Peter's Island

Peter's Island Остров Петра
Coat of Arms of Peter's Island Coat of Arms
Largest City	Belagavan
Ethnic groups	Venadian (91.1%) Litvinian (2.1%) Breheimian (2.0%) Ristonian (1.2%) Others (3.6%)
Demonym(s)	Pyotriy
Government	Special Administrative Zone of Kostrovsk Tysyacha
Legislature	Local Veche
Area
•	28,211 km2 (10,892 sq mi)
Population
• Estimate	241,420
• Density	8.6/km2 (22.3/sq mi)

Peter's Island is an island located to the north of mainland Venadia, and is part of Kostrovsk Tysyacha. It is one of the northermost populated areas in Ardania and the site of extensive mining and fishing operations in the arctic. It has an arctic climate and is completely reliant on imports from the mainland to survive, and it is one of the only Special Administrative Zones of Venadia. The population are overwhelmingly ethnic Venadia, as the area was uninhabitated until 1898.

History

Peter's Island was discovered in 1895 by the polar explorer Pyotr Rudin, and a Venadian whaling station was established in 1898 which also served as a base for further exploration of the north pole. Significant veins of gold was found in 1908, causing a massive increase in economic activity on the island. In 1911, the Joint Mining Company established themselves on the island after being granted commission to exploit the natural resources of the island by the Venadian government.

The island was also claimed by Breheim and the Vesan Union in 1904 and 1905 respectively. The Breheimian Berger-Kron Mining Company established their own mine on the island, but following the Battle of Peter's Island between the JMC and BKMC were forcibly kicked out. The resulting diplomatic crisis only narrowly averted war. The Peter's Island Treaty of 1908 gave Venadia sovereignity of the island, but Breheimian and Vesan mining, whaling and fishing companies could operate in the area without paying Venadian taxes or following Venadian regulations. The Breheimians abandoned all activity on the island in 1933.

In 1929 Peter's Island became a Special Administrative Zone under the Kostrovsk Tysyacha as part of a larger administrative reform in Venadia. Foreign nationals received suffrage for the Local Veche, and the island have no further subdivisions despite its size and population. Food products became subsidized on the island to alleviate the high transport costs. Travel to and from the island became restricted to individuals with the personal means to pay for themselves, or who already had steady employment on the island.

Peter's Island was briefly occupied by Breheim between 1936 and 1937 during the Second Ardanian Great War. The shelling of Belagavan, Peter's Island's primary port, caused tremendous losses to the island's population. The liberation of Peter's Island was a joint undertaking of the Vesan Union and Venadia.

Society

Peter's Island has a population of a total of 241,420 as of 2015. Of these, 18,842 are not Venadian citizens but are residents of the island per the Peter's Island Treaty of 1908 and make up a total of 7.8% of the island's residents. Belagavan is the administrative centre of the island, and is located in the south-west of the island. It is a major harbor and port, with a total population of 132,500 per the 2015 census. The only other settlement of note is Petrograd in the central areas of the island, with a population of 41,480. Petrograd serves as a transport and refining hub of the island's numerous smaller mining settlements, with the finished goods transported to Belagavan.

Peter's Island has one airport, with flights primarily to and from the Venadian mainland, but also operates weekly flights from the Vesan Union and Breheim.

Peter's Island is marked by a large amount of influence from Breheim and the Vesan Union, although in the modern era the actual population from these countries is small compared to the Venadian. Vesan and Breheimian dishes are common, and Peter's Island have their own Vesan-style "national" embroidery.

The island has a developed cultural scene, as well as education and healthcare facilities. Belagavan and Petrograd hospitals services the entire island, with emergency helicopters being used in lieu of ambulances outside of the two cities. Belagavan is the site of the Belagavan Arctic State University of Venadia, specializing in arctic studies, metallurgy and geography.

Economy

The economy of Peter's Island is dominated by the mining industry, with the Polomir Mining Corporation operating more than twenty-three mines alone. Peter's Island is rich on gold and coal, with some lesser deposits of copper. The only other industry of note outside of the public sector is tourism, which has grown in the past decade. Vesan tourists in particular have grown more common, as they can travel to Peter's Island without a visa but can still enjoy relatively low prices. Peter's Island had an unemployment of less than 4% in 2015, due to the Special Administrative Zone deporting individuals who are without a job for too long who are not native-born to the island.