Post by Chairman Ryan on Nov 21, 2009 13:19:55 GMT -5
Copernicus Island is the main island of the Celestial Isles and also the largest. It holds the majority of the Celestian population; whereas the other islands have only small settlements. This larger population is both due to the island's history and in that it presently serves as the economic center of the island chain and also as the residential area for the large number of people employed at the St. George Observatory.
In the past, the Celestial Isles were once part of Lavalon and Paulovia. For a while, St. George served as the Paulovian capital, before later being abandoned. For a while it was also under the protection of Stormark as a colonial outpost. Although the Stormarkians did not settle the area in any significant numbers, their Scandinavian culture can still be seen in the styles of the island people. Scodland-Tresport was built by the Lavalonians on the eastern shores of the island as an industrial shipping center for fishing and mining, the two main industries of the island. St. George and Scodland-Tresport have since built a sort of symbiotic relationship, with the latter maintaining most of the industry, and the former maintaining most of the residential areas. People quite often commute between the two, and with the observatory in the middle, this often works quite well.
A photo of St. George, administrative capital of the Celestial Isles
The population of St. George once shrank so much that it was disregarded from most major maps. While the light of St. George faded, Scodland-Tresport became the main source of economic revenue for the island. Fishing is the main industry here, with mining of iron ore being the second. Both of these are shipped out of Copernicus from the port at Scodland-Tresport to the mainland where the goods are processed and distributed. The port also holds the three main ferry services to and from the island and the mainland. No municipal airport exists, and therefore this is the only means of gaining access to the islands.
Ships in dock at the port of Scodland-Tresport
A single road links St. George with the observatory, following an easterly path, and then to Scodland-Tresport. Imported vehicles, typically Land Rovers and other SUVs, are the main means of transportation around the island. Unlike the high-tech areas in and around Aristarchus, the Celestial Isles are relatively rural and do not have access to such high-end materials. This is not to say, however, that these are a backwards people. Many homes and businesses take advantage of government subsidies and nature by using solar panels, and a lot of homes function perfectly well "off the grid". The construction of the St. George Observatory provided a boon to local business, and associated services have sprung up to help stem unemployment. A budding tourist industry has developed recently and continues to grow, which further helps to secure the economy of these people.
In the past, the Celestial Isles were once part of Lavalon and Paulovia. For a while, St. George served as the Paulovian capital, before later being abandoned. For a while it was also under the protection of Stormark as a colonial outpost. Although the Stormarkians did not settle the area in any significant numbers, their Scandinavian culture can still be seen in the styles of the island people. Scodland-Tresport was built by the Lavalonians on the eastern shores of the island as an industrial shipping center for fishing and mining, the two main industries of the island. St. George and Scodland-Tresport have since built a sort of symbiotic relationship, with the latter maintaining most of the industry, and the former maintaining most of the residential areas. People quite often commute between the two, and with the observatory in the middle, this often works quite well.
A photo of St. George, administrative capital of the Celestial Isles
The population of St. George once shrank so much that it was disregarded from most major maps. While the light of St. George faded, Scodland-Tresport became the main source of economic revenue for the island. Fishing is the main industry here, with mining of iron ore being the second. Both of these are shipped out of Copernicus from the port at Scodland-Tresport to the mainland where the goods are processed and distributed. The port also holds the three main ferry services to and from the island and the mainland. No municipal airport exists, and therefore this is the only means of gaining access to the islands.
Ships in dock at the port of Scodland-Tresport
A single road links St. George with the observatory, following an easterly path, and then to Scodland-Tresport. Imported vehicles, typically Land Rovers and other SUVs, are the main means of transportation around the island. Unlike the high-tech areas in and around Aristarchus, the Celestial Isles are relatively rural and do not have access to such high-end materials. This is not to say, however, that these are a backwards people. Many homes and businesses take advantage of government subsidies and nature by using solar panels, and a lot of homes function perfectly well "off the grid". The construction of the St. George Observatory provided a boon to local business, and associated services have sprung up to help stem unemployment. A budding tourist industry has developed recently and continues to grow, which further helps to secure the economy of these people.
