The South PacificBoard

Volaworand

Overview of Volaworand

History

History of Volaworand
See also:
- Volaworand Newswire

Geography

Geography of Volaworand
See also:
- Principal fossil localities
- Queen Elizabeth Land

Government and Politics

Head of State
Legislative Branch
Executive Branch
Judicial Branch
See also:
- How a bill becomes a law
- Volaworand Defence Forces
- Foreign Relations

Economy

Economy of Volaworand
See also:
- Volaworand Space Agency
- Southern Transportation Corporation
- VIM Programme
- Attractions and Tourist Activities
- Royal National Zoological Park
- Kentucky Fried Penguin Locations

The Dominion of Volaworand

The Dominion of Volaworand is a sector of Antarctica granted independence by the United Kingdom on October 15, 2017. It was previously a British Overseas Territory incorporated as the British Antarctic Territory. It comprises the region south of 60°S latitude and between longitudes 20°W and 80°W forming a wedge shape that extends to the South Pole. The southernmost portion was declared the Queen Elizabeth Land National Nature Preserve in 2017, forming one of the world's largest protected land areas.

The British Antarctic Territory was formed on 3 March 1962, although the UK's claim to this portion of the Antarctic dates back to Letters patent of 1908 and 1917. The area now covered by the Dominion of Volaworand includes three regions which, before 1962, were administered by the British as separate dependencies of the Falkland Islands: Graham Land, the South Orkney Islands, and the South Shetland Islands. In 2012, the southern part of the territory was named Queen Elizabeth Land in honor of Queen Elizabeth II and was designated a National Nature Preserve in 2017.

The Antarctic Treaty came into force in 1961, Article 4 of which states "No acts or activities taking place while the present Treaty is in force shall constitute a basis for asserting, supporting or denying a claim to territorial sovereignty in Antarctica. No new claim, or enlargement of an existing claim, to territorial sovereignty shall be asserted while the present Treaty is in force." Many countries did not recognize territorial claims in Antarctica, owing this development ban. The United Kingdom, looking to develop the resources in the territory, withdrew from the treaty and began a development and militarization program unltimately leading to war with Argentina and Chile. The British forces easily captured all stations and a year long blockade ensued. The Shetland Accords were signed in 2016, ultimately establishing the independent Dominion of Volaworand on October 15, 2017, however some nations refuse to still recognize this.

The territory is inhabited 1.9 million people who staff of research and support stations, military forces, and a mining, tourist, industrial service economy. Government spending accounts for approximately 15% of GDP. Volaworand trades extensively within The South Pacific region. Foreign Trade is subject to a 10% tariff rate, although this has been negotiated lower to 5% (preferred nation rate), 2% (most favored nation rate) or 0% (Free Trade rate) in treaties and trade agreements. Volaworand allows duty free trade in South Pacific Iced Tea (SPIT) and its components with nations Party to the South Pacific Regional Trade Agreement (SPaRTA). Foreign investment is pouring into the dominion, as it is currently the one of the only jurisdictions in Antarctica that allows for legal resource development.

Settlements:
Volaworand has four large permanent settlements: Rothera, Halley, Faraday, Orcadas Base; four summer-only research stations; three developed mining towns; two former refugee camps turned towns at Marambio and Esperanza; and a small nomadic population. International research stations and seasonal missions also are common. The state owned Southern Transportation Corporation services all settlements and most research stations. Commercial and social activities are typical of that of a small British cities with a variety of businesses, clubs and organisations covering many aspects of community life.

Rothera is the bustling capital, and a center of excellence in meteorological, medical and foreign banking. It is home to the Government, mining industry offices and has the many modern tourist facilities. It is the main hub for state agencies like Southern Transportation Company and Royal Volaworand Postal Service. Foreign diplomatic and trade missions, Parliment, and the Supreme Court are located here. Many global tech and mining companies have built data center's or "server farms" here attracting a well educated and well paid segment to the workforce. The industrial base and SPIT bottling industry centered here.

Faraday, the largest settlement, is a cosmopolitan city with a large foreign-born population. A research base here was maintained by the UK until 1996, when it was sold to Ukraine. This facility was retaken by the British and slightly damaged during the war. Reconstruction was in conjunction with the new Volawarand Antarctic College (VAC). Ukraine was welcomed back as a research partner of Volaworand. Together they study of meteorology, upper atmospheric physics, geomagnetism, ozone, seismology, glaciology, ecology, biology and physiology research. Young residents and stir-crazy scientists flock to the hip cafes and nightlife and are often seen streaking public events. The Dominion's arts and cultural life is centered here. Facebook recently announced it will invest more than £250 million to expand its data center facility in Faraday. Faraday has also developed a thriving publication industry, largely due to the research activities of the College.

