Overview of Almadaria

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The Democratic Republic of Almadaria

The Democratic Republic of Almadaria is a Spanish-speaking tropical nation. It has a population of 48.1 million, based in large coastal cities like the capital, Piedratórres, or the port of Macotera, as well as inland towns like Campos de Melaza.

The name, Almadaria (or Almadaría), is Latinized Arabic for "Tropical" or, "Tropics." Because of the heavy influence Arabic had on Spanish, the specific word was chosen by colonists to denote the lush and rainy lands that Almadaria now inhabits.

Gaining its independence from colonial powers in 1843, the fragile republic of Almadaria began on a quest of land expansion and development, such as the establishment of ports of Macotera, Grandas, and Las Mangas. Although racking itself in quite some debt, the infrastructure projects were mostly a success in taming the environment of their former colony, as well as beginning the curve of their commercial growth.

In 1852, Almadaria was responsible for 8% of all sugar production on the planet; however, during this time political corruption bloomed and economic growth teetered on the edge of a crash while certain government officials reaped the benefits. And soon, it came. The Almadarian Market Crash of 1865 was a devastating blow to the republic. Thousands were left begging on the streets, while the former middle class struggled to keep themselves afloat. There was widespread agitation against those who still walked in silk suits and clothes without patches, and tangible resentment against the corrupt came in the form of a socially-minded revolution in 1867. The Republic of Almadaria was torn down and in its place came the Democratic Republic of Almadaria.

In 1972, however, a large number of discontent still existed, and a communist revolution occurred, eventually devolving into a civil war. The Republicans won, brutally suppressing the Communists and reclaiming control of the Democratic Republic. The administration is the very same one today; led by autocratic rulers like Felipe Diego Nepomuceno Espin and Óscar Valverde in long-held offices until the modern-day.

Under Valverde, the government underwent a campaign to root out negative foreign influences from the country, such as expatriates, foreign journalists, as well as domestic influences, an example being political dissidents. Regardless of nationality or beliefs, Catholics were protected from this wrath, because of the strong place Catholicism had in Almadarian society.

Almadaria is reputable for its tourism industry, which makes up for most of its service-based economy. Despite the authoritative stance the government has over its people the Democratic Republic has one of the highest human development indexes in its geographical region. The Democratic Republic also maintains a limited space program, which operates mainly within the realm of satellite launches.

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History
Genocide
The native Ciba peoples, according to mid-nineteenth century historians who did a supposedly did a full accounting of the original settler's records, numbered twenty-six hundred (2,600) by the time the colonists made landfall on would be Almadaría. According to these records, taken by the staff of then-governor of the newly-established Paraíso en la Roca colony, Rafael de las Colinas, the Ciba tribe had once been an organized, structured society, but by some combination of crop failures, loss of collective spirit, and infighting had been reduced to mere remnants. Cultural practices such as genital mutilations for both genders, execution of leaders at the end of their mandate, and savage rituals to general animism were found to be in complete opposition to the values of Paraíso en la Roca and the remainders of the tribe were converted to Catholicism and brought under the wing of the imperial power. However, modern and more critical archaeological evidence and historical analysis shows that the number of assimilated Ciba peoples were part of a far larger population of perhaps millions, given the expanse of the island and ongoing excavations, in both the foothills of the Techoalta Mountains and inshore sites particularly. Critical historians strongly assert that even the limited records we have on the Ciba peoples were probably heavily slanted by a chauvinistic colonial perspective, casting doubt on the 'savageness' of the indigenous peoples. Current analysis also suggests that a majority of this indigenous population were wiped out in a regularly rapid fashion, with the population being reduced by perhaps three million within a single generation. What historians have grappled with for centuries is the variant attitude towards natives in the Almadarian colonies versus those in other colonies; unlike in other colonies, the indigenous population was minimally interacted with or utilized by the imperial power and instead simply wiped out. Over the seventeenth through nineteenth centuries, massive efforts to involve slave labor in the agriculture of the colony. Prejudice against the Ciba peoples, unlike the manifests of the sugar crop from the colony's first harvest, was not well recorded and up to speculation.

