Hannibal
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Hannibal | |
|---|---|
| Culturally Historical City of Hannibal | |
| The Hannibal Skyline, viewed from Lakkvarv Hannibal. The Hannibal Skyline, viewed from Lakkvarv Hannibal. | |
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Flag of Hannibal Flag Coat of arms of Hannibal Coat of arms | |
| Nickname(s): "Auld Lost Yin", "The City By The Lake & Mountains", "The Lost One" | |
| Republic Nation | Nouvel Ecosse |
| State | Fantana |
| City | Hannibal |
| Founded | Prior to 3rd century AD |
| Unrecognised City status | 1135 |
| Recognised City status | 1754 |
| Government | |
| • Governing body | City of Hannibal Council |
| • Mayor of Council | Donald Magnusson |
| • Members of Fantana State Council | 12
|
| • MGs | 9
|
| Population (2007) | |
| • City | 6,432,103 |
| • Urban | 7,356,936 |
| • Language(s) | Scots English |
| Current Accolades | Nouvel Ecosse City of Culture 2014 |
| Website | www.VisitHannibal.ast |
Hannibal (pronounced /ˈhɑnnɪbɑl/) is a city in the country of Nouvel Ecosse, and state capital of the state of Fantana. Situated on the banks of the Lakkvarv Hannibal and on the fringes of the Altnordisch Mountain Range, it also borders the Heinreich Rhein. It is the fourth most populated city in Nouvel Ecosse, with a population of 6,432,103 as of the 2007 census.
Hannibal has been a recognised city since 1754, and currently holds the title of Nouvel Ecosse City of Culture 2014. It is home to many major buildings, not limited to the Johannsen Arena, which is the largest custom built music and performing arts venue in the country. The City is also home to the Hannibal Gallery of Modern Art, the Nouvel Ecosse Natural Museum and the Hannibal Vaults, a library with an ever-expanding collection of texts dating back to the Caledonian Empire. Hannibal also has an ever-growing financial base, currently the third largest in Nouvel Ecosse after Edinburgh and Endeavour, mainly down to the influence exerted by foreign owned companies now based in the city. Many large Nouvel Ecossian companies have based their companies in the City.
The City has a rich cultural history, with many of Nouvel Ecosse's top cultural exports originating in the city. There is a thriving music scene, as well as large arts and film industries, in addition to an ever-growing legion of authors. The city has long been known abroad as a centre of education, particularly in the fields of medicine, the arts, the sciences and engineering. The city is also famous for the "Hannibal International Festival", which has grown since its inception in 1932 to become one of the World's largest of its kind, particularly down to the popularity of the "Hannibal Music Festival". It is currently preparing a bid to become an 'Astyrian City of Culture'. Hannibal's history alongside its cultural and sporting scene have made it the most visited city in Nouvel Ecosse by visiting tourists, with an average of over two and a half million visitors per year.
At that time, Emperor Hannibal Cavillus II had ordered the foundation of a city on the banks of the Lakkvarv Hannibal alongside many other settlements to deal with a rising population and demands for necessities such as fish and wood. It was a common ruling in the times of the Caledonian Empire for newly founded cities to bear the name of the current or past emperors, although few have survived the tests of time due to their northern location and weather forcing many settlers to migrate south. Hannibal is the largest of these cities.
History
Etymology
The City of Hannibal is named after the Emperor of the Caledonian Empire, Hannibal Cavillus II, at the time of its settlement around 250 AD. There is dispute however to whether a small village existed before the Emperor's visit.
Early History
The earliest signs of settlement in Hannibal is the uncovered stone foundations for what is thought to be the
Geography
Cityscape
Hannibal is situated on the western front of the Altnordisch mountains, and on the banks of the Lakkvarv Hannibal. Whilst the early city predominantly grew along the banks of the Loch, the modern city is said to include "The Six Giants", big hills which once bordered the city, and now verges into the mountain range itself, with such mountains as Mount Corstorphine and Mount Cassius now adapted for skiing and winter sports, and urban area dominating their bases. "The Six Giants" are Cavillus Hill, Andreas Hill, Stanislav Hill, The Grasping Hand, Lakkvarv Rock and Blackrock Hill.
