Wik

Wik Westerland (Dutch)
File:Flag-wik.png Flag
File:Wiklocator.png The location of Wik (red) within Vyvland
Country	File:Flag vyv.png Vyvland
Capital	Mafiy
Largest City	Mafiy
Population	2,454,440
Area	16,492km²
Population density	149/km²
Government	Liberal-Socialist coalition
Chancellor	Helwald Sgrum-Jessen (Liberal)
Parliament seats	49
Municipalities	61
Official languages	Vyvlander Dutch co-official in some eastern municipalities
Number plate code	T

Wik (Westerland in Dutch) is a province of northwestern Vyvland, whose capital is Mafiy. It is the fourth-most populous province in Vyvland and the eighth-most extensive. The province comprises many areas of fertile plains and marshes, in addition to low-lying and small hills. Mafiy is the third largest city in Vyvland, and a centre of commerce and culture, while Brubas, the province's second city, is a historic town with industry and trade also playing important roles. The province's traditional symbol is the white rose, which features on its flag.

History

Central Wik's marshy ground made it hard to settle, although evidence of settlement (such as flint tools and primitive metal brooches) around the edge of the marshes and on hillsides has been found dating back to 800 AD. The Wiken tribe (thought to be a Viking tribe) were one of few on the marshes, and were known for their isolation and hostility towards outsiders. Many bodies of those identified as being from elsewhere in Vyvland lie in the Wikmerz, most notably at the mass graves at Peusdov-en-Merz, which are now an important archaeological site.

The various tribes gradually unified into Wik somewhere between 1050 and 1100 AD. Mafiy was the duchy's capital and largest city due to its important situation on major trade routes to the south and west, and it became rich from this trade throughout the medieval period, becoming one of Vyvland's largest cities. From when Mafiy officially became a 'free city' in 1256, the capital of Wik lay in Brubas, in the centre of the province. However, Mafiy has always been seen as the traditional capital, and its status reverted to such in the early 1700s. Wik remained a semi-independent duchy under Eylav fi Paavyl of Stanmer, but was conquered by Vlud in the 1630s. The city and province in general were left relatively untouched by the Industrial Revolution due to the lack of natural resources in the area and the difficulty of transport, especially to Mafiy.

The province lay in North Vyvland after the Civil War, and as such was controlled by the democratic and monarchist governments. However, the province (in particular Mafiy) was chosen as the site for South Vyvlander refugees to the North to be settled in, and as such the area became much more populated in the mid 20th century. Much of the province's hinterland still remains sparsely populated.

Geography

Wik is mostly comprised of plains and floodplains, which extend eastwards into the neighbouring Helland and Brudon provinces. Much of this area is comprised of marshes, although in the 7th century, many of these were drained, while the River Wik was canalised. The marshes, known as the Wikmerz, are mostly part of the Wik Marshes National Park, which provides an important sanctuary for rare and endangered birds and bog plants. Areas in the north and southwest of the province are more hilly in nature, while the Sdokres Valley lies between small mountains which rise to over 800 metres in height. The province is bordered by the River Wik to its southern and eastern sides, which starts in the Sdokres Valley in the province's northwest. The second-longest river which flows through the province is the Mids in the north.

Economy

The fertile plains of Wik have historically been suited to agriculture, and that was the main purpose of their historical draining from bogs and marshland. In Mafiy and Brubas, manufacturing and industry are also important, while both cities have large commercial sectors. Mafiy is also a large transport and business centre, in addition to its many cultural institutions and historic old town, which is popular with tourists. Technology and computing firms are commonplace in the Mafiy suburbs, especially to the city's east. Lenvord, in the south of the province, is a regional centre for southern Wik and northern Brudon.

Politics

The main parties in Wik are the Liberal Party and Conservative Party, with the Socialists having some presence in Mafiy due to its urban nature. The current Provincial Diet is a Liberal-Socialist coalition, which holds a small majority of the Diet's seats. In the national Parliament, the province returns fourteen Liberal MPs, 13 Conservatives and 8 Socialists, in addition to 5 National Party MPs, four from the Capitalist Party, two Greens and one member each from the Vyvlander Front, United Left and Monarchist Party.

Transport

The major transport route through Wik is the A1 motorway, which runs from southwestern Mafiy, past Brubas and eastwards towards Heersduik. The province contains one commercial airport, Wik Airport, which lies to the southeast of Mafiy, while Wesge Airport, situated just outside the provincial boundaries, serves Wik (especially Mafiy) in addition to Vlud. Heersduik Airport is also located relatively close to the province's eastern border.