Goirleach Islands: Difference between revisions
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Subregion review: full write-up (remote, sparsely populated, 15,000) |
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{{ | {{Subregions of Gosterra Infobox | ||
|Name= | |Name=Goirleach Islands | ||
|Image=[[File: | |Image=[[File:Goirleach_Islands.jpg|alt=|center|frameless|Painting of Goirleach Islands]] | ||
{{center|Painting of | {{center|Painting of the Goirleach Islands}} | ||
|Location=[[File: | |Location=[[File:Gostaldi_Location_Méniail_Political_Map.png|center|frameless|Gostaldi Location ]] | ||
[[File: | [[File:Goirleach Location.jpg|center|frameless|Goirleach Location]] | ||
|Realm= | |Realm=Gosterra | ||
|Capital and Largest City=[[Iorsuidhir]] | |||
|Population=15,000 | |||
}} | }} | ||
{{ | {{Subregions of Gosterra Sections | ||
|Introduction=''' | |Introduction=The '''Goirleach Islands''' are a remote group of islands 281 miles (452 km) off the northwestern coast of [[Gosterra]]. They form a duchy of the [[Kingdom of Bóinbile]], governed from [[Iorsuidhir]]. The two main islands are Calain, where nearly all the inhabitants live, and Eilidh, which is uninhabited. | ||
|Etymology=''Goirleach'' comes from the [[Gostaldi (Language)|Gostaldi]] word ''goirdlleac'', meaning "hidden place". | |||
|History=The islands were reached around 105 ME by the explorer [[Galaíl Iorsguidhir]], and Iorsuidhir, named after him, was founded in 115 ME. When the Kingdom of Bóinbile was formed in 151 ME the islands became one of its duchies. | |||
Their remoteness kept them apart from the politics of the mainland. During the War of the Southern Duchies (640–645 ME) the islanders, content with things as they were, stood with the Crown alongside the northern duchies of the Kingdom. | |||
|Geography=The islands lie within an area of 1,428 mi² (3,699 km²) in the open sea, 281 miles (452 km) from the mainland. Calain, the larger island, has a central ridge of hills and a cliffed coast, with harbors at Iorsuidhir in the southeast and Eam in the west. Eilidh lies to the southeast of Calain and is uninhabited. Smaller islets are scattered around both. The islands are windswept and largely treeless, covered mostly in grass and heath. | |||
=== Climate === | |||
The climate is more oceanic than that of the mainland, with cool summers, mild winters, strong winds and frequent rain. | |||
|Goverment and Politcs=The islands form the Duchy of the Goirleach Islands, the fourth duchy of the Kingdom of Bóinbile. It is governed from Iorsuidhir by an old ducal house. Fort Calain, on the east coast of Calain, guards the island and the approaches to Iorsuidhir's harbor. | |||
|Economy=Sheep grazing is the main occupation, and wool is the islands' chief export. Fishing is also important, and Iorsuidhir supplies ships calling at the islands. | |||
|Demographics=The islands have about 15,000 inhabitants, about 10 per square mile (4 per km²). Iorsuidhir has about 6,000 and Eam about 1,000; the rest live in the towns of Tuat, Saineas, Slisbe and Leafor and on scattered sheep farms. | |||
The inhabitants are [[Gostaldi]] who speak Gostaldi. The Yeparchist branch of [[Tefar]] is the main religion. | |||
|Transportation=There are no railways. Roads link the towns of Calain. A steamship service connects Iorsuidhir with the mainland about once a week, though sailings are irregular. | |||
|Culture=The islanders are known for their attachment to tradition and to the Crown, a result of their long isolation from the mainland. | |||
|See also=* [[Gosterra]] | |||
* [[Kingdom of Bóinbile]] | |||
* [[Iorsuidhir]] | |||
* [[Central Gosterra]] | |||
}} | }} | ||