Occupying, in geological terms, a narrow gap between Lakkvarv Hannibal and the Altnordisch mountain range and their outrunners to the west, the city sprawls over a landscape which is the product of early volcanic activity and later periods of intensive glaciation. The Six Giants are the remains of once active yet now extinct volcanoes, particularly The Grasping Hand, which is thought to have been active till around 4 million years ago. The rest have been extinct for much longer, and their shape is formed by the result of glacial erosion.
Climate
Like much of Nouvel Ecosse, Hannibal suffers from temperate conditions in the Summer and harsh freezing conditions in the Winter. Summer temperatures vary from around 10 °C (48 °F) to 18 °C (64 °F), although it has been recorded on numerous occasions where the summer temperature has exceeded 22 °C. The highest ever temperature recorded in Hannibal was 29 °C (86 °F) on 7 July 1996 at Hannibal Airport. The lowest temperature recorded in recent years was −32.6 °C during December 2010, measured at the base of Mount Corstorphine.
Given its height above sea level, snow is a common occurrence during the Winter months, and can be found as early as September and as late as May. Its height also means that winds can be strong, which, especially during the summer months, fuels popular water sports on the Lake. Given its proximity to the Astyrian Arctic, southerly winds of any sort are generally freezing cold. Rainfall is distributed fairly evenly throughout the year.
Culture
Festivals and Celebrations
The City hosts many different International Festivals, under the umbrella title of "Hannibal Arts & Science Festival". The largest of these festivals is the "Hannibal Music Festival", which runs during the month of April and includes performances from a mix of international and local acts. Many of the acts who feature as part of the local selection have gone on to national and even international fame, the most famous example being Operation Kino, who were spotted during the 2001 Festival and have gone on to play as one of the main attractions in seven of the thirteen festivals since. The Music Festival covers a range of genres, including theatrical operas, classical orchestras, jazz & blues, as well as contemporary and alternative music.
The "Hannibal International Film Festival", which coincides with the Music Festival, is a celebration of the films of both Nouvel Ecosse and the world, and is sponsored and run by Alhambra Cinemas, one of the world's largest cinema chains. Many critically successful Ecossian films have some sort of showing at the festival, generally with sponsored preview showings. Anniversary showings are also hosted, often with the original cast assembled. It has also become a tradition for blockbuster Ecossian features to premiere at the festival, an example of which being "Counter-Clock World" at the 2013 Festival.
The Film Festival climaxes with the "Nouvel Ecosse Film Writer's Guild Awards", or the 'Runerigs', named after prestigious black and white film director Douglas Runerig McLean. Hosted in the Johannsen Globe, it attracts the best professionals and stars from across the International scene, and gives out awards in such categories as "Best Actor", "Best Actress", and the coveted "Best Film" award.
The Science Festival, on the other hand, runs during the month of April, and features lectures from some of the World's leading scientists in their respective fields. The 2014 event is set to surpass the 2013 festival as the largest of its kind. The Hannibal Museum is also devoted to the festival, running events and importing artifacts from across the World.
Music, theatre and film
The city of Hannibal is renowned for its dominance in both domestic and international cultural terms. Nouvel Ecosse's most prominent music production company, Blue Oyster Records, refer to the city as home, as do internationally established musicians such as the seventies rock group Velociraptor Rex and the popular country music star Don Griffin. Hannibal is also home to Nouvel Ecosse's largest purpose made arena venue, the Johannsen Arena, which seats 25,000 people or 40,000 when standing room is made available. It was officially opened on the 20th November 2012 with a live gig from Don Griffin. It is also known as the "Old Joe" by local residents, predominantly because of the Arena's association with former Hannibal mayor Finnigan Marcus Johannsen, who the arena is named after and who ran under the nickname of "Old Joe".
