Burkini

Republic of Burkini Burkini (Oharic) Isla Amiga (Iberic)
Flag Emblem
Location of Burkini
Map of Burkini
Capital and largest city	Cronulla
Official languages	Oharic
Demonym(s)	Burkinese
Government	Unitary parliamentary republic with an executive presidency
• President	Aheda Zanetti
• Speaker	Miko Laa Laa
Legislature	Assembly of Burkini
Independence  from Orioni
• Colony	1529
• Uprising	1843
• Thalassan War	1941
• Independence	1955
Area
•	1,007.10 km2 (388.84 sq mi)
• Water (%)	n/a
Population
• 2015 census	55,786
• Density	55.39/km2 (143.5/sq mi)
Currency	Burkinese Phi (BUP)
Time zone	UTC-11
Antipodes	Gallambria
Date format	dd/mm/yyyy
Driving side	right

Burkini, officially the Republic of Burkini, is an island country located in the North Oriental Ocean on Eurth. Its closest neighbouring countries are the Sunset Sea Islands to the southeast, Niederoestereich to the west and Orioni in the northwest. Cronulla is the capital and largest city; other major towns include Yebahiri and Nech’iēlī. Burkini is approximately 1,077.10 km² (415.87 sq mi) in size, without the territorial waters. The island is home to 55,786 inhabitants.

Burkini is a unitary parliamentary republic with an executive presidency. The country's head of state is president Aheda Zanetti. The territory that is now Burkini was first settled in the early 200s until Orinese colonisation in the 16th century. From the 16th century, it was a colony of Orioni until 1955 when the country gained its independence as a fragile republic. Culturally, Burkini is still considered part of the Orinese diaspora.

The island's wealth comes largely from the service and tourism sectors, with limited contributions from fishing and agriculture. International assistance from Orioni represents a large share of the island's domestic product. Burkini is part of several international and intergovernmental institutions, including the Group of Island Nations.

Etymology

Female hula dancers depicted by an unknown artist who visited Burkini in the 19th Century.

The earliest known name for Burkini was Purigini (pu·ri·'gi·ni), the combination of puri (clean, pure), gi (not), and nin (lady). In Oharic this means the “(land of) impure women”. This is a reference to the traditional topless clothing of the native women. The first explorers to arrive at the island were shocked by this improper display. A similar shocking reference can be found in the capital's name, Cronulla, which comes from the native word Kurranulla meaning “place of the small pink seashell”. This ‘pink seashell’ is a reference to the female genital area. These outrageous exonyms have always been a thorn in the side of native Burkinese.

An alternative discovery myth claims that Burkini was actually named after a now-lost “borgo”, a fortress or fortified town, built by post-classical Iberican explorers. The capital city Cronulla is claimed to be a reference to the crenelations of this defensive structure. However, no physical evidence of such a fortification exists to support this claim. Another theory suggests there was originally a small native settlement, which the Ibericans called Coronela as a reference to one of the expedition leaders' local sweethearts.

When in 1529 the explorer Endiriw Ordonato landed on Burkini, he called it the “Isla Amiga”. The story goes that when he and his crew arrived at the island, they were met with a warm reception and welcomed on the island with food and celebrations. In his log, Ordonato described his arrival, saying he was welcomed ashore with enthusiastic cheers from an immense crowd of men and women, writing: “Not one of them had so much as a stick in their hands.” However, some sources claim that when Ordonato arrived, it was during a native festival on the island, and he was invited along. In Ordonato's mind, this warm welcome with celebrations with plenty of food was put on just for him.

Geography

Flora and fauna

Panoramic image of Burkini.

Coastal beach of Burkini island.

Ordonato National Park.

A humpback whale with her calf.

Tiger shark caught in 1966.

Mount Kelayi is the highest point in Burkini.

