View source for Geography of Pelinai (Pacifica)

The '''Geography of [[Pelinai (Pacifica)|Pelinai]]''' encompasses the approximately 304,702 km<sup>2</sup> of land area within the borders of the Pelinese state, along with its rivers, lakes, coastal [[w:Littoral zone|littoral zones]], mountain ranges, islands, and other geographical features. It covers a wide range of climate and biotic zones, including the tropical rainforests of Sevaria, the eastern coastal plains, the [[Yukisora Mountains (Pacifica)|Yukisora Mountains]], the Marahu River Valley, and many outlying islands within the Seiko Sea and the [[Eastern Ocean (Pacifica)|Eastern Ocean]].

==Area and borders==
Pelinai is the [[w:List of countries by area (Pacifica)|fifth-largest]] country in Bailtem and the largest country in the [[Milayakh (Pacifica)|Milayakh]] region as of December 2024, with a total land area of 304,702 km<sup>2</sup>. It shares short land borders with the countries of [[Myria (Pacifica)|Myria]] and [[Jazeera (Pacifica)|Jazeera]], as well as maritime borders with [[Livana (Pacifica)|Livana]] and [[Ubesii (Pacifica)|Ubesii]].

Pelinai possesses coastlines facing two aquatic regions: the [[Mediterranean Sea (Pacifica)|Mediterranean Sea]], and the Eastern Ocean. Because of its relatively long, thin distribution of territory in predominantly coastal areas, it also possesses an extensive [[w:Exclusive economic zone|exclusive economic zone]] located primarily in the Eastern Ocean.

==Ecoregions==
{{See also|Flora of Pelinai (Pacifica)|Fauna of Pelinai (Pacifica)}}
Pelinai possesses a variety of distinct ecoregions within the predominantly [[w:Humid subtropical climate|humid subtropical]] climate, mediated by factors such as latitude, elevation, and the relative proximity of bodies of water like oceans and rivers; environments common to most of the country include mixed deciduous-conifer forests and wetlands, along with montane forests and tundra at higher elevations. 
===Marahu River Valley===
The Marahu River Valley accounts for the entirety of southwestern Pelinai; it extends from the western border with Myria and Jazeera to the southwestern edge of the Yukisora Mountains, including the entire federal regions of Samara and Loshkaria as well as the western edges of Yukisora, and envelops the nearby Seiko Sea on three sides. As in most of Pelinai, the region sees hot summers, mild winters, and heavy precipitation dispersed roughly evenly throughout the year; snowfall is uncommon in low-lying areas and rarely persists on the ground for more than 24 hours, though overnight frosts regularly occur during the winter months of June, July, and August. The predominant biomes in this region are [[w:Temperate coniferous forest|temperate coniferous forest]] and [[w:Temperate broadleaf and mixed forests|temperate broadleaf and mixed forests]], along with [[w:Flooded grasslands and savannas|flooded grasslands]] in the Marahu River Delta and the immediately surrounding area.

Flora of the Marahu River Valley region is notably varied. Much of the area is covered by pine forests dominated by trees such as [[w:Pinus taeda|loblolly pine]] and [[w:Pinus echinata|shortleaf pine]], [[w:Acer rubrum|red maple]], and [[w:Liquidambar styraciflua|sweethum]], as well as other trees such as [[w:Chamaecyparis thyoides|southern white cedar]], [[w:Morus rubra|red mulberry]], [[w:Populis deltoides|eastern cottonwood]], [[w:Prunus serotina|black cherry]], [[w:Carya tomentosa|white hickory]], [[w:Acer floridanum|southern sugar maple]], and [[w:Magnolia virginiana|sweetbay magnolia]]. Representative terrestrial animals of the region include the [[w:Eastern gray squirrel|gray squirrel]], the [[w:Eastern cottontail rabbit|eastern cottontail rabbit]], the [[w:Raccoon|raccoon]], the [[w:Virginia opossum|possum]], the [[w:Red fox|red]] and [[w:Gray fox|gray foxes]], the [[w:Muskrat|muskrat]], the [[w:Eastern diamondback rattlesnake|eastern diamondback rattlesnake]], the [[w:Coyote|coyote]], the [[w:North American beaver|beaver]], the [[w:Bobcat|bay lynx]], the [[w:White-tailed deer|white-tailed deer]], and the [[w:American black bear|black bear]], along with species such as the [[w:Swamp rabbit|swamp rabbit]] that do not commonly occur in most other areas of Pelinai. Examples of introduced species that have become common in the wild include [[w:Wild boar|wild boar]], [[w:Nutria|nutria]], [[w:Kudzu|kudzu]], [[w:Trifolium repens|white clover]], and [[w:Taraxacum officinale|common dandelion]]. Representative birds known to reside in the Marahu River Valley, frequently year-round, include [[w:Wild turkey|wild turkeys]], [[w:Mourning dove|mourning doves]], [[w:Northern cardinal|northern cardinals]], [[w:Carolina wren|Pelinese wrens]], [[w:American crow|Bailtemmic crows]], [[w:Turkey vulture|turkey vultures]], [[w:Great blue heron|great blue herons]], and [[w:Bald eagle|bald eagles]].

