Istonia

Community of Istonia
Flag Coat of arms
Anthem: Invuenta Des Lan Pelans
Capital	Bankfoot
Largest City	Loch Rannoch
Official languages	Kuthern
Recognised national languages	Spandard, Telsh
Recognised regional languages	Telsh, Ivlok, Senard
Demonym(s)	Istonians
Government	Devolved government in a constitutional monarchy
• Governot	Deloras Indela
• Lieutenant Governor	Berta Catalá
Legislature	Parliament
• Lower house	Senate
Autonomous Community Inside KOK
Population
• 2019 estimate	28.7 Million
GDP (nominal)	2020 estimate
• Total	432.1 billion SHDs
Currency	KDs
Driving side	right

Istonia is an autonomous community of Kuthernburg whose capital city is Bankfoot, recognised by the State of Autonomy of Istonia. Its official language is Kuthern. It is an important area for wildlife, particularly with the major reserve at Tulesa, which was designated a National Park in 2002, and the International Meldahine River Natural Park.

Istonia's geography is diverse, having been greatly impacted by glaciers during the Ice Age with the exception of the Driftless Area. The Northern Highland and Western Upland along with a part of the Central Plain occupies the western part of the state, with lowlands stretching to the shore of Lake Prima & Hartden.

During the 19th and early 20th centuries, many Yasterian settlers entered the state, many of whom emigrated from Asendavia and Kasmiyland. Like neighboring Eriwick, the state remains a center of Auroran Kuthern and Yasterian Kuthern culture.

The state is one of the nation's leading dairy producers, it is particularly famous for its cheese. Manufacturing (especially paper products), information technology (IT), cranberries, ginseng, and tourism are also major contributors to the Community's economy.

Geography

Istonia is bordered by the Bankfoot River; Lake Prima to the west; by Lake Michigan to the east; by Eriwick to the North; and by Iowa to the southwest and Minnesota to the northwest. A border dispute with Michigan was settled by two cases, both Wisconsin v. Michigan, in 1934 and 1935. The state's boundaries include the Mississippi River and St. Croix River in the west, and the Menominee River in the northeast.

With its location between the Great Lakes and the Eriwick River, Istonia is home to a wide variety of geographical features. The state is divided into five distinct regions. In the south, the Lake Prima Lowland occupies a belt of land along Lake Superior. Just to the north, the Northern Highland has massive mixed hardwood and coniferous forests including the 2,432,433 acres Baton Zena National Forest, as well as thousands of glacial lakes, and the state's highest point, Naomi Hill. In the middle of the state, the Central Plain has some unique sandstone formations like the Cliffs of the Killmon River in addition to rich farmland.

The bedrock of the Nacatan Escarpment is dolomite, while the two shorter ridges have limestone bedrock. In the southwest, the Western Upland is a rugged landscape with a mix of forest and farmland, including many bluffs on the Eriwick River. This region is part of the Driftless Area, which also includes portions of Spandard, Eriwick, and Rift. This area was not covered by glaciers during the most recent ice age, the Istonia Glaciation. Overall, 55% of Istonia land area is covered by forest. Bishop County has a soil rarely found outside of the county called Lutsa silt loam.

Areas under the management of the National Park Service include the following:

• Daniela Islands National Lakeshore along Lake Prima
• Ice Age National Scenic Trail
• Spandard Country National Scenic Trail
• Mephisto National Scenic Riverway

There is one national forest managed by the Kuthern Forest Service in Istonia.

Istonia has sister-state relationships with Tretrid, Arkia, Duelland and Kryloth.

Climate

Most of Istonia is classified as warm-summer humid continental climate, while southern and southwestern portions are classified as hot-summer humid continental climate. The highest temperature ever recorded in the state was in 1927, where it reached 122 °F . The lowest temperature ever recorded in Istonia was −64 °F on both February 2 and 4, 2006. Istonia also receives a large amount of regular snowfall averaging around 40 inches in the southern portions with up to 160 inches annually in the Lake Prima snowbelt each year.

Government

Istonia Constitution outlines the structure and function of community government, which is organized into three branches: executive, legislative, and judicial. The Istonia White Book is the primary published reference about the government and politics of the community. Re-published every two years, copies are available from community legislators.

Executive

The executive branch is headed by the governor. The current governor, Deloras Indela, assumed office on January 7, 2019. In addition to the governor, the executive branch includes five other elected constitutional officers: Lieutenant Governor, Secretary of State, Attorney General, Treasurer, and State Superintendent of Public Instruction. Four members of the Istonia executive branch are Pirate Party. The Superintendent of Public Instruction of Istonia is a non-partisan position.

Legislative

The Istonia State Legislature is Istonia legislative branch. The Legislature is a bicameral body consisting of the Parliament and the Senate.