Early Colonial Rule
From the capital in Paraíso en la Roca quickly grew to be the premier port in the rapidly developing Almadaría colony. Imports from its mother country helped to sustain its growth, and the colonial government became quite wealthy with the returns of the many emerging plantations. The primary crops sent abroad were cacao, tobacco, and, most of all, sugarcane, whose cultivation caught on quickly due to the optimal moisture and seasons offered across the island.

Government and Politics
The Democratic Republic is largely inspired by the ideas of writer José Martí, such as liberty and independence for all. However, many of the essays and poems that are praised for their revolutionary thought are rarely applied by the government for the enjoyment of the people.

The President is elected by the Cabinet/Council of the Prime Minister, who are in turn elected by the various districts they represent. The Prime Minister is voted directly into office by the people, and in times of contention in the Council, the Prime Minister can break the tie. The President chooses its Vice President.

The President runs all affairs of the country, foreign and domestic, while the Vice President acts as an intermediary to achieve those goals. The Prime Minister manages the districts of Almadaria, while the Council acts as the national legislature. The Unitary Supreme Court, with judges chosen by the President that cannot be removed after they are nominated, acts as the interpreter of the Constitution.

All citizens over the age of 16 with no criminal record can vote, but even misdemeanors can terminate your voting license.

The primary party of The Democratic Republic of Almadaria is the Almadarian Nationalist Party, with minor factions such as Revolutionary Almadaria or the Valverdians (named after political leanings of Óscar Valverde) gaining support only in rural districts.

Administrative Divisions
The country is broken up into fourteen administrative regions centered around resource-producing areas or population centers.

Notable regions include the Piedratórres region, housing the capital and most of the administrative buildings. It also has the highest GDP per capita and population density of the rest of the nation. The coastal region of Macotera is the breadbasket of trade for the Democratic Republic, while Campos de Melaza and its surrounding regions is essentially a factory for the country's sugar production.

The fourteen regions are as follows: the Piedratórres District (the surrounding areas of the city, not to be confused with the separate district for the city), the Macotera District, the Región Media, the Norteño District, the Grandas District, the Las Mangas District, the Ciudad de Portana District, the Las Esmeralda District, the Maipuco District, the Soberana District, the Campos de Melaza District, the Palma Roja District, the San Arredondo District, and the independent Ciudad de Piedratórres Zone.

The districts streamline political efficiency, with each district, made up of municipalities centered around a major city as its capital, to constitute a legal entity in order to provide citizen participation in minor levels of government.

Elections are held to determine the leadership of the town/municipality and the District government.

Piedratórres, as in the city proper, is a separate political entity from its surrounding area as to provide exclusive Cabinet jurisdiction over an area.

Largest Cities	Population
Piedratórres	1,673,000
Macotera	1,134,000
Grandas	742,118
Las Mangas	564,686
Portana	495,079
La Esmeralda	355,429
Maipuco	333,980
Palma Roja	257,754
San Arredondo	204,140

Foreign Relations

Although far from an international power, the Democratic Republic strives to house its neighbors in embassies across Piedratórres and maintain cordial relations with its trade partners. Martí Blvd. is famous for being where foreign embassies in colorful marble structures sit side-by-side all the way down the road.

Crime and Law Enforcement
In rural settings and urban clusters alike, the Policia Nacional de Almadaría (PNA) makes up the unitary law enforcement agency. They work on the payroll of the Democratic Republic instead of the municipal payroll, which helps stifle corruption and ensure the proper enactment and enforcement of federal law. The national police maintain rural outposts and garrisons to allow for quick response times in perpetually any region, be it the hills of Macotera or the slums barrios marginales of Piedratórres.

Thus, petty crime is of little threat to citizens and tourists in the Democratic Republic. Organized crime, on the other hand, is inconsequential to the runnings of the government of Almadaria. Gangs have no rivals or choose not to fight for risk of exposure and subsequent capture. Drug businesses and black marketeers hardly cause any disturbance and thus are not of any concern of the government nor the National Police.