Aquatic vertebrate found in the Marahu River Valley and its many wetlands are numerous. Some species of aquatic reptile occurring in the area include [[w:Diamondback terrapin|diamondback terrapins]], [[w:Common snapping turtle|common snapping turtles]], and [[w:American alligator|alligators]], while representative amphibians include [[w:Cricket frog|cricket frogs]]l [[w:Spring peeper|spring peepers]], and [[w:American bullfrog|bullfrogs]]; [[w:Pine Barrens tree frog|pine barrens tree frogs]] also occur rarely in the region.
===Yukisora Mountains===
The Yukisora Mountains ecoregion of Pelinai extends across the approximately 1,500 kilometer length of the eponymous mountain range, from southern Stelossia up to the northern border of Sevaria, and includes both the mountains themselves and the narrow piedmont that immediately surrounds them. It includes the majority of the federal region of Yukisora, as well as significant fractions of Stelossia and Sevaria. The relatively high elevation and slightly inland location cause summers in the montane region to be milder relative to the rest of Pelinai, while winters are colder. Precipitation is frequent, with winter snow being significantly more common and persistent on the ground than in other regions of Pelinai. The predominant biome of the montane region is temperate broadleaf and mixed forests, along with temperate coniferous forests and [[w:Montane grasslands and shrublands|montane grasslands]] in higher altitude areas.
===Eastern Banks===
The Eastern Banks consist of a long string of narrow [[w:Barrier island|barrier islands]], [[w:Spit (landform)|spits]], [[w:Sand island|sand islands]], and other terrain formations running along the eastern coast of Stelossia. The ecoregion extends for roughly 260 kilometers from north to south across the [[w:Estuary|estuarine]] [[w:Lagoon|lagoon]] of Tōhada Sound, with islands rarely being more than 2 kilometers wide. The same humid subtropical environment that prevails across most of Pelinai is present, though with greater oceanic moderation of temperatures; hot summers, cool winters, and high humidity & precipitation year-round are the norm throughout the area, and snowfall is virtually unheard of. The Eastern Banks are covered by a combination of [[w:Maritime forest|maritime forests]], marshes, and [[w:Dune#Coastal_dunes|coastal dunes]], which comprise the natural environment alongside littoral and [[w:Intertidal zone|intertidal]] wildlife.

Due to the extremely narrow profile of most islands of the Eastern Banks and their immediate proximity to the ocean, wildlife native to the area is invariably maritime in character. Native plants include a variety of [[w:Cyperaceae|sedges]], [[w:Ammophila breviligulata|beachgrass]], [[w:Kosteletzkya pentacarpos|saltmarsh mallow]], [[w:Uniola paniculata|sea oats]], and some trees such as [[w:Taxodium distichum|bald cypress]]. Vertebrate non-avian animals found in the Eastern Banks include red and grey foxes, raccoons, [[w:Corn snake|corn snakes]], [[w:Marsh rabbit|marsh]] and swamp rabbits, [[w:Wild horse|wild horses]], and white-tailed deer; the area is also frequented by [[w:Sea turtle|sea turtles]], especially [[w:Loggerhead sea turtle|loggerhead sea turtles]]. Enormous numbers of bird species gather in the islands either permanently or seasonally, including examples such as the [[w:Yellow rail|yellow rail]], the [[w:American goshawk|northern goshawk]], the great blue heron, the [[w:Little blue heron|little blue heron]], the Bailtemmic crow, the [[w:Pileated woodpecker|pileated woodpecker]], the [[w:Gray catbird|gray catbird]], and the bald eagle.
===Eastern coastal plain===
The Eastern Coastal Plain ecoregion is a subtropical forested region in eastern Pelinai. It extends from the far southern edge of Stelossia, often taken to include the island of Zholtiya as well, northwards up to the edge of the Sevarian Rainforest, bounded in the west by the Yukisora Mountains and in the east by the waters of the Eastern Ocean. Regions covered include the majority of Stelossia and a significant portion of Sevaria. The prevailing climate of the area is roughly equivalent to that of the Marahu River Valley, with long, hot summers, cool winters, and consistently high humidity; yearly temperature variations are moderated to some degree by the close proximity of the Eastern Ocean, while precipitation is frequent throughout the year and augmented by seasonal hurricanes. Snowfall is rare and almost never persistent on the ground, though winter frosts do occur. The predominant biomes of the Eastern Coastal Plain consist of temperate broadleaf and mixed forests paired with temperate coniferous forests. Small rivers are common and dispersed widely throughout the coastal plain; the largest two in the region are the Tyomka River and Choreka River, which feed the brackish Tōhada Sound on the eastern coastline.
===Sevarian Rainforest===
The Sevarian Rainforest ecoregion is a rainforest area in northern Pelinai; it extends from the Yukisora Mountains to the coast of the Eastern Ocean for roughly the northern half of the federal region of Sevaria. Precipitation is high year-round and evenly distributed throughout the year, with an annual average of roughly 2,400 mm for most areas, while seasons are largely absent; temperatures and humidity remain consistently high year-round and exhibit little yearly variation. The predominant biome in the Sevarian Rainforest is [[w:Tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forests|tropical moist forests]], with [[w:Cloud forest|cloud forests]] occurring to the west on the slopes of the Yukisora Mountains.

