Govkros

Govkros
Govkros from the Iesel to the north
Nicknames
Country	Vyvland
Province	File:Seermflag.png Seerm
Type	Municipality, City
Mayor	Johan Myler (Socialist)
Constituency MPs	4
Population	393,108 (2012)
Elevation	14m
Demonym	Govkrosse
Time zone	UTC -6
Postcode	L0000-L2499
Number plate code	(L) G
Phone code	145 (GK)
Website	http://www.govkros.sm.vy

Govkros (pronounced /ˈgov.kɾoz/, locally /ˈjoʊ̯.kχos/) is a major city and municipality on the Seerm Bight in northern Vyvland. It is the largest settlement in its province of Seerm and the twelfth-largest city in the country. Govkros grew as a shipping and metal-smelting industrial town, with its natural deepwater port at the mouth of the River Kaypel aiding these industries. Modern Govkros is a cultural, trade and transport hub for its region following extensive government investment, in addition to being a base for tourists to many of the surrounding mountain areas such as the Wesjrenbergs to the south. It is one of the coldest major cities in Vyvland, due to its sheltered, inland, and northerly location.

Evidence of habitation at Govkros goes back to approximately 200 BC, hundreds of years before the first Germanic settlers arrived in Vyvland. The mouth of the river at Govkros was used as a crossing point, from which the town of Govkros grew; this is evidenced by two canoes found buried in peat during excavations while constructing the town's modern Taivalvuobruj bridge, which runs parallel to the historic Junbruj. Bretian explorer Mirramais visited the town twice, recording tales of how it had been sacked by its new settlers. However, the harsh local climate meant that Govkros stayed relatively small until the Industrial Revolution. During this period, the famous wooden-framed houses in the area known as Jolport were constructed.

Nearby reserves of coal and metal ores made Govkros into a thriving port and metallurgy centre, and caused the town to grow rapidly in the nineteenth century. It was the site of the assassination of Prime Minister of North Vyvland Frig Brayeer, who represented the town in parliament for fourteen years. Investment begun by Gunfre Smef-Hoyg transformed the town's ailing economy, with many high-tech and chemical industries now firmly rooted in the area.

Govkros's transport connections are reasonably good, although inhibited by the Wesjrenbergs. However, major road connections link the city to Mafiy within half an hour, and Vlud, Lyksdal, Stiven and Heersduik further out. Its northerly connections to Deg also make it something of a commercial hub for that province. Govkros Syfzor station, the largest in the town, is a stop on the main train line from Mafiy to Lyksdal, while Junbruj station, on the northern bank of the Kaypel estuary, mainly serves connections to the north and east.

The major political party in the city is the Socialist Party, who hold three of the four constituency seats allocated to the city in the Parliament of Vyvland in addition of control of the city council in a coalition with the United Left. The other parliamentary seat is held by the Conservative Party.