Halley is a small city that is the support center for numerous mobile or seasonal research stations, a small provincial government and regional health center. The Volaworand Space Agency (VSA) is based here. Research is dedicated to the study of the Earth's atmosphere and space research. Measurements from Halley led to the discovery of the ozone hole in 1985. Construction has begun on the Back Observatory and Planetarium, named for Dr. Eric Back who set up the first weather station on the Antarctic continent in 1944. These data are now considered as the baseline readings for global warming.

Orcadas Base was founded in 1903 and is the oldest of the station in Antarctica still in operation. This Argentine base voluntarily surrendered during the Antarctic war. It is operated by the Volaworandian Defence Forces and focuses on five main topics of research: nuclear submarine technology, continental glaciology, seismology, sea-ice-zone glaciology (since 1985) and meteorological observations. A civilian support staff lives on base, along with allied Japanese and Martiges military units. The Coast Guard and Search and Rescue Service are based here.

South Shetlands Islands Alert Station is under expansion. This year round facility supports international research teams throughout the South Shetland Islands.

Deception Island is an island in the South Shetland Islands archipelago, with one of the safest harbours in Antarctica. This island is the caldera of an active volcano, which seriously damaged local scientific stations in 1967 and 1969. The island previously held a whaling station; but it is now a tourist destination and scientific outpost. The natural hot springs, bird and whale watching tours, and local nightlife draw visitors from throughout Volaworand and abroad.

Marambio and Esperanza, two former Argentine Research Bases on the northern tip of the Antarctic Peninsula, were nationalized in December 2017 and repurposed to accommodate up to a half million international refugees. Marambio has a busy heavy aircraft airfield, and is home to many private pilots supporting tourist and science activities. Some allied Air Forces are also station troops and equipment within the VDF's Marambio Military Base.

Camp Century, Camp Recovery and Camp Evans are nuclear powered ice bunkers eight to ten meters under the ice operated by the Volaworand Defence Forces. The locations are classified.

Floating Antarctic Research Station (FARS), a floating research rig is in the development stage. This will be a test of the environmental protection regulation, as the plans include seabed drilling. Construction is underway in Halley.

Port Lockroy, a historic base at on Goudier Island is been staffed by the Antarctic Heritage Trust during the Antarctic summer. Receiving about 10,000 visitors a year, it is one of the most visited sites on the continent. Visitors can tour the museum, buy souvenirs, post mail, and view the large gentoo penguin colony.

Signy Research Station is an Antarctic research base on Signy Island, jointly run by the British Antarctic Survey and the Volaworand National Nature Preserve Service. The island is off limits to development and as Volaworand's National Penguin Preserve. Marine and terrestrial biology is carried out at Signy, particularly looking at the effects of climate change on the southern ocean ecosystems. Three species of penguin (Adélie, chinstrap and gentoo) are monitored at the base. Tourism is limited largely to cruises looping around the island, as land access is tightly regulated.

Fossil Bluff and Sky Blu are also two summer-only forward operating stations. These sites operate seasonal ice airstrips and are resupply hubs that can be quite busy in the summer months.

Graham, Beckner Island and Bellingshausen are smaller settlements and operate as "company towns", though most workers rotate in and out every six weeks, with most staying in Rothera or Faraday for two weeks to allow time to relax in town between jobs. Mining companies also have Field Teams traveling most of the summer months. Residents of the Bellingshausen site have been petitioning for municipal incorporation, since it has a stable population and has more infrastructure available.

Shackleton Mountain Resort, a fly-In chalet in the Shackleton Range, between the Queen Elizabeth Land National Nature Preserve and Halley, as a Heli-ski playground for the worlds more adventurous rich and famous. Extended negotiations with foreign Heads of State are often conducted here.

Nomadic groups travel the coasts and parts of the interior. Their lives are mostly spent hunting, fishing, guiding tourists and producing arts and crafts. These group are allowed limited whaling and fishing, officially under the authority of the Science Ministry. These "tribes" are generally just commercial whaling groups trying to circumvent conventions against whaling by presenting themselves as indigenous groups. The government has been actively recruiting immigrants from the Far North, mainly Norwegian, Japanese and Canadian Inuit to add to these a hardy groups.

Research Stations A number of nations have agreements to maintain year round research stations in Volaworand, including Argentina, Britain, Russia, Japan, Ukraine and the United States (Palmer Station, on Anvers Island). There are twenty other seasonal international sites located mostly on the South Shetland Islands or on the northern Antarctic Peninsula. Thousands of international scientists and technicians now work and study in Volaworand, ballooning to tens of thousands in the summer months. As a condition of receiving a research permit, data from all sites is co-published with the Volaworand Antarctic College in Faraday.