Ostrothia

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Republic of Ostrothia Ostrii Vabariik
Flag Coat of arms
Motto: Isamaa eest! For Fatherland!
Location of  Ostrothia  (dark green) – in Lorecia  (green & dark grey) – in the Lorecian Community  (green)
Capital and	Rõlva
Official languages	Ostrothian
Demonym(s)	Ostrothian
Government	Unitary Parliamentary Republic
• President	Artur Jõeäär
• Prime Minister	Leana Aarma
Legislature	Rahvakogu
Independence from Republic of Valkea
• Tribal Era	1st Century AD
• First Crusades	1217
• Duchy of Ostrothia	1350
• Reformation	1509
• National Awakening	1867
• 1905 Revolution	1905
• Valkean Assimilation	1906-1917
• War of Independence	1917
• Republic of Ostrothia	1923
Area
•	63,400 km2 (24,500 sq mi)
Population
• Estimate	2,890,000
GDP (PPP)	2021 estimate
• Per capita	$52,543
GDP (nominal)	estimate
• Total	$58.97 billion
• Per capita	$25,752
Gini (2021)	38.4 medium
Currency	Ostrothian Mark (OMK)
Date format	yyyy-mm-dd
Driving side	right
Calling code	+530

Ostrothia (Ostrothian: Ostrii), officially the Republic of Ostrothia (Ostrothian: Ostrii Vabariik), is a country in Astyria. It shares land borders with Valkea to the north, Caledonia to the northeast, Varddi to the south, and the Aurora Confederacy to the southwest. Ostrothia covers a total area of 63,400 km2 (24,478 sq mi), and is influenced by a humid continental climate. Ostrothia is a member of the Lorecian Community. Rõlva, the capital of Ostrothia and Laadu are the largest cities and urban areas in the country. Other notable cities include Haku, Novessaare, Jõhku and Soulu. The official language of the country, Ostrothian, is a Valkenic language.

Ostrothia has been settled since 10,000 BC. In the first century AD counties known as Maakond were formed which were frequently raided by Vikings who founded the modern Ostrothian capital of Rõlva. Valkean crusades brought christianity to Ostrothia and by the 14th cemtury most of Ostrothia was under Valkean rule in the form of The Duchy of Ostrothia which was established in 1350. In the early 1500's the rerformation brought lutheranism to Ostrothia. In the 1860's the National Awakening saw the reemergence of the Ostrothian language and Ostrothian culture. This culminated in the 1905 revolution in which Ostrothian nationalists attempted to create an Ostrothian Republic. The revolution ended in 1906 as Valkea assimilated Ostrothia into Valkea proper. The Ostrothian language and national symbols such as the Ostrothian triband were banned. This caused Ostrothian nationalism to rise.

In 1916 as Valkea fell into civil war Ostrothian nationalists claimed independence. The Valkean army invaded in early 1917 and the Ostrothian war of Independence insued. It lasted until August of that year as the Valkean armed forces was forced to focus on the civil war in Valkea. Ostrothia became an independent state in 1923 when it was recognized by other Astyrian nations, although the Valkean government would not recognize their independence until 1956. Ostrothia joined the Lorecian Community in 1997.

Geography

Ostrothia’s total territory spans 63,400 square kilometres. It’s boundaries have shifted over the centuries as the idea of Ostrothian territory has changed. It’s modern borders were created after independence in 1923. Ostrothia borders Valkea to the north, the Aurorum Confederation to the south Caledonia to the north west and Western Tundra to the west. On its west Ostrothia has an extensive coastline dotted with islands where major cities such as the Ostrothian capital Rõlva can be found as well as other port cities such as Huia and Haku.

A topographic map of Ostrithia showing Railway lines, Cities and towns, A and B roads and county boundaries

Ostrothian land is generally flat with the land occasionally rising into uplands that reach no more than 322 metres above sea level. Dotted across the centre of Ostrothia is a wide chain of lakes that spread from the west coast to the eastern interior. These lakes are known as the Ahelik lakes. However Ostrothia’s largest lake is lake Haigur in the south of the country which spans nearly 2,000 square kilometres which is an important source of peat. A resource found in abundance along its shore. Generally thanks to the Ahelik lakes running through its centre Ostrothia has a flat expance at its centre.

Ostrothia has a coastline spanning 501 kilometres from north to south. It’s coast is low lying and the most densely populated portion of the country being home to 3 of its 5 official cities. The Ostrothian coast is low lying and is dotted with dunes and wind farms which are a significant source of energy. The three largest islands along the coast going from north to south are Ölva, Ruuna and Kelsa which are accessible by ferry from cities such as Rõlva and Huia. Ostrothia has a vast network of rivers. The country’s longest are the Rõlva and Laadu. Numerous smaller rivers punctuate the land and add to the country’s unique character.

