Glacia

Glacia is the southernmost continent on the planet of Kylaris. Its landmass is roughly circular in shape, centred on the South Pole, being located entirely below the Glacian Circle, and a significant distance from any other large landmasses. Its surface is almost entirely covered in the Glacian Ice Sheet, the oldest and by far the largest ice sheet in the world. Its capital and largest and only permanent settlement is Instead.

Glacia is covered in the Glacian Ice Sheet, the largest and oldest ice sheet in the world, storing a majority of terrestrial freshwater. It is about 10 million square kilometres in size. The largest geological feature of Glacia is the Avernines, a massive volcanic mountain range on the edge of the continent which is roughly south of Coius, the highest point being Mount New Najadhabuo.

Much of the biota of Glacia is endemic to it, because of its unique climactic conditions, and its great distance from other land. Some notable instances include species of penguins, gulls, mosses, lichens and extremophilic microorganisms. There is, however, on the whole, not much metabolism in Glacia, because of the very low energy input it receives from the Sun, being so far south. There is virtually no biotic land cover in Glacia, and based on the level of precipitation, almost the whole continent can be classified as a desert.

The continent, formally the International Territory of Glacia, has been administered by the International Condominium of Glacia, a Community of Nations-affiliated organisation, since 1935. It is the only remaining territorial agency of the Trusteeship Council, and controls activities in and around Glacia with an eye to promoting culture and science and preserving biodiversity and heritage. The continent was uninhabited aside from a few transient outposts until the end of the Great War, when the International Condominium was established. Activity and population have gradually grown since 1935, and at present the population swells to more than five thousand during summers, and around two hundred and fifty people are classified as permanent residents. Most activity revolves around research and tourism.

Etymology

Glacia was named by Euclean explorers for its overwhelming glaciation, from Classical Solarian glaciēs, meaning "ice". Sailors spoke of the "Glacial Ocean", cold and full of icebergs, before the continent of Glacia itself was sighted and named. It should be noted, however, that the demonym for Glacia is Glacian, not "Glacial".

History

Exploration

Glacia was for several millennia the only continent without a human population. Rumours and legends in southern Coius circulated about icy southern lands as far back as the 11th century CE, but it is likely that at least most of these were about the Sunahamas, the most southerly substantial landmass other than Glacia. The first confirmed sighting was made by x of x near the x for x, in 1811.

From that time, Glacia was very occasionally stopped off at by various ships, including whalers, fishers, sealers, explorers and mail-ships, for restocking, repairs, or even just sightseeing and rest. Some structures were built at various points for those stopping over, but were not generally inhabited outside of these rare visits. Stories of hermits or exiles in Glacia have not been confirmed by historical research. In 1869, the x began to go down, limping to an uninhabited settlement that became known as x Cove. The crew and passengers of the x sheltered there for more than a month, almost all surviving, before being rescued.

National claims

Owing to the development of more reliable and longer-range ships, and the decline of the whaling industry, visits to Glacia itself became largely the pursuit of scientists and explorers past the turn of the 20th century. The 1901 expedition of Anders Søren Hammar, a Scoverne adventurer was the first to seriously attempt to reach the South Pole, setting out from Devastation Point (Pointe Dévastation), but it turned back after making it less than two-thirds of the way, with most of the party dying on the way back, including Hammar. In 1913–4, a multinational expedition succeeded in reaching the South Pole and making it back.

Interest in Glacia and the waters around it for scientific, military, imperial and fishery activities grew as technology made it more accessible and it was better documented, but mostly national efforts were piecemeal, still being seriously hampered by the inherent environmental difficulties in Glacian exploration and colonisation. Several powers made claims, but did relatively little to act on them; Senria claimed all land between about 180°E (the westernmost point of the Senrian archipelago) and 105°W (the easternmost point of the Sunahamas); Estmere claimed an area still known as King X's Land; and Gaullica made claims as well. The Great Collapse of 1913 saw most Glacian efforts lapse, and interest wane, and there was virtually no attention paid to Glacia during the Great War from 1927 to 1935.

Establishment of the International Condominium of Glacia

In the aftermath of the Great War, interest in Glacia picked up again, with renewed civilian economic activity, technological advances, and relative global stability. In a global atmosphere of international cooperation, the Trusteeship Council of the Community of Nations agreed to create the International Territory of Glacia, which was overseen by the International Condominium of Glacia. This body would have ongoing oversight from the Trusteeship Council, and had exclusive jurisdiction over Glacia, to the exclusion of all previous and future claims. Most countries relinquished their Glacian claims around 1935, though there were some holdouts, such as Senria (though it did not actively obstruct the activities of the International Condominium, merely waiting to see if it was viable), and Satucin, which claimed to inherit the Gaullican claims. The International Condominium's remit over all terrestrial activities in Glacia was given the aim of preserving natural heritage, and promoting scientific research and understanding.

For a time, the International Condominium of Glacia existed almost only on paper. Permission was granted to only small and temporary scientific missions for a few decades, with interest in other activities remaining relatively low. In this period, regulations on biodiversity protection were developed in detail. However, Community of Nations trust territories gaining independence created a large pool of competent staffers, and freed up Trusteeship Council resources. The aftermath of the Solarian War also created a new atmosphere of international consolidation. In 1950, ground was finally broken on what had been decided as the future capital and main base of Glacia, Instead.