The Burkinese territory is situated in the Oriental Ocean, and consists of multiple geographic and natural atolls. Only one of them is inhabited. Burkini sits atop an extinct undersea volcano extending from the ocean floor, created by a volcanic hotspot that underlies the Thalassan Plate. The island was formed as a volcano 2 to 3 million years ago. Because of its eroded height, Burkini is threatened by the possible impact of rising sea levels due to climate change. The total area of Burkini is 1,077.10 square kilometres (415.87 sq mi), with a population density of 55 persons per km². The largest city is Cronulla which is also the country's capital. The highest elevation is Mount Kelayi with a peak height of 694 metres (2,277 ft).

Temperatures in Burkini are stable all year round. Almost half the island is a National Park used for conservation purposes, containing unique species of plants and animals. The nearby UBPSSIF underwater marine sanctuary includes the largest ocean area where whales and sharks are protected. Inside the sanctuary waters, any shark fishing is prohibited. Unfortunately, the actual ability of the small Burkinese coast guard to enforce this ban is very limited.

Burkini lends its name to the legendary Burkini Triangle, a treacherous region in the Oriental Ocean where several aeroplanes and ships have disappeared in unexplained circumstances. Most serious scientists reject the claims of any mysterious occurrences along one of the most heavily travelled shipping lanes in the world. The triangular area is bounded by the corners at Niederoestereich, Malindi (fka Tahini) and Burkini.

History

Depiction of Ordonato being welcomed by natives, from an early 17th Century manuscript.

Antique lithograph of Burkinese.

Caption 3.

Government House, Cronulla.

Orinese troops liberating Burkini in 1947.

It is uncertain when Burkini was first settled. Not much is understood about the island's ancient history. Physical remains hint at an early human presence almost two-thousand years ago. The first inhabitants were probably human migrants from Southeast Europa. These journeyed throughout the Oriental Ocean and settled many of its islands.

• 200s: Earliest confirmed archaeological signs that the island was inhabited by Thalassan settlers sometime during the 3rd century CE.
• 1513: The earliest recording of the island was made in May 1513. Cristinese captain Agostiniano was crossing from the Sacred Aroman Realm to Sunset Sea Islands when his ship was blown off course. He noted the island in his logbook but didn't go ashore.
• 1529: The first contact was made on 5 June 1529 when the Iberican explorer Endiriw Ordonato, in service of Orioni, landed on the island. He and his crew exchanged gifts with the local tribal ruler and attempted to reach the summit of Mount Kelayi. Ordonato recorded the island as “Isla Amiga”. Subsequently, the island was claimed for the empire but remained a semi-independent kingdom.
• 1545: The first lighthouse was constructed as a beacon for sailing ships.
• 1579: Cronulla became the capital of Burkini.
• 1600s-1700s: The Pirate menace saw a drastic increase in activity during this Golden Age of Piracy (17-18th Century). The Orinese lost much wealth to these pirates. In addition, the Orinese were largely unfamiliar with the Oriental Ocean, having previously only sailed close to shore. The unpredictable Oceanic winds caused their ships to make slow progress. Without an effective way to combat these pirates in the open Oriental Ocean, the opportunity for Orioni to establish a foothold in the New Wurld was lost.
• 1840: Imperial College founded.
• 1843: Decolonisation of the Baribeni islands inspired a failed uprising in Burkini.
• 1850: Public hospital built.
• 1860: Harbour deepened, allowing larger ships to dock.
• 1941-1947: Thalassan War had a strong negative impact on the island's economy. In 1942, the Matroilan troops landed on and occupied Burkini. In 1947, Orinese troops of the 6th, 10th, 101st and 102nd Infantry Division of the Imperial Orinese Army and 10th Marine Regiment of the Imperial Orinese Navy landed on the island. They fought against the Matroilan forces during the Battle of Cronulla at the end of the Thalassan War. The Orinese lost 17 men, while about 250 Matroilan were killed.
• 1955: Decolonisation of Burkini and independence as a republic.
• 15 October 1956: First independent election. Constitution of Burkini voted into law.
• 1957: National Bank of Burkini created. Burkinese Phi introduced as national currency, pegged to the Orinese Phi.
• 1974: Joined the Group of Island Nations (GIN).
• 2006: Burkini celebrated 50 years of independence.

