Hajamal

Hajamal is one of three Prefectures in the Xeroist Republic of Zilatra. It is geographically the smallest, however it boasts an active population, unique cultures, and a robust geography.
The capital city of the Prefecture is Hafumel, which is also the region's largest city.
== Overview ==
=== Etymology ===
The name of the Prefecture is a Baszku word meaning the "place of plateaus", with "haja" being the word for plateau, and "-mal" being a suffix denoting a place with those features. This is specifically in reference to the Sziszarkaya Haja, the largest plateau in Zilatra which is located in the Eastern part of the Prefecture.
It is also known by the name Haʒam in the Yodusan language. It is called Hajoto in the Lo'Oi language, a language spoken by the Lo'Oix minority of the region. It is called Hadžaměsto (place of plateaus) in the Novygovor language, spoken by the Druznoslav minority. In the Ug language spoken by the Lachawackan nomad population, the Prefecture is called Chalumlumugahchu (two hilled place).
=== Geography ===
Hajamal is an island surrounded by river and anqe (bayou) environments. The only time it is connected to land in any capacity is during the Winter when thick layers of ice build on the river on the Southern end of the island, connecting it to Qatakema Prefecture, specifically the city of Harjuba. Otherwise, a series of bridges connect Hajamal to other lands, including the iconic Hafumel bridge.
Hajamal is bisected in two by the Vaku Anqe, a wetland which divides most of the island. This area is home to various species of waterfowl which roost and feed in the Vaku Anqe. It is also home to the Qelusta, a species of large carnivorous amphibian. Traditionally, the area was only able to be traversed by boat to get from one side of Hajamal to the other.
The Eastern part of the island comprises of rolling prairie which is largely home to sheep, horses, and bovines. This area also included the Sziszarkaya Haja, the largest plateau in Zilatra. This area was once renowned for its emerald-rich deposits which were on the surface, with peoples mining the area of its raw materials by the 20's VE.
On the Western part of the island, it used to feature rolling hills with sharp projections coming out of the ground, called the Atut-Edilus. This area was renowned for its massive horse populations. Today however, the area is largely metropolitan in character following the industrial urban development of cities like Hafumel in the 30's VE.
Hajamal Prefecture is about 274,100 blocks (meters) squared in territorial size. It is about 886 blocks (meters) in length and about 628 blocks (meters) in height.
=== Demographics ===
Most of the island is ethnically Baszku, however there exists a number of minorities. The largest of these are the Lo'Oix peoples, with a smaller but still notable Druznoslav population. In the very early days of a globalized Abexilas, the region was also home to a settlement called Kyrin which served as the headquarters of the global Cartography Guild, however this would eventually fall into inactivity, though for a time brought people of various ethnic groups, though most emigrated after this fact.
The Lachawackan people are a nomadic tribe that largely lives in Ischanor, specifically Lachawacka, though have been known to nomadically travel to Eastern Hajamal for hunting purposes. The Zilatran government grants the Lachawackans the right to hunt and construct tumbums in the region as a show of solidarity, despite most Lachawackans having Ischanori citizenship.
=== Vexillology ===
Designed by the premier Zilatran graphic artist Bali Zheng, the flag of Hajamal features two colors, being red and green. The red represents the socialist tradition of the region, while the green represents the abundant and diverse array of nature. The gold represents prosperity in several ways. It features wheat to symbolize the low-level production of Hajamal including agriculture and mining, while the cog represents high-level production in the factories which makes finished products for all of Zilatra. In this sense, it combines elements of the traditional peasantry with the proletarian worker.
=== Notable Residents ===
* Szal si Ahuden, politician
* Yumiko Ulanov, laborer
* Piéter Venkesel Jr., politcian
* Art Inkman, politician
* Ulaf Hobert, ZSD officer
* Pytor Rit'zak-Kerexon, politician
* Kim Lakaric, ZSD officer
* Aurel Anatidae, ZSD officer
* Ki'yu Sanatou, politician
* Kabli Ronango'O, laborer
* Palmelia K., ZSD officer
* Bosifákála Banhojé, laborer
* Bali Zheng, artist
* Ivan Luminov, laborer
== History ==
=== Prehistory ===
For much of known history, Hajamal has been inhabited by a variety of peoples. The lush and diverse environment of the relatively small island, as well as a relatively flat expanse of land, meant that Hajamal was ripe for living. Animal bones, many of these populations still existing on the island, have shown the array of wildlife that would've been encountered by Hajamal's first inhabitants. Qelusta (Sthorliarekefe queluscha) have long inhabited the wetland of Hajamal as a marine predator. Pfearoi (Pfearoi pfearoi) are a species of flightless bird that used to inhabit the lowlands of Hajamal. Spurducks (Fithchus anqueri) are a species of waterfowl which were used as a common source of food for those living in the anqe. In terms of the prairies, populations of Bahal (Pfaha esverikarethas), Wild Oxen (Abati schluas), and Long-necked Sēdquis (Sedquis syasazanya) have long prowled the region. 
Ancient peoples likely had diets largely consisting of basic root vegetables, supplementary game meat from the animals of the region, and occasionally fish and invertebrates from the riverine environments of Hajamal. Evidence suggests these ancient Baszku people would've made shelter from dried animal skins and leather, unlike the tumbums of modern Lachawackans. These ancient people would have formed nomadic communities which traveled throughout the region, likely in movement with the seasons.
=== Baszku Kingdoms period ===
With the formation of the Baszku Kingdom, Hajamal was treated as a place of economic exploitation due to its abundant raw materials. Despite being a part of the motherland, former rural ways of life were abandoned in favor of strict feudal structures whereby peasants were made to work in dangerous conditions in farms and mines. Many of these former villages which once spread across the entire island were torched in the Second Warring States period which saw the destruction of the Baszku Kingdoms and its replacement with modern day Zilatra. In the aftermath of these wars, many of the residents of Hajamal fled Southwards to Dalar Prefecture, though the population of Hajamal would soon boom once more by the 30's VE.
=== Early Zilatra period ===
After the formation of Zilatra, the early country formed what was called the Hizanji Sabe which sought to extensively map the region and mark sights for possible creation of settlements. Hajamal was marked early on as a site of great material riches. In 3 VE, the city of Hafumel was founded on the coast of Southwestern Hajamal as a fishing and farming commune. At this time, the settlement of Sziszarka was also built in Northern Hafumel, primarily as a mining commune.
Initially remaining a very humble and low-population Prefecture, the area saw massive improvement and explosion in population with the National Programme which was undergone by the Zilatran government by the 20's VE. While some settlements like Sziszarka would die, others like Hafumel would exponentially grow in population to being one of the largest cities in the entirety of Zilatra.
Eventually, Hajamal would be one of the largest cactus producers in all of Zilatra, perhaps only beat out by the industrial titan of Lasaji.
In 22 VE, the Cartography Guild established a Protectorate on the island of Hajamal, though this would be dissolved by the 30's VE. By 25 VE, Hafumel would undergo a mass urbanization initiative, seeing Western Hajamal become a largely urban landscape.
Category:Zilatra
Category:Kejafros
Category:Province