Geography of Zhenia

Zhenia is a nation located on the eastern coasts of the continent of Tarsis in Themys, primarily facing the Hanmaric Ocean. Zhenian geography shows great physical diversity, ranging from fertile lowlands and foothills found along most of the Golden Arc area, to the semi-arid basins and mountains to the west. Both due to terrain and climate, a vast majority of the nation's population and agricultural potential are focused in the east, particularly along the coastal plains of the Gulf of Danguk and the Central Zhenian Plains region.

While Zhenia's northern and southern borders are each defined by the Baekryong and Chang Rivers respectively, Zhenia's geography is primarily characterized by the existence of the Cheonsan and Jinsan Mountains, which act as physical boundaries separating western and northern Zhenia from the remainder of the nation respectively. Arid plains, scrubland, plateaus and rocky deserts dominate the landscape west and north of such mountains, while the Taimir River Basin occupies much of what is central Zhenia. The Bukdu Mountains, with the Musudan Highlands at its northern end, runs through the length of the mostly mountainous Danguk Peninsula, accompanied by smaller, secondary mountain ranges. Several rivers, including the Taimir, Weisu and Danbon rivers, traverse through most of the nation. Its geography has considerably influenced its concentration of urban and metropolitan areas near the Golden Arc region.

Regional classification
Zhenia is physically and culturally classified into five relatively homogeneous macroregions - northern, eastern, central, southern and western Zhenia, mostly separated by natural boundaries including an array of mountain ranges, valleys and rivers. The topography of Zhenia is highly diverse, ranging from snow-capped mountains and plateaus, winding rivers and sandy dunes to broad basins, extending plains and mountainous forest. Generally, the west is more mountainous and higher in elevation than the east, although the general direction is the opposite in the Danguk Peninsula.

Eastern Zhenia (Danguk Peninsula)


Although its definition has expanded in recent years to include the Haedong Islands as well, Eastern Zhenia still often refers to the Danguk Peninsula and surrounding islands, as clarified by the Constitution in 1979. Surrounded by the Gulf of Danguk, the Strait of Zhenia and the Hanmaric Ocean, eastern Zhenia is home to a relatively high concentration of Zhenian inhabitants due to adequately temperate climate and flat terrain formed by alluvial plains, particularly in the coasts facing the Gulf of Danguk.

The Bukdu Mountains form the primary backbone of the peninsula, running from the Musudan Highlands in the north to the southeastern edges of the peninsula, ending at Toham Mountain. Due to the fact that the Bukdu Mountains are somewhat slanted to the east coasts rather than the west coasts of the peninsula, it is traditionally accepted that the eastern half of the Danguk Peninsula is on average higher in elevation than than the west, which has been clarified with the fact that more rivers in the peninsula empty at the Gulf of Danguk rather than the East Zhenian Sea. Influenced by the presence of the Bukdu Mountains, a considerable part of western Danguk Peninsula consists of alluvial plains, with the exception of occasional mountain ranges branching from the Bukdu Mountains. Western Danguk Peninsula is also home to the second and third-largest freshwater lakes in the nation, Lake Jungsan and Lake Payang respectively. The eastern half of the peninsula, in contrast, tends to be more mountainous than the west, with smaller pockets of alluvial flatland towards the northeastern parts of the peninsula.

The Haedong Islands are a series of islands formed as a result of centuries volcanic activity at a tectonic hot spot around 2.4 million years ago during the, just east of the Danguk Peninsula. With the bedrock of the islands consisting primarily of lava and later sediments, it has been widely regarded as some of the most fertile places in Zhenia. While the western portion of the Haedong Islands has been inhabited by Haedong Zhenians since prehistoric times, a considerable part of the eastern islands remained uncultivated until the 18th century, resulting in the unique ecology of the region.

Northern Zhenia


Northern Zhenia stretches from the cold, humid coasts of what is now Bukhae Province to the northeastern branches of the Cheonsan Mountains and the Jinsan Mountains in the west, and from Zhenia's northern borders with Aday to the Weisu River to the south. Northern Zhenia is largely covered in forests, with the Jinsan Mountains demarcating the alluvial plains along the Weisu River and the cold, semi-arid steppe to the north.

