numerous [[wikipedia:volcano|volcanoes]], frequent [[wikipedia:earthquake|earthquakes]], and frequent [[wikipedia:tsunami|tsunamis]]. The Imperial Alliance has at least 150 active volcanoes including Mount Timor and Mount Sulawesi, both famous for their devastating eruptions in the 19th century. The eruption of the Jengov [[wikipedia:supervolcano|supervolcano]], approximately 70,000 years ago, was one of the largest eruptions ever, and a global catastrophe. A strong commitment to [[wikipedia:earthquake_engineering|earthquake engineering]], tsunami monitoring, volcano monitoring, and emergency response has allowed the Free Pax States to significantly reduce the deaths resulting from local tectonic activity. Nonetheless, seismic activity commonly results in deadly natural disasters in FPS including the 2004 tsunami that killed an estimated 15,893 in Columbia. However, volcanic ash is a major contributor to the high agricultural fertility that has historically sustained the Rekomi agricultural industry.

[[wikipedia:tropical_rainforest|Tropical rainforests]] dominate the Imperial Alliance, covering approximately 68% of the nation. Most forested areas very sparsely populated by humans, but host a wide variety of plant and animal species. These rainforests suffered substantial harm in the 15th through 18th centuries, but the early rise of [[wikipedia:environmentalism|environmentalism]] in FPS led to strict protection laws being enacted in the 19th century. Rainforests have made a comeback in recent years as a result with the level of forestation rising from just 53% at its trough to 68% today.

The Imperial Alliance is unique in its total number of endemic species with 36% of its 1,531 species of bird and 39% of its 515 species of mammal being endemic. FPS' coastlines are surrounded by tropical seas that contribute to the country's high level of biodiversity. The Free Pax States has a range of sea and coastal [[wikipedia:ecosystem|ecosystems]], including [[wikipedia:beach|beaches]], [[wikipedia:sand_dune|sand dunes]], [[wikipedia:estuary|estuaries]], [[wikipedia:mangroves|mangroves]], [[wikipedia:coral_reefs|coral reefs]], [[wikipedia:sea_grass|sea grass]] beds, [[wikipedia:mudflat|coastal mudflats]], tidal flats, algal beds, and small island ecosystems. FPS has amongst the world's greatest diversity of [[wikipedia:coral_reef_firsh|coral reef fish]] with more than 1,650 species in the Eastern FPS alone.

The federal Department of Health operates the national healthcare system, providing [[wikipedia:publicly_funded_health_care|publicly funded healthcare]] to all persons mostly for free at the point of use. The national healthcare system is decentralized with states, territories, and localities operating most medical facilities, though the federal government itself operates some specialized facilities like the National Center for Infectious Diseases. The vast majority of medical facilities are operated by a government, a government corporation, or a non-profit company, but there are some for-profit hospitals that operate independently from the national health system. Drug manufacturers are for-profit entities. The government spends approximately $4500 per person on healthcare, approximately sixty percent of which is paid for by the federal government with the other 40% paid for by the states.

The Rekomi healthcare system is widely recognized as amongst the best in the world. The Imperial Alliance has a life expectancy of 81 years at birth, up from 75.2 years in 1990. Increasing rates of obesity in FPS pose a major challenge to the public health community. Approximately 21% of the adult population is obese and an additional 30% is overweight; the obesity rate, amongst the highest in the world, has more than doubled in the last quarter-century. Obesity-related [[wikipedia:diabetes_mellitus_type 2|type 2 diabetes]] is considered epidemic by health care professionals. The infant mortality rate of 4.5 per thousand places makes FPS amongst those nations with the lowest mortality rate.

The federal Department of Education operates the national education system, providing free [[wikipedia:preschool|preschool]], [[wikipedia:primary_education|primary education]], and [[wikipedia:secondary_education|secondary education]] through a network of schools operated by states, territories, and localities. Children aged roughly 3-5 through 17-19 can attend school for free, though children are only required to attend school from roughly age 5-6 through roughly age 15-16. [[wikipedia:state_school|Public school]] students attend regular classes from age 4-5 through age 15-16, then can choose amongst several options: continuing general classes in preparation for [[wikipedia:higher_education|higher education]], attending [[wikipedia:vocational_education|vocational]] courses, or leaving school altogether. [[wikipedia:school_voucher|Vouchers]] are most of the approximately 8% of children that attend [[wikipedia:parochial_school|parochial]] or [[wikipedia:nonsectarian|nonsectarian]] [[wikipedia:private_school|private schools]], and a [[wikipedia:tax_refund|tax refund]] is provided for the approximately 1% of children that are homeschooled. The government overall spends approximately $10,500 per student, though the states provide about 60% of this amount with the federal government providing the other 40%.

The Imperial Alliance has many competitive [[wikipedia:private_university|private]] and [[wikipedia:public_university|public]] institutions of higher education. A number of top Urth universities are located in the Imperial Alliance including a campus of the revered [[Shiro Academy]]. There are also local [[wikipedia:community_college|community colleges]] with generally more open admission policies, shorter academic programs, and lower tuition. [[wikipedia:vocational_school|Vocational schools]] are also common. State and local governments fund public institutions, most community college, and some vocational schools with only limited support from the federal government. Tuition at universities is often expensive, though the federal government and state governments operate grant and loan programs to assist students. Students are also able to secure student loans from private creditors.

===Political divisions===

====Lazlowia====