Other venues for live music include "The Albion & The Wanderer", Dario's Nightclub, Santini's and the Blue Oyster, Blue Oyster Records own performance venue. Hannibal is also home to the Nouvel Ecosse Symphony Orchestra, as well as the Hannibal Philharmonic Orchestra and Hannibal Concert Band. Occasionally, concerts can be held at either of the two stadiums in Hannibal, however this is a rare occurrence.
There are currently two Cinemas operated by the Alhambra Chain in Hannibal, as well as another run by their rival chain Paladin. In addition to this, there are currently two large independent theatres: 'La Tramosse', which specialises in foreign art films, and "The Octavon", which generally features the work of aspiring Ecossian film-makers.
Hannibal also has a rich history in terms of composers, with the mountains and loch offering inspiration to many pieces, most notably "Lakkvarv Sonata en Bb", the classical piece by composer Jurgen Mattheus.
Media
The Hannibal Times is based in Hannibal and published every day except sunday, when the Sunday edition, the Sunday Times, is published. Proclaimer Media Group, who also own numerous other titles including The National and Ecosse Soccer, are headquartered in the city and The National is the only Ecosse-wide newspaper published in Hannibal, although numerous other publications cover the area.
The city has four commercial radio stations and two state owned commercial radio stations: Hannibal Music broadcasts chart hits, whilst Hannibal Rock plays classic tracks. The Loch is a channel devoted to the arts, including a range of folk, classical and theatre broadcasts. Pirate Radio, although it is now officially recognised, is a place of phone-in debate covering a range of topics, as well as broadcasting live sporting matches. The Government also runs NEBC Hannibal 1 & NEBC Hannibal 2, the first offering music and the second live sport and debate.
Governance
Hannibal, and the state of Fantana, is currently represented by nine Ministers of Government and twelve members of State Council, as well as numerous local councillors, who are part of different smaller councils. There are currently 10 of such councils in Fantna, of which 8 are found in Hannibal. As of current, 3 MGs and 3 MSCs are represented by the Ecossian Democratic Front, 2 MGs and 3 MSCs are represented by the Ecossian Socialist Party, 4 MGs and 4 MSCs are represented by the Nouvel Ecosse Communist Party, and there are one Green Party and one Independent MSC respectively.
The City of Hannibal is home to the State Council of Fantana. Council meetings take place in Fox House in the City Administrative Sector. During the conflict with the Yellow Star Republic Fox House also housed much of the Ecossian Government. The State Council is currently run as a minority by the Communist Party, with support from the Socialist and Green Party. Donald Magnusson is the current leader of Hannibal State Council, having replaced Darren Arnofow in 2006.
Transport
Hannibal International Airport is Nouvel Ecosse's second largest and busiest airport, second only to Edinburgh in terms of both traffic and international destinations. It has three terminals, one serving domestic destinations including Edinburgh Airport, Endeavour and Martell, one serving Astyrian destinations including Woodstead, Neu Engollon and ViZion, and a third for international destinations further afield, most notably Kington Langley, Maltropia and Ceni.
Travel in the city is conducted predominantly by either underground metro or bus. The Government runs both services under the guises of Fantana Buses and EcosseRail. Fantana Buses operates all bus services in the city and to surrounding suburbs, with most routes running via Hannibal Corstanton, Hannibal's central train & bus station. The company also run all tour buses, airport bus-links and night bus service. It is believed that upwards of 120 million bus journeys are made in the city every year.
The Underground Metro, which encompasses five different routes and 75 stops, receives more traffic than the buses, although this is put down to their higher regularity. It is thought that upwards of 200 million train journeys are made in the city every year on the underground alone, with Corstanton being the busiest station, providing routes to other cities including Martell, Edinburgh and beyond into the Aurora Confederacy, as well as being the central underground station. Other main stations include Hannibal Central, Altcanon & Haxdon, Hampden and the Terminal Stops at the International Airport.
To tackle traffic congestion, there are also twelve park and rides outside of the city in the suburbs. During busier months, the council will often impose congestion charges in efforts to ease traffic flow.