For those who do violate the law, they can be found in many inland prison complexes with very poor standards or, in extreme cases, a semi-classified site code-named "El Barracón" (Barracoon), which houses the worst Almadaria has to offer in an isolated island complex, connected to land only by a bascule bridge.

Military
The military of The Democratic Republic of Almadaria is embodied in the Guardia Republicana de Almadaría (<-- OOC: If you're looking for the military, there it is), or the Republican Guard. The Republican Guard was founded in 1867 and has since established and maintained several branches of service, such as the Republican Army, the Republican Air and Air Defense Forces, the Republican Navy, and the Republican Paramilitary and Civil Defense. In total, it has approximately 268,000 active personnel, 100,000 reserve, and 225,000 paramilitary forces.

The Republican Guard actively seeks out new equipment to bolster their military with, supplementing their production deficits with foreign made equipment. However, notable domestic industries vie for acknowledgement from the government and produce many promising products-- these industries include Macotera Defense Systems, Ontiveros Hardware Dynamics, the Antonio Contreras Motor Company, the Grandas Helicopter Plant, and the Aerospace Solutions Manufacturer.

The Republican Guard and the nation's space program are closely intertwined, as much of the space missions undertaken by the Democratic Republic are either for defense or satellite television.

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Economy
The Democratic Republic maintains a prosperous commercial and tourist-based mixed economy run mostly by mid-sized companies. There are several state-owned businesses, such as the CAN (Carga Aérea Nacional, National Air Freight), the Almadarian Metallurgic Bureau, and El Banco del Almadaría (Bank of Almadaria), alongside other government-provided amenities which altogether provide the barebones economy of the Democratic Republic.

Tourism and Commerce make up most of the domestic and foreign economy of Almadaria, while general commercial manufacturing, fishing, and agricultural exports such as sugar pick up the rest of the economy. A canal is being considered to be built to help facilitate trade through the Democratic Republic.

There is an extensive bus and rail system under the state-owned industry of Almadarian Transport (Transporte Almadarían), which maintains passenger and freight trains, public bus systems, and cross-country freight trucks.

Most power in the country comes from its extensive fossil fuel deposits, mainly natural gas and crude oil.

Resources
Almadaria's natural resources include a thriving sugar industry, as well as abundant limestone and natural gas deposits, fish, tobacco, coffee, beans, rice, and citrus fruits. Apart from limestone that is used to bolster infrastructure, the most important mineral resource in Almadaria is nickel, in which mines produce nearly 71,000 tons of nickel a year. Refined cobalt is also produced, as it is usually a by-product of nickel mining.

Oil beds under the nearby seafloor has been explored, and harvesting seems promising in the coming years.

Tourism
Almadaria is known for its sun-washed beaches, consistent temperatures, and tropical sights, sounds, and tastes. As such, numerous tourist resort complexes are present along the coastal areas of Almadaria, capable of supporting thousands of tourists to enjoy the natural beauty of the country. Apart from beach-going, mountaineering seems a promising venture for the Almadarian tourist economy, with peaks of Mt. Flammae (2345 meters), Mt. Acuto (2870 meters), and Draco Peak (3,033 meters) providing ample activity for novice or training mountaineers.

The Prime Minister denies any allegations of widespread sex tourism. In a statement made by Prime Minister Rogelio Cardenas, "Almadaria is actively seeking out and disrupting rings of immoral crimes, and many foreigners have been convicted for their hand in the corruption of minors."

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Geography
The Democratic Republic of Almadaria consists of the main landmass, constituting most of the land area, and numerous nearby islands and cays. The mainland consists mostly of flat to rolling plains, although nearly 30% is occupied by jungles, swamps, and mountains.
The Techoalto Mountain Range runs down the center of the country, nearly dividing the country in two save for the more easily traversable Campo Verde Valley.