The physical boundary between northern and western Zhenia is formed by the existence of the Cheonsan Mountains, which run throughout western Zhenia and ultimately separating eastern and central Tarsis. Extending north, south and east from the Jongseong Plateau in its center, the surrounding terrain descends around the mountains like a terrace, often involving stark, somewhat discontinued contrasts in elevation. With an average elevation of over 3,000 meters, many of the nation's highest points, including Mount Tanchelungar at 8,782.8 meters, are located along the Cheonsan Mountains. It is the primary cause of the throughout western Zhenia, resulting in start contrasts in average annual precipitation between central and western Zhenia. Its glaciers serve as the origins of many of the nation's longest rivers, including the Taimir, Chang and Weisu Rivers.

Northeast of the Cheonsan Mountains and the Muju Plateau lie the Sapyeong Basin. Due to the effect of the Jinsan Mountains as well as branches of the Cheonsan Mountains, the Sapyeong Basin is mostly covered by the Sapyeong desert and surrounded by semi-arid regions, receiving on average around 100 mm of precipitation annually. Along with parts of the Daeseo Desert in the Haetan Basin, the Sapyeong Basin is regarded as one of the driest regions in the nation, while being home to the highest measured annual temperature differences in the nation at 77.4 C from 1997. is an increasingly pressing issue in the region, with the continuous diminishing of semi-arid grassland around the basin amid changing climate patterns raising environmental concerns over fine dust.

In contrast to northwestern Zhenia, a considerable part of northeastern Zhenia consist of the Northeast Zhenia Plain, which extend from the Jinsan Mountains to Zhenia's northern border in the Baekryong River, with the exception of the mountainous Yeonhaeju Pennisula in the nation's northeastern coast. The terrain throughout the Northeast Zhenia Plain vary from steppes towards the west, coniferous forests in the south near the Jinsan Mountains and flatland towards the north and east. The Manli Mountains, extending east and west from the Musudan Highlands, separate the Danguk Peninsula and northeastern Zhenia and eventually join the Jinsan Mountains near Saejae Pass. The southeastern boundaries of northern Zhenia run through the Three Great Lakes region, which includes Lake Jinsa, the largest lake in the nation spanning over 6,507.3 km2.

Central Zhenia


Central Zhenia comprises of the area between the Cheonsan Mountain region and the Gulf of Danguk, between the Taimir River and the Weisu River. With the exception of the Yangzhu Mountains extending from the Cheonsan Mountains at its northwest and other smaller mountain ranges, most of central Zhenia is covered by the Central Zhenian Plains, a broad expanse of alluvial and flood plains that are primarily a part of the Taimir River Basin. Central Zhenia is therefore home to significant portion of Zhenia's arable land, with few mountains the region almost entirely part of either the Taimir River or the Weisu River Basin. Few major mountains exist in the region, the most notable being Osong Mountain in the border between Imhae and Namhwa provinces.

With most of the macroregion being a part of the Taimir River basin and its tributaries, there are steep drops in elevation as the Cheonsan and Yangzhu mountains give way to the Central Zhenian Plains, resulting in multiple alluvial fans linking the two landforms. The Taimir River and its tributaries that traverse the area often form gorges along the way, while some tributaries form in areas with steep elevation changes. Due to the large differences in elevation, large amounts of sand and other depositions from the mountains have accumulated several hundred kilometers after the alluvial fans, partly contributing to the formation of the Central Zhenian Plains. Once away from the mountainous west, the Taimir and its tributaries make their way through the Central Zhenian Plains all the way to the Gulf of Danguk. The Central Zhenian Plains has historically been one of the nation's most densely-populated areas, while it remains some of the most fertile lands in Zhenia.

Southern Zhenia


Southern Zhenia is a macroregion comprising of the area between the Taimir River and the Chang River, which in hand forms the nation's southern border with Yinguo. Mountains fan out from the southern branches of the Cheonsan Mountains, forming the southern end of the Taimir River watershed. The Taehwa Basin, a densely cultivated region with an average height of around 600 meters (2,000 ft), marks the end of the extension of the Cheonsan Mountains. The basin itself is famous for its limestone landscape, as well as the southern branches of the Cheonsan and Yangzhu Mountains surrounding the area. The basin is ultimately linked to the Chang River Basin to its southeast, with smaller rivers in the Taehwa basin merging with the Chang.