Growth

Instead was established at the base of the Avernines, being shielded by the mountains from ice sheet flows, having access to a deepwater harbour, and being near locations of interest such as Blood Falls. At first, it was only a particularly substantial scientific base, but over time, it acquired a permanent population, the only one on Glacia. Since 1971, it has never been uninhabited. Technological developments such as the Internet, satellite imagery, unmanned aerial vehicles and big data have seen activity particularly accelerate since the 1980s.

Disputes over tourism arose in the International Condominium of Glacia around this period, from the 1980s or 1990s onwards. By the 2000s, however, highly regulated small-scale commercial tourism was operating regularly to Glacia, generating public interest and providing a source of revenue.

Geography

Glacia is dominated by the Glacian Ice Sheet, covering almost all of the continent of over 10 million square kilometres. Being more than a kilometre thick in most places, it is the largest reservoir of freshwater on the planet, and plays an important part in regulating the planet's climate through its reflection of warming solar radiation.

The largest geological feature is the Avernines, a massive range of shield volcanoes, some still active, in the region roughly south of Coius on the northern edge of the continent.

Instead

Instead is the capital of Glacia, and the settlement where the whole permanent population lives, as well as a majority of the temporary population. It is located coastally at the base of the Avernines, specifically near the y Gap, a pass through the Avernines, albeit not one which is of a low enough altitude to admit ice sheet flows from the interior of the continent (though it has been suggested that in the future, increased ice sheet thickness could cause ice flows through the y Gap that pose a danger to Instead). It has a natural deepwater port, known as the Port of Instead, though ice piers are used at times when it is obstructed by particularly thick ice.

Instead has a hospital, a meeting space called the x Hall, a public house called the x, named after the ship x whose wrecked survivors took shelter on Glacia before being rescued, and other facilities.

Government

The International Condominium of Glacia is the government of Glacia. It is split into a few branches; there is a council, composed of the heads of departments, as well as a tribunal, which is a pseudo-judicial body. The Community of Nations Trusteeship Council resolution establishing the International Territory of Glacia is the primary document in terms of governance, but most of what is applied and important on a daily basis are regulations and orders made by the administrative council and tribunal (respectively) of Glacia.

Economy

Most economic activity on Glacia is related to scientific research and tourism, though most activity is not these activities directly, but involved to servicing them. Most of it is based in the capital Instead, but smaller bases also exist, including some inland serviced from Instead.

Much of the economy of Glacia is planned; large purchases imported from overseas are generally paid for by the International Condominium or other organisations, such that no transaction takes place on Glacia itself. Major activities such as expeditions or study projects only take place with the permission of the administration. Revenue generated from Glacian activities also generally never sees the continent itself.

However, a spending currency called the Glacis does exist in non-expeditionary (i.e. temporary and limited to a few purposes) settlements on Glacia. This currency is distributed in a form of universal basic income to all inhabitants of Glacia periodically; as of the 21st century, it is largely handled electronically. It may be spent on discretionary goods, and some services, such as snacks, drinks, massages, sanitary products, souvenirs, board games, and so on. The funding for this currency comes from the payment with the International Condominium of Glacia extracts from those requesting to send people to Glacia; it considers it important to preserving overall morale and health that discretionary goods and services are available.

In 2011, there was a scandal where it was discovered that the Glacis had been used to purchase sexual favours amongst a handful of personnel in Instead. Ultimately, no penalties were levied by the International Condominium, and the identities of those involved were not unsealed, but some or all of the personnel involved were withdrawn by their sponsors shortly afterwards.

Scientific research

Scientific research is mostly in the realm of geoscience and to a lesser extent biology, though astronomy, physics, engineering and even social sciences are also disciplines with a presence at times.

Service sector

Most Glacians work in the service sector, being drivers, bartenders, cooks, cleaners, porters, doctors, counsellors, plumbers, electricians, logistics managers and so forth; their activities are essential to the continued functioning of the settlement.

Tourism

Glacia has value as both a natural and cultural tourist destination. Attractions include the wreck of the x, Blood Falls, the Avernines (for climbing, sightseeing both their forms and volcanism, etc.), the paths and remnants of expeditions (such as those of Anders Søren Hammar [1901] and x), and in general, the unique landscape of ice sheets, dry valleys, icebergs and ice shelves.

Utilities

Power has been generated from a variety of sources for various bases at various times on Glacia. Instead is powered mainly by geothermal energy, tapping into the volcanic activity of the nearby Avernines to utilise their heat, not only for electricity, but also district heating using water.

Drinking water is mainly supplied by the Instead Desalination Plant; water for other purposes might come from the sea or other sources.

Demography

Glacia has a permanent population of about two hundred and fifty people, of all nationalities, and roughly equal numbers of men and women. The most Glacians come from x, y, z, a, and Dezevau. The population swells to around five thousand during summer, and declines by more than half during winters. There are very few elderly or children on Glacia; most are working age adults. It should be noted that no Glacian nationality exists; permanent residents are still nationals of countries, and people born on Glacia are generally recognised to have citizenship by some sort of jus sanguinis.

Most Glacians are multilingual, being widely travelled and internationally collaborating researchers and other educated or skilled people. The most used language is Gaullican, but also commonly used are Estmerish and Weranian.

Glacia is one of the most irreligious jurisdictions in the world. Practiced religions include Sotirianity, Irfan, Badi, Zohism, Atudism and Tenkyou.

A handful of births have occurred on Glacia, but no children have been raised on the continent, to public knowledge.

Culture

Glacia has culture too.

See also

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