As with other tropical rainforest regions of the world, the Sevarian Rainforest supports a high level of biodiversity; this, along with the different latitude, means that the flora and fauna in the region differ markedly from that found elsewhere in Pelinai. Trees known to occur in the Sevarian Rainforest include a great variety of [[w:Arecaceae|palms]], tropical [[w:Euphorbiaceae|euphorbias]], and ''[[w:Leycythidaceae|leycythidaceae]]'', as well as species such as [[w:Swietenia macrophylla|big-leaf mahogany]], [[w:Cashew|cashew]], and [[w:Theobroma cacao|cocoa trees]], while examples of other flowering plants include species of ''[[w:Passiflora|passiflora]]'' and ''[[w:Hibiscus|hibiscus]]''. Examples of terrestrial and aquatic animals found in the rainforest zone include [[w:South American tapir|tapirs]], [[w:American crocodile|crocodiles]], while examples of birds include [[w:Macaw|macaws]], [[w:Quetzal|quetzals]], and [[w:Harpy eagle|harpy eagles]].

==Topographic features==
===Mountains and mountain ranges===
====Yukisora range====
{{main|Yukisora Mountains (Pacifica)}}
The Yukisora Mountains are the longest and tallest mountain range in Pelinai, extending for approximately 1,500 kilometers from the northern edge of Sevaria to the southern peninsula of Stelossia. It forms a natural barrier separating the eastern side of the Pelinese crescent from the South Bailtemmic Plain and the Marahu River Valley, and formerly acted as the primary dividing line between the historical states of Yukisora, Loshkaria, and Stelossia. Its tallest peak is Mount Tenshinoe at the chain’s northwestern edge, with a measured elevation of 5,037 meters as of a 2017 survey. The high-altitude, relatively cold slopes of the Yukisora mountains host a range of wildlife not known to occur elsewhere in Pelinai, such as [[w:Kalmia latifolia|mountain laurel]] and [[w:Picea orientalis|Oriental spruce]].
<!--====Placeholder Plateau====
There’s a small, unnamed plateau or group of mountains on the southwestern edge of Pelinai, on the border w/ Myria and Jazeera. If/when that gets named, add it here.-->
====Tallest mountains====
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Rank
! Mountain peak
! Part of
! Region
! [[w:Elevation|Elevation]] (m)
! [[w:Topographic prominence|Prominence]] (m)
|-
| 1
| Tenshinoe
| [[Yukisora Mountains (Pacifica)|Yukisora Mountains]]
| Sevaria
| {{formatnum:5037}}
| 
|-
| 2
| ‘Āryāl
| [[Yukisora Mountains (Pacifica)|Yukisora Mountains]]
| {{flagicon|Pelinai|Stelossia}} Stelossia
| {{formatnum:4891}}
| 
|-
| 3
| Yuzahata
| [[Yukisora Mountains (Pacifica)|Yukisora Mountains]]
| {{flagicon|Pelinai|Yukisora}} Yukisora
| {{formatnum:4702}}
| 
|-
|}

==Climate==

==Water systems==
===Rivers===
Several major rivers and many smaller ones exist in Pelinai, many of which hold significant importance to Pelinese geography, economic activity, transportation, and culture. The largest river crossing Pelinese territory by far is the [[Marahu River (Pacifica)|Marahu River]] in the country’s southwest, situated in the center of the eponymous Marahu River Valley. It is fed by the extensive Central Marahu Basin to the north, little of which is within Pelinai; the primary extent of its presence in the country is through the lowest river sections and the Marahu River Delta, which creates an extensive wetland area.
===Lakes===
===Lagoons===
Beyond minor lagoons scattered throughout the country, Pelinai possesses two major lagoons. The smaller of the two is Hanahi Bay on the northwestern edge of the Seiko Sea, separating the southwestern third of Samara from the rest of the region; it is bounded on its southeastern edge by Miyya Island, whose surrounding shallows severely restrict the [[w:Draft (hull)|draft]] of ships docking in the city of Hanahi. These were dredged to a depth of 4 meters in 2007. Hanahi Bay is a major destination for [[w:Domestic tourism|domestic tourists]] looking for beaches and venues for boating.