The Balhae Peninsula extends to the east into the Gulf of Danguk after the Taehwa Plateau subsides. The Balhaeryeong Ranges form the backbone of the peninsula, somewhat mirroring that of the Danguk Peninsula. The Balhaeryeong Ranges of the peninsula are separated from the Jungmun Mountains, a southeastern branch of the Cheonsan Mountains, via the Haeha Pass. With the exception of the Balhaeryeong Ranges separating the northern and southern halves of the region, almost the entirety of the Balhae Peninsula is arable in nature, allowing it to be home to some of the most heavily populated regions in the nation: hence, it is no wonder that to this day, Balhae Province remains the single-most populous province in the nation.

The Chang River basin is primarily surrounded by mountains, with present-day Zhenian territory primarily spanning over the northern half of the basin and the remainder belonging to Yinguo today. The alluvial plains stretching from the midstream of the Chang River to its delta are primarily covered in forests. The Jungmun Mountains, branching out from the Cheonsan Mountains, act as the watershed between the Taimir and Chang Rivers, sealing off the nation's southern provinces from the Central Zhenian Plain. Southern provinces, particularly Jinwon, Taehwa and Cheonghae provinces, have provincial cores centered around river basins ultimately linked to the Chang River. Areas north of the Chang River basin tends to be more rugged with hills and smaller mountains ultimately leading to the Jungmun Mountains.

Western Zhenia


Western Zhenia is a macroregion spanning all of what's west of the watershed created by the Cheonsan Mountains, which are home to the highest mountains in the nation. The western slope of the Cheonsan Mountains give way to the Sahaetan Basin, which contains the Daeseo Desert, the largest desert in the nation. With an average elevation of around 100 meters (330 feet), the Sahaetan basin is enclosed by the Cheonsan Mountains to the east and the Saghan Mountains to its west. The dried-up lake bed of Lake Sagyeong located in Dragon Valley, the lowest point in Zhenia at -87 meters, is in the northern parts of Sahaetan Basin. Some arid regions of the Daeseo Desert receive the smallest amounts of precipitation in the nation as a result of the rain shadow effect. Also being home to the highest recorded temperatures in Zhenian history at 48.9 C, the southern portions of the Daeseo Desert is regarded both as one of the hottest and driest places in the nation.

Climate


Zhenia is home to a highly diverse climate, due to tremendous differences in latitude, longitude and altitude throughout its territory. Spanning between the latitude lines of 20.8° and 52.6° N, Zhenia's climate spectrum runs from hot and extremely humid in the south to cold in the northeast, as well as humid in the east along the coastline to dry in the west, resulting in a climate that ranges from in the south,  in the northeast and  in the west. Polar and alpine microclimates are also observed in pockets of the Cheonsan Mountains, as well as in the peaks of the Saghan and Jinsan Mountains. Climate in much of Zhenia a result of continental interaction with seasonal winds and monsoons, bringing in a yearly oscillatory cycle of and, in which a bulk of annual precipitation is highly concentrated in certain months of the year. Warm and moist air from the Hanmaric Ocean results in high precipitation and typhoons during the summer season, while the cold and dry continental air from the north dominates the winter season with cold weather and far less precipitation.

Zhenia's climate is significantly influenced by fluctuating patterns of monsoon winds: during the summer, warm and moist air from the Hanmaric Ocean is carried by the East Tarsic Monsoon, delivering the vast majority of the annual precipitation in most of Zhenia. Inversely, in the winter, the Central Tarsic, coupled with the relocation of the from Aday to northern and central Zhenia, results in cold and drier conditions throughout the nation. The advance and retreat of monsoon winds, as well as the interaction of local and regional air masses with jet streams, largely explain the general direction of climate patterns throughout the nation. Climate patterns of the nation as a whole is rather complex, although most of the nation is situated and heavily influenced by the temperate belt.