A large portion of the mainland is set aside for national parks, as the land was deemed to difficult for industrial or commercial expansion. Parks like Montaña del sur and Soberana are expected to bring in much income from eco-tourism, mountain climbers, or nature enthusiasts.

Climate
The local climate of Almadaría is tropical, moderated by northeasterly trade winds that blow year-round. The temperature is also regulated by the currents, which bring in warm water from the equator.

Dry season typically lasts from November to April, while the rainier season lasts from May to October. The average temperature 21^o Celsius in January, while 27^o Celsius in July. Hurricanes frequently hit Almadaria, most commonly in September to October, which is designated "Hurricane Season" for Almadarians.

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Culture
Almadaria is influenced by its distinctly anti-English speaking culture. This sentiment is widespread, and the degrees it is shown in ranges from music groups contending with ones abroad for Almadarian consumption or the distrust in any foreign-made product, to the complete and absolute rewriting of every technical manual to be in specifically Almadarian vernacular. Although somewhat eccentric, the sentiment has led to vibrant and original culture.

Music

Almadarian music is very rich and is the most commonly known expression of Almadarian culture. The central form of this music is the son Almadaríano, a genre of music originating from the Almadarian highlands in the early twentieth century. A common element of the son is the Almadarian Tres, a three-course chordophone (similar to a lute or Spanish Guitar).

Almadarian classical music incorporates the themes and styles of songs into the format of symphonic works or solos. It is widely enjoyed by Almadarians.

Reggaetón has also made a unique cultural impact, with artists such as Marianela Donoso and Wilfredo Calma leading the movement producing many highly-acclaimed albums in the early 21st century. In 2008, the Democratic Republic issued a ban on Reggaetón, stating, "its unrealistic depictions of sexuality and graphic depictions of the National Police and associated organizations is degenerate scum on the hide of the Almadarian people." However, the movement's prevalence in the community, as well as its discovery within high-ranking government offices, quickly lifted the ban after fourteen months. Reggaetón continues its influence on Almadarian culture to this day, with experimentalist Pío Cala providing a newer movement to oppose the traditional Reggaetón giants.

Cuisine
Almadarian recipes involve many spices and flavors from their environment. Meals are also not served in courses-- they are usually served at the same time.

A typical meal could consist of plantains, black beans and rice, ropa vieja, Almadarian bread, pork with onions, and tropical fruits. Black beans and rice and plantains are the staples of the Almdarian diet. Many of the meat dishes are cooked slowly with light sauces. Garlic, cumin, oregano, and bay leaves are the dominant spices.
Literature
Almadarian literature began to find its voice in the early twentieth century. Dominant themes included the independence of one's state, nostalgia for the past, and other modernist and romanticist ideas. The poems of Rafael Blas and Adán Calixto have proven to be quite influential, being adopted to school curriculums across the country. Novelists like Mateo Fuerte have also gained notoriety.

The Magic realism movement took hold in the mid-twentieth century, led by writers such as Roque Ayo, Abrahán Arellano, and more recently, Reyes Arocha, Nicolás Serna, and Alarico Noa, although many have been forced to continue their work in exile due to their occasional radical ideas.

Sports
Popular sports in Almadaria include baseball, basketball, association football, athletics, and volleyball. There are many professional teams across these sports, which are able to compete abroad and make a considerable impact on Almadarian society. Amateur boxing also has a major presence in Almadaria, although no athletes are allowed to go professional due to government mandate.

Demographics
According to the population census of 2015, the Almadarian population was 47,820,213, comprised of 23,926,938 men and 23,893,275 women. By a previous census that reflected itself in the most recent one, the Democratic Republic had a concerningly low birth rate, with only 9.88 births per thousand population. This is largely due to the widespread use of contraceptives, estimated at 78% of the female population.

By the 2010 People Profiles Census, approximately 51% of the population is mulatto, with 37% being white, 11% being black, and 1% of various other groups.

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_{Kudos to Thakia for Coat of Arms on the flag-- works better than what we used to have!
Also thanks to New adelsin for the map!}