Palta

Palta (pronounced /pɔːltə/; Jonish: Pålta, parl-teh; Paltan: Pjaltaj) is a province of the United Republic of Jonathia. Palta borders Wellings to the north, Dorritadia to the east, and Shallaia to the south, with a border alongside the sovereign state of Lyvena to the west. The Palt Mountain Range delineates much of Palta's boundaries. Palta has a population of 991,085 recorded at the 2022 census, making it the second-smallest province by population, behind Lynskip. Marida is the capital and largest city of Palta. Other major cities and towns include Courtby, Albenshire, and Holcester.
Palta has been home to many indigenous nations for thousands of years, with evidence of human activity going back as far as 180 thousand years ago. After relative isolation, traders, explorers, and settlers from countries sotuh of Palta began exploring what is now Palta's eastern border in the early-mid 1500s. Several Jonish customs flowed into the area around the late 16th century and early 17th century. Eventually, the Jonish language became Palta's official language, although the Paltan language, the language of several tribes in the area, remained large in native speaker numbers. Palta was one of the states that joined Jonathia during the Admission of new provinces to Jonathia.
Palta has a culture widely celebrated amongst it's people, who reside amongst the province's mountains. Lake Marida, which the province's eponymous capital is built upon, is formed from the glaciers in the mountains which melt into the lake below. This has brought on fears that, due to climate change, the lake may rise to the point where Palta itself is submerged.
== Etymology ==
Palta is derived from the Jonish name, Pålta, which itself comes from the Paltan name, Pjaltaj. The latter is derived from the name of the first tribes in the area, the Parieta.
==History==
==Geography==
===Borders===
Palta is divided into five distinct counties. The five counties are as follows:
#Vazikenia
#Urmasest
#Marida
#Brest
#Suddershaw
==See also==
Category:Jonathia
Category:Jonathian provinces
Category:Palta
Category:Provinces