While absolute amounts of concentrations vary drastically from region to region, with arid regions such as the Daeseo Desert receiving an average of 25 mm of precipitation each year while southern regions of the Balhae Province receive an average of 2,600 mm of precipitation of each year. Hence, high deviations in average annual precipitation by region are observed: the average precipitation in eastern Zhenia is around 1,500 mm per year, while western Zhenia on average receives 240 mm of precipitation each year. Precipitation throughout most of Zhenia is also concentrated over a few months of the year rather than being spread out throughout the entire year, with an average of 72% of the nation's precipitation in the four months spanning the summer season. Precipitation in arid regions to the north and west also show seasonal fluctuations but are relatively evenly distributed than the east.

In recent years, however, has played a prominent role in changing temperature and precipitation patterns throughout the nation as a whole, resulting in more extreme weather conditions to happen more frequently and intensely than before. Climate change has been pointed as the primary reason behind the spike in and  in eastern and northern Zhenia. Changing precipitation patterns has also resulted in extensive in western Zhenia, with ever-diminishing steppe areas and often resulting in more  in central and eastern Zhenia.

Volcanic activity
Despite its location near active plate boundaries, Zhenia is home to only a handful of active volcanoes that have been active in the past 300 years, the most notable one being Mount Honghwa in the Haedong Islands. While there have been no life-threatening eruptions within the past 100 years due to the distance of active volcanoes from major populated areas, the most recent major eruption of an active volcano in Zhenia occurred in 1987, during the eruption of Mount Honghwa. The Ministry of the Interior, in tandem with the Ministry of the Environment, has been overseeing volcanic activities of both active and dormant volcanoes throughout the nation since 1974, while all signs of volcanic activity was formally included into the nation's emergency alert network since 1995.

Typhoons
In much of mainland Zhenia and the Danguk Peninsula, a bulk of the annual precipitation is focused in the summer seasons, a considerable portion of which often comes at the form of, which originate in the West Hanmaric Ocean and make their way westward before turning clockwise to the north to the East Zhenian Sea. While Central and Southern Zhenia tend to be more affected by typhoons in June and July, more typhoons tend to pass through the Danguk Peninsula and the Haedong Islands in August and September due to seasonal variations in wind speeds.

In theory, almost all of Zhenia's coastline can be at risk of typhoons; however, while most typhoons normally affected mainland Zhenia and the areas surrounding the Gulf of Danguk, recent trends since the late 2000s have seen increased frequency of typhoons making way further northeast, increasing the risks of flooding and significant property damage in the area. There have been increased concerns regarding the rise of surface temperature in the West Hanmaric Ocean, as well as varying patterns of temperature oscillation in the Hanmaric Ocean in general, in fear that such factors are contributing to stronger typhoons.

Population distribution


Population-wise, Zhenia is relatively densely populated, with around 111.6 people per km2. Much of its population, however, generally follows the distribution of arable land, as clarified by the fact that around 96% of the nation's entire population lives east of the Bukju-Ariul-Munsan Line, with the area east of the line accounting for almost all of the nation's arable land. Specifically, over half of the Zhenian population lives in the Golden Arc region around the Gulf of Danguk, spanning from Balhae to Namhae Province, despite only accounting for around 24% of the nation's total land area. In contrast, Zhenia is scarcely populated towards its west and north, primarily due to its relatively harsh terrain and climate. Heuksu and Shingang Provinces, despite accounting for 18% of the nation's entire land area, are together only home to around 1.7% of the nation's population. Some of the most densely populated areas, including the Taimir Delta, Central Danguk Peninsula and the Western Gulf megalopolis regions, have developed into, covering vast urban areas with high population density.

Ethnic groups
While no single ethnic group is a majority in Zhenia, Jin Zhenian, the combined subset of the Dan and Wei people, are regarded as the largest ethnic group in the nation, together comprising almost 90% of the total population.

Administrative geography
Zhenia's administrative geography took its current form during the nation's administrative reforms in 1951, which clarified the nation's top-level administrative subdivisions into 28 provinces, 5 metropolitan municipalities and one special city, which are further divided into prefecture-level, municipality-level and township-level areas. While the nation is nominally divided into five larger regions, they are rarely used outside demographic statistical contexts and are not recognized as formal administrative subdivisions. Borders between top-level administrative subdivisions have remained more or less the same since the last reform in 1957, although changes in prefecture-level and municipality-level areas have been observed continuously.