There are few Ostrothian uplands but those few uplands are as naturally serene as the rest of the republic. In the very south the Lääpe upland forms a portion of the border with the Aurora Confederacy. With the Juure upland stretching just north of lake Haigur. The Haku and Laaduan uplands are the tallest in the country although tall in the case of Ostrothia amounts only to around 322 metres at most. The so called Ostrothian arm made up of the county of Novesaare is the least populated part of Ostrothia and is on average the country’s most hilly. The arm of Ostrothia is a quiet and is often accused of being neglected by the government in Rõlva.

Over 40% of Ostrothia is covered in forest which has stayed this way due to strict government control over the felling and use of trees. Much of Ostrothia is forest which has over centuries contributed in many ways to the nation’s culture as the forests have provided food and shelter to Ostrothians for centuries.

Politics

Artur Jõäär President	Leana Aarma Prime Minister

Since gaining its independence in 1923 Ostrothia has been a Parliamemtary Unitary republic. The Ostrothian head of state is the President. The Presidency of Ostrothia is a completely ceremonial role and the President has no say in the actual running of the country, the role of the President is simply to represent Ostrothia as a figurehead. The head of the executive government of Ostrothia is the Prime Minister who along with his/her cabinet is charged with drafting legislation to the Ostrothian Unicameral parliament the Rahvakogu. The Rahvakogu was first formed in 1918 and is made up of 190 members who are responsible for voting for legislation drafted by the executive government. To gain a majority in the Rahvakogu a party must win 95 seats, the current party in power is Solidaarsus ha Isamaa. The Rahvakogu is elected by all Ostrothian citizens over the age of 18 by universal suffrage every 5 years. The Rahvakogu has been dominated by centre-left parties for the past 30 years. The judiciary branch of the Ostrothian government is split into high or national courts and then further into municipal courts.

Foreign relations

As a member of several international organisations such as the Lorecian Community and having been one of the founders of the Vinstrian Union Ostrothia has insured that it, although a small nation, plays a large hand in the geopolitical happenings in the region around it and on the international stage. Ostrothia was a founding member of the Vinstrian Union in the mid 1980’s along with Valkea, Caledonia and Nynorsk Ostlijord. Ostrothia became a member of the Lorecian Community in 1997. Its membership in the community has been invaluable to the nations influence on the international stage. Although relations were strained historically between Valkea and Ostrothia the two have bridged the divide that was caused by Ostrothia’s independence from Valkea in 1923.

Military

Being a small country, Ostrothia does not have a particularly large military. The military that Ostrothia does have is mainly used as a peacekeeping force in international incidents. The Ostrothian military is made up of the Air Force, the Land Forces and the Ostrothian Navy. Historically Ostrothia was under the rule of Valkea and thus was under the control of its armed forces. When Ostrothian independence occurred in 1923 Valkean regiments then stationed in Ostrothia were allowed to remain there insuring that Ostrothia had a force to protect it.

Law enforcement in Ostrothia is the job of the Ostrothian Police who are also in charge of citizenship matters such as Passports and ID cards. The Ostrothian police are a national force split into several smaller forces based on the counties of Ostrothia.

Economy

Ostrothia is a High income market economy. Ostrothia was a relatively small economic power in its area until its membership of the Lorecian Community which has seen a large growth in the Ostrothian economy. Ostrothia is known for having one of the lowest corporate teaxes in Lorecia and for the ease of doing business in the country. Due to its relatively low lying landscape the main exports of Ostrothia include many agricultural prosucts such as cereals. As well as this Ostrothia is a known exporter of electronics, fish and is known for its shipbuilding. Ostrothia is reliant on imports of oil and gas for its energy supply. Ostrothia has a high consumption of energy due to its climate which demnands usage gor heating and so on.

Transport

Ostrothia has an extensive road and rail network that traverses nearly the entire country. The roads in Ostrothia are split into three branches, Motorway, A-Road and B-Road. The majority of freight going through Ostrothia is carried by rail. Rail lines are run by the state owmed service OR. Among passenger trains the most used in the Ostrothian Highspeed Coastal Route which connects the Ostrothian capital Rõlva to Valkea in the north through Haku and through the city of Varju in the south to the Aurora Confederacy. Other major lines include the Rõlva-Laadu highspeed line. In urban areas in Ostrothia there are several light rail and tram services that traverse the cities of Rõlva, Laadu, Jõhku and Varju. Ostrothia has several large ports the largest being the Port of Rõlva followed closely by the port of Haku with more than 67% of passenger and commercial traffic filtering through them. Ostrothia has three international airports those being Rõlva International, Laadu and Varju. They serve as a base for the national airline Vinstrii.

Energy

Ostrothia imports a large quantity of Oil and Gas from neighbouring countries such as Caledonia although in recent years there has been a large pushback to this as the Ostrothian government attempts to explore enviromentally friendly green options. In 2015 the government announced its new renewable energy programme which saw wind power increase to 7% of the total energy input in Ostrothia. Ostrothia has a liberalised its emergy market in 2003. There three nuclear power plants in Ostrothia; Prasilimäe, Votkusaa near Noversaare and Leremaa in Lääpe county. Rennovationsare planned to modernise the latter two of these power plants.