Melbergia

The Kingdom of Melbergia is a Constitutional Monarchy located in Northwest Borealis. It is home to 14 million citizens.

Government Structure and Political Structure
Government Type: Constitutional Monarchy

Head of State: King Jakob II     Prime Minister: Deputy Prime Minister: Minister of Foreign Affairs: Minister Of Defence: Minister for the Environment: Judith Borelius Alterran Assembly Representative: Lorcan Keogh Country Motto: Gaelig - Cibé áit a chinniúint a ghlacadh chugainn Navis - Whither fate may take us

People and Population
Demonym: Melbergian

Total Population: 14 million

Capital City: Portvestir (population 4,900,000) Posted Image

Major Cities: Hálsrath (area population 750,000) Posted Image

Official Languages: Gaelig, Navis

Urban: 72% Rural: 28%

Literacy Rate (for over 18 years): 98.1%

Life Expectancy at Birth: 79.7

Religion:

Superstitions:

Slurs and Insults (Used by Melbergians):

Attitude towards foreigners: Fairly liberal and trusting.

Discrimination: Rural peoples from remote parts of the country are sometimes subject to discrimination from their wealthier, urbane counterparts. The derogatory term 'berger' is used to describe these individuals, owing to the fact that many villages in northeast Melbergia have the suffix -berg.

Culture
Generally the southern half of the country has culture derivative of many other Alterran nations. Most cultural aspects have come about as a result of the Neolantian occupation, and most modern artistic endeavours on show in Melbergia (such as cinema, music, television) are imported from other nations

Sports are a Melbergian national obsession, moreso in the south of the country than the north, owing to the difference in terrain and thus the viability of sporting events. Soccer is the nation's favourite sport, closely followed by cricket. Famous sports-people are more highly admired by the populace than any other profession, including scientists, musicians, politicians and actors.

The sparsely populated north of the country (least affected by the Neolantian colonisation in previous centuries) contains many small villages, each of which has it's own customs and traditions going back hundreds of years.

Background
Prior to the 1600's, most of Borealis was a Danaan clannish region, all the way from modern day Melbergia to parts of what is now Z35 and Z36. The Clans ruled their areas and rarely went to war with each other, prefering to solve disputes with sporting events - a heritage which perhaps explains the modern Melbergian obsession with sports and competition. There was also a council of the Clans, which seated the nine most powerful of them. The Clans seated were: Blackburn, Campbell, Conolly, MacKenzie, McDougall, McKenna, McTiernan, O'Casey, and O'Malley. The council was held in Tara, modern-day capital of Taeunas, which was considered neutral territory by all. In the north of Melbergia existed several small clans who did not sit on the council, among them clans Sundstrom, Lindberg and Seppa. Legends tell of ancient northern clan Mellberg, from whom the nation's name is allegedly derived, however no firm evidence of this clan exists in modern times. The northern clans' lands were poor regions of tundra undesired by southerners, and there was little in-fighting between the northern clans themselves - thus life for these people was hard, but peaceful. The northern clan spirit persists to a certain extent in modern rural villages in North Melbergia - many maintaining customs and traditions that have been passed down from these times.

In 1709, Neolantian ships landed off the Belstian Peninsula near Portvestir, their aim being conquest. Whilst the native Melbergians initially put up a decent fight, they struggled due to low population density and primitive technology compared to the 'god-like' Neolantians. Within the year, Melbergia had become a colony of Neolantia.

Geography
Region: Z29 - Northwest Borealis, North Galenean Ocean

Climate: Melbergia has a subpolar climate somewhat warmed by warm North Galenean currents. Average high temperatures in summer are 14oC, average lows in winter are -4oC. The southwest third of the country is warmer and windier that the rest of the country. The Northeast endures heavy snowfall in winter.

Terrain: Taiga to the Southwest, Tundra across the Northern half of the country.

Natural Resources: Timber, oil, non-ferrous metals.

Environmental Issues: Air, land and water pollution in South Melbergia as a result of heavy industry. Dealing with this pollution and preventing exacerbation is a government priority.

Economy
Currency: Gulder(G)

Conversion Rate: 3.26 Gulder : $1

Income Tax Rate: Varied progressively depending on income and location. In Southern Melbergia, rates vary from 10% for those on the lowest incomes, to 40% on earnings above a certain threshold. Northern Melbergia is subject to lower rates overall.

Budget Priorities: Healthcare, Welfare, Education, Environment.

Main Exports: Timber & other wood/paper products, oil & oil products, non-ferrous metals, machinery, chemicals.

Main Imports: Food, clothing, petroleum products, machinery, ferrous metals, chemicals.

International Relations
Established Foreign Embassies: Kjutzenbek - Ambassador Rolf McGrath, 42 staff

Media
Primary News Network: Melbergia First

Largest National Newspaper: The Guardian of Melbergia

Web TLD: .mel