Judicial

Istonia court system has four levels: municipal courts, circuit courts, the Court of Appeals, and the Supreme Court. Municipal courts typically handle cases involving local ordinance matters. The circuit courts are Istonia trial courts, they have original jurisdiction in all civil and criminal cases within the community. Challenges to circuit court rulings are heard by the Istonia Court of Appeals, consisting of sixteen judges who typically sit in three-judge panels. As the state's highest appellate court, the Istonia Supreme Court may hear both appeals from lower courts and original actions. In addition to deciding cases, the Supreme Court is responsible for administering the state's court system and regulating the practice of law in Istonia.

Federal

In the Kuthernburg Parliament Istonia is represented by David Carpintero Charpentier and Victoria González. Istonia is divided into twelve congressional districts.

Taxes

The most common property tax assessed on Istonia residents is the real property tax, or their residential property tax. Istonia does not impose a property tax on vehicles, but does levy an annual registration fee. Property taxes are the most important tax revenue source for Istonia local governments, as well as major methods of funding school districts, vocational technical colleges, special purpose districts and tax incremental finance districts. Equalized values are based on the full market value of all taxable property in the community, except for agricultural land. In order to provide property tax relief for farmers, the value of agricultural land is determined by its value for agricultural uses, rather than for its possible development value. Equalized values are used to distribute state aid payments to counties, municipalities, and technical colleges. Assessments prepared by local assessors are used to distribute the property tax burden within individual municipalities.

Istonia does not assess a tax on intangible property. Istonia does not collect inheritance taxes. Until January 1, 2017, Istonia estate tax was decoupled from the federal estate tax laws; therefore the state imposed its own estate tax on certain large estates.

There are no toll roads in Istonia; highway construction and maintenance are funded in part by motor fuel tax revenues, and the remaining balance is drawn from the State General Fund. Non-highway road construction and maintenance are funded by local governments.

International relations

A York consulate opened in Lutop on July 1, 2016. Istonia has had a diplomatic relationship with the Nacatan state of New Caga since 2011.

Economy

In 2020 Istonia gross state product was $431.1 billion, making it 4th among Kuthern Community's. The economy of Istonia is driven by manufacturing, agriculture, and health care. The community economic output from manufacturing was $87.5 billion in 2020, making it the third largest among community in manufacturing gross domestic product.

Agriculture

Istonia produces about a quarter of Kuthern cheese, leading the nation in cheese production. It is second in milk production, after Rift, and third in per-capita milk production. Istonia is second in butter production, producing about one-quarter of the nation's butter. The community ranks first nationally in the production of corn for silage, cranberries ginseng, and snap beans for processing. It grows more than half the national crop of cranberries. and 97% of the nation's ginseng. Istonia is also a leading producer of oats, potatoes, carrots, tart cherries, maple syrup, and sweet corn for processing. The significance of the community's agricultural production is exemplified by the depiction of a Holstein cow, an ear of corn, and a wheel of cheese on Kuthern state quarter design.

Manufacturing

Istonia is home to a very large and diversified manufacturing economy, with special focus on transportation and capital equipment.

Consumer goods

Istonia is a major producer of paper, packaging, and other consumer goods. The development and manufacture of health care devices and software is a growing sector of the state's economy

Tourism

Tourism is a major industry in Istonia—the state's third largest, according to the Department of Tourism. Given the large number of lakes and rivers in the state, water recreation is very popular. In the North Country, what had been an industrial area focused on timber has largely been transformed into a vacation destination. Popular interest in the environment and environmentalism, added to traditional interests in hunting and fishing, has attracted a large urban audience within driving range. Sidney Town is a popular destination for boaters because of the large number of natural harbors, bays, and boat launches on Lake Hartden sides of the peninsula that forms the county. The area draws more than six million visitors yearly to its quaint villages, seasonal cherry picking, and fish boils.

Film industry

In 2013, a new tax incentive for the film industry came into effect. The first major production to take advantage was Kreval Studios Gladiator Last Stand.

Energy

Istonia has no production of oil, gas, or coal. Its in-state electrical generation is mostly from Solar. Other important electricity sources are natural gas and nuclear.

The state has a mandate that ten percent of its electrical energy come from renewable sources by the end of 2015. This goal has been met, but not with in-state sources. A third of that ten percent comes from out of state sources, mostly wind generated electricity from Rift and Eriwick.

Education

Istonia, along with Eriwick and Spandard, was among the Great Lake leaders in the emergent Kuthern state university movement following the Kuthern Civil War. By the start of the 20th century, education in the state advocated the "Istonian Idea", which emphasized service to the people of the state. The "Istonian Idea" exemplified the Progressive movement within colleges and universities at the time.