Education
There are seven universities in Hannibal with students making up about one sixth of the total population, when visitors are removed from the total population. Established in 1382, under the command of Benelician Monks, the University of Hannibal is one of the country's oldest surviving universities, narrowly beaten by Edinburgh, Asimov and Kingsley. The original building revolved around Benelict Hill, a small mound approaching the lake. Although those buildings still exist, they are preserved rather than used by the University. In 1632, the campus was moved to an area further afield, on the slopes of Stanislav Hill, although the original campus was kept open for administration issues. Today, all campuses are centred on the Stanislav Campus, although the Emperor's Campus is the home of the majority of the science and engineering school. This campus is situated nearer to the centre of the city. The medical school is also located off the main campus, with residency and the school of medicine found opposite the main entrance to the Infirmary of Hannibal. The University was ranked 3rd overall in Nouvel Ecosse Universities.
Johannsen University, located on the north-west corner of the lake and named after Mayor Finnigen Johannsen on its founding in 1943, is the second largest university in Hannibal, and offers courses on a similar range to that of the University of Hannibal. It is is all found on one campus, although it also runs courses in its south wing, mainly relating to electronics. The Hannibal School of Engineering, which also teaches numerous sciences and mechanics, is also a large university, found near Johannsen University.
In addition to these three universities, there is also the Douglas Drain School of the Arts, which teaches courses in both fine art, performing arts and music. This University is located on the lake shore itself. The Trevidian University, an 18th Century University focused on the study of biology and named after the famous Ecossian biologist Dr. Frank Trevidian, is found on the outskirts of the old city, and holds a large park as part of its grounds. The Trevidian University also composes a large amount of research on Trevidian Island, found in the middle of Lakkvarv Hannibal.
The final two universities were both promoted to University status in 2007. Hannibal Napier University is a smaller university, and the only one that is a private university and requires tuition fess in Hannibal. It recieves no funding from the Ecossian Government. The other one, located next door, is the Prescott School, which specialises in the physical sports. The Prescott school operates an 18-hole golf course, an athletics outdoor stadium and numerous amateur sports sides.
Healthcare
Healthcare in Hannibal is covered by numerous hospitals. The main National Ecossian Healthcare institutions are the Infirmary of Hannibal, which includes numerous specialised wings in different areas, including world leading cancer wards, and the Western Infirmary, located closer to the mountain range, which is also vitally important to the city, dealing with many injuries that are unfortunately commonplace in the mountains. The city also sustains a large mental hospital, situated in a wooded alcove to the North on the river. There is also a devoted Hospital to paediatrics, which takes in sick children.
Sport
Football
Hannibal has three professional football teams. Hannibal Elect, founded in 1895, and East Hannibal Albion, founded in 1899, play in the Attico's Premier Division, whilst Crystal Lanark, founded in 1889, play in the First Division. Known locally as "Lects", "Albas" and "Lans", the three Hannibal teams share a fierce and patriotic triad derby system. Crystal Lanark are the most successful of the three, having won the Premier Division eight times. East Hannibal Albion have won it thrice, and Hannibal Elect are yet to have success.
Hannibal also sustains numerous lower divisions sides, most notably Hannibal University, Tynecastle FC, Easterbank Athletic and Third Culross. Crystal Lanark's stadium, Culloden, is the largest sporting venue in Hannibal with a total crowd of 88,000, although that is with the majority in standing area. It has hosted numerous of Nouvel Ecosse's national games, and is set to host the national side's homes games during World Cup 68 Qualifying. Voyager Park, of East Hannibal Albion, and Flooden Street, of Hannibal Elect, have capacities of 62,000 and 53,000 respectively.
Rugby
The Nouvel Ecosse national rugby union team and the professional Lanark Rugby team both play at Grangefield Stadium, which aside from hosting matches also hosts music concerts and other such events. Hannibal has a strong foothold on professional rugby union in Nouvel Ecosse, with four sides including Lanark in the top division. These include Corstorphine Academical, Herriot RFC and the Elect.
Athletics
The athletics system in Hannibal is one of great international repute. There are numerous athletics clubs dissipated around the City, although the largest and and one with most professional athletes is the Grasping Hand Athletics Club.