Politics

President Aheda Zanetti.

Speaker Miko Laa Laa.

Burkinese assembly building in Cronulla.

Burkini is a unitary parliamentary republic with an executive presidency. The country's head of state is president Aheda Zanetti. Speaker Miko Laa Laa leads the legislative Assembly of Burkini. Originally colonised by Orioni, Burkini gained its independence in 1955 after the conclusion of the Thalassan War. Previously, the island was administered by the colonial government led by a Vayiresini. A republic was declared, with the first election held in 1956. Laws and regulations were inherited from the Orinese legal system.

Even though officially, the Burkinese have gained their independence from Orioni, there is still an effective military presence of the Orinese navy in the form of a naval base in the large, eastern lagoon. Defence of the island is the responsibility of the Imperial Orinese Defence Force (IODF), primarily supported by a OSRU Detachment in Burkini. It is the smallest operational unit of the Imperial Orinese Army. The main role of the detachment is to maintain an Orinese presence in the area, while also enabling the IODF to quickly react to events in the Oriental Ocean and the west coast of Alharu. The country operates a small Burkinese coast guard. The island is strategically important because of its proximity to sea lanes in the Oriental Ocean. Orinese defence councillor Toren Nabérrie has stated the Orinese government views Burkini “as a long-term strategic partner.” Military analysts often consider the island as an ‘unsinkable aircraft carrier’ when it comes to strategical power projection.

Burkini is part of several international and intergovernmental institutions, including the Group of Island Nations.

Economy

One of Burkini's pink sand beaches.

Cronulla Airport.

Orinese Naval Support Facility Cronulla, c. 1976.

Fenijī bombers on Burkini during an EOS exercise.

The island's wealth comes largely from the service and tourism sectors, with limited contributions from fishing and agriculture. The favourable climate allows for two rice crops a year. The ancient inhabitants lived from fishing, collecting shellfish, hunting birds, and gardening. International assistance from Orioni represents a large share of the island's domestic product.

Despite its difficult accessibility, Burkini is visited by many tourists who travel to the island because of its beautiful scenery and pink sand beaches. Famous Alenian explorer Matteo Arlotta said that he regarded it as the most beautiful island on Eurth. Cronulla is generally liked as a place to honeymoon and can frequently be seen promoted in marriage brochures.

Burkini, much like Rohini, has a questionable reputation as offshore financial centre. Recently, the country has promised to cooperate with EOS regulations and enhance its financial transparency.

There is a single ferry that goes around the island. Several ferry services connect minor coastal settlements to Cronulla, the Burkinese capital.

Cronulla Airport has connections to the international airports in Sunset Sea Islands and Orioni and onward to other countries. The airport is built on the northeast coral atoll because the terrain of the central cone is too irregular to allow for the construction of a landing strip.

Silhouette of Cronulla.

Culture

Traditional Burkinese house detail.

Traditional Burkinese courtship dance.

A group of Burkinese people in traditional attire.

Burkini had a population of 55,786 people in 2015. 34,053 people live in the capital city of Cronulla. Burkinese culture has its roots in Oriental cultural traditions and heritage. The present day population is thought to have resulted from the fusion of numerous periods of migrations into the Oriental Ocean from both the Oriental and Thalassan directions in remote antiquity. Like most Orinese peoples, the Burkinese don't fit into the major ethnic categories of Europa or Thalassa. In contrast to other Oriental countries, the Burkinese people place relatively great important on their independence and self-sufficiency. Music by the Beach is an annual festival held on 15 October at Cronulla as part of the nation's Independence Day celebrations. The Burkinese dialect is greatly influenced by the Oharic language after the 16th-century colonisation by Orioni.