The largest lagoon by bounded water area is Tōhada Sound, bounded in the north and east by the Eastern Banks and in the southwest by the mainland Stelossian coastline. It is fed by both the Tyomka River and the Choreka River flowing from the Yukisora Mountains, and possesses an average depth of approximately 1.9 meters across its aquatic area. Like Hanahi Bay to the west, Tōhada Sound supports a thriving leisure economy based on aquatic hobbies such as [[w:Beachgoing|beachgoing]], boating, and [[w:Recreational fishing|recreational fishing]]; it is also large enough for commercially significant harvesting of [[w:Clam|clams]], [[w:Shrimp|shrimp]], [[w:Mussel|mussels]], [[w:Crab|crabs]], and fish.

==Natural resources==
{{see also|Economy of Pelinai (Pacifica)#Agriculture|Economy of Pelinai (Pacifica)#Mining_and_extraction}}
The territory of Pelinai encompasses a great supply and variety of natural resources, including arable land, minerals, energy resources, fresh water resources, forests, fisheries, and more. Sectors such as agriculture, forestry and mineral extraction have played a significant role in Pelinai’s economic and political history from the Bronze Age to the present era.

Pelinai possesses approximately 18.9 million acres of [[w:Agricultural land|agricultural land]], covering roughly 25% of its total land area, dispersed across most of the country. Agricultural land in Pelinai is supported by nutrients provided by the Marahu River in the southwest and the abundant presence of volcanic ash in the east, both of which have supported intensive agriculture of [[w:Maize|corn]], [[w:Cucurbita|squash]], fruit trees, and other crops since the beginning of civilization in the region.

All of the primary energy minerals can be found in abundance in Pelinai, including [[w:Coal|coal]], [[w:Petroleum|petroleum]], and [[w:Natural gas|natural gas]]. Proven coal resources consisting of 40.2 billion tonnes of total economically extractable mass are mined in all five federal regions of Pelinai, though most significant deposits occur in Loshkaria, Sevaria, and Stelossia and the largest active mines are in Stelossia. Proven oil reserves consist of 131.9 billion barrels as of 2023, including a wide range or conventional onshore wells, offshore wells, [[w:Oil shale|oil shale]], [[w:Oil sands|oil sands]], and other resources; the largest occurrences are located in southern Stelossia, along with Pelinai’s sections of the Seiko Sea and the Eastern Ocean. Natural gas is extracted from both reservoirs and coalfields, primarily in Zholtiya and Stelossia.

A great variety of economically significant minerals and stones occur in Pelinai, including metals, nonmetals, gemstones, dimension stones, clays, and sand. Most deposits in Pelinai are derived from [[w:Layered intrusion|layered igneous intrusions]], [[w:Hydrothermal vent|hydrothermal sources]], and [[w:Placer deposit|placer sources]], with lesser involvement of other [[w:Ore genesis|ore deposit formation]] processes.

==Natural hazards==
===Hurricanes===
{{See also|Eastern hurricane (Pacifica)}}
[[w:Tropical cyclone|Hurricanes]] are a major extreme weather phenomenon in Pelinai, which is located entirely in the affected zone of seasonal [[Eastern hurricane (Pacifica)|Eastern hurricanes]]. An average of five hurricanes of varying intensity make landfall in Pelinai each year  during the Eastern hurricane season, which extends from November 1 to April 30, with the most commonly affected areas being the eastern coastal plains, the Yukisora Mountains, and the island of Zholtiya. Hurricanes also occasionally affect the country’s southwest as well, whether directly by entering the Mediterranean Sea or indirectly by crossing into the Marahu River Basin and causing flooding along the Marahu River.

Pelinai devotes significant resources to the mitigation and repair of damages caused by hurricanes through infrastructure upgrades, emergency response resources, and other means. Major hurricanes and knock-on effects such as mudslides and floods constitute the vast majority of incidents that prompt the deployment of [[Royal Pelinese Civil Defense Forces (Pacifica)|civil defense troops]] and other units under the Ministry of Emergency Situations every year. Other measures have included the planting of [[w:Ammophila (plant)|beach grasses]] and the installation of rubble [[w:Riprap|riprap]] along the shorelines of barrier islands in order to reduce storm-related erosion and maintain their protective effect against hurricanes.
===Volcanoes===

==See also==
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[[Category:Pelinai (Pacifica)]]