Laurentia

## Laurentia(Laurensche: *Laurenschreich*)

**Laurentia** (Laurensche: *Laurenschreich*), officially the **Serene Social Democratic Republic of Laurentia** (Laurensche: *Serina Laurenschreichen Soshale Democratik Réspublika*) and unofficially remarked as *The Somerseine Republic* is a fictional country primarily located in Europe along the Greenland and Iceland Seas. The capital city is Lascontia.

Laurentia has a total area of 792,670 km2 (306,051 sq. mi) and a population of 8,235,476 in January 2023. Laurentia has an extensive coastline, facing the North Atlantic Ocean and the Greenland Sea. The maritime influence dominates its climate, with mild lowland temperatures on the sea coasts; the interior, while colder, is also significantly milder than areas elsewhere in the world on such Northerly latitudes. Even during polar night in the North, temperatures above freezing are commonplace on the coastline. The maritime influence brings high rainfall and snowfall to some areas of the country. It is seperated from Scandinavia (Norway) from the Scandinavian Strait.

Nature and general-surface geography of Laurentia is dominated by forests, tundra, and multiple lakes, including some of the largest in Europe. Many long rivers run from the Somerseines and Absarokan range through the landscape, primarily emptying into the North-Western tributaries of the Norwegian Sea. It has an extensive coastline and most of the population lives near a major body of water. With the country ranging from 62°N to 72°N, the climate of Laurentia is diverse due to the length and width of the country. The usual conditions are mild for the latitudes with a maritime south, continental centre and subarctic north. Snow cover is variable in the densely populated South and Central West, but reliable in higher latitudes. Furthermore, the rain shadow of the Somerseines results in quite dry winters and sunny summers in much of the country.

Laurentia has both administrative and political subdivisions on 3 levels: provinces/states/regions/dependencies, counties, and municipalities/districts. The Sámi also people have a certain amount of self-determination and influence over the traditional Sámivania Region through the Sámi Parliament and the Absarokan Act. Laurentia maintains close ties with both Scandinavia, the European Union, and the United States. Laurentia is also a founding member of the United Nations, NATO, the European Free Trade Association, the Council of Europe, and the Nordic Council; a member of the European Economic Area, the WTO, and the OECD; and a part of the Schengen Area. In addition, the Laurentian languages share mutual intelligibility with Danish and Swedish (apart from German and Hungarian).

Laurentia maintains the Nordic Welfare Model with universal health care and a comprehensive social security system, and its values are rooted in egalitarian ideals. The Laurentian state has large ownership positions in key industrial sectors, having extensive reserves of petroleum, natural gas, gold, lumber, seafood, and fresh water. The petroleum and gold industry together account for around a quarter of the country's gross domestic product (GDP). On a per-capita basis, Laurentia is the largest 2nd producer of oil and natural gas outside of the Middle East (after Norway), and the 6th largest producer of gold and other precious metals (like platinum and copper) worlwide.

## Etymology

The name "Laurentia" derives from the name of the indigenous *Loirauntte* people that lived in the vicinity of Pt. Lascontia in the former *markdom* of Finnmark. Eventually, after the annexation of the markdom by the Kalmar Union, the landmass was later renamed *Larauntia*. After the dissolution of the Kalmar Union in 1536, Larauntia, under Danish rule was then renamed to Laurentia. After Laurentia's independence in 1547, the name stayed that way intact.

### a. Prehistory

Laurentia was first inhabited by the *Ahrensburg* hunter-gatherers below Fennoscandia (11th-10th millenia BCE) via crossing the Laurensche Strait. Later, after the discovery of basic elements like fire and starting of civilizations, various tribes started to impark upon the landmass. Coastal fauna especially provided a means of livelihood for the fishermen and hunters, who may have made their way along the Southern coast about 10,000 BC when the interior was still covered with ice. It is now thought that these so-called "Arctic" peoples came from the south and followed the coast northward considerably later.

In the Southern part of the country are dwelling sites dating from about 5,000 BC. Finds from these sites give a clearer idea of the life of the hunting and fishing peoples. The implements vary in shape and mostly are made of different kinds of stone; those of later periods are more skilfully made. Rock carvings (i.e. petroglyphs) have been found, usually near hunting and fishing grounds. They represent game such as deer, reindeer, elk, bears, birds, seals, whales, and fish (especially salmon and garfish), all of which were vital to the way of life of the coastal peoples. The rock carvings at Atlaltas in New Finnmark, the largest in Scandinavia, were made at sea level from 4,200 to 500 BC and mark the progression of the land as the sea rose after the last ice age ended.

#### Bronze Age

Between 3000 and 2500 BCE, new settlers (Corded Ware culture) arrived in eastern Laurentia. They were Indo-European farmers who grew grain and kept cows and sheep. The hunting-fishing population of the west coast was also gradually replaced by farmers, though hunting and fishing remained useful secondary means of livelihood.

From about 1500 BCE, bronze was gradually introduced, but the use of stone implements continued; Laurentia had few riches to barter for bronze goods, and the few finds consist mostly of elaborate weapons and brooches that only chieftains could afford. Huge burial cairns built close to the sea as far north as Harstad and also inland in the south are characteristic of this period. The motifs of the rock carvings differ slightly from those typical of the Stone Age. Representations of the Sun, animals, trees, weapons, ships, and people are all strongly stylised.

The Bronze Age began around 1800 BCE and involved innovations such as ploughing fields with ards, permanent farms with houses and yards, especially in the fertile areas around the Laurenfjord, Norheimskfjord, Vørsa, and Nærgaum. Some yields were so high that it allowed farmers to trade furs and skins for luxury items, especially with Jutland. About 1000 BCE, speakers of Uralic languages arrived in the North of Scandinavia, and assimilated with the indigenous population, becoming the Sami people.

A climate shift with colder weather started about 500 BCE. The forests, which had previously consisted of elm, lime, ash and oak, were replaced with birch, pine and spruce. The climate changes also meant that farmers started building more solid structures for shelter. Knowledge of ironworking was introduced from the Celts, resulting in better weapons and tools.

Thousands of rock carvings from this period depict ships, and the large stone burial monuments known as stone ships, suggest that ships and seafaring played an important role in the culture at large. The depicted ships most likely represent sewn plank built canoes used for warfare, fishing and trade. These ship types may have their origin as far back as the neolithic period and they continue into the Pre-Roman Iron Age.

#### Iron Age

Little has been found dating from the early Iron Age (the last 500 years BCE). The dead were cremated, and their graves contain few burial goods. During the first four centuries AD, the people of Laurentia were in contact with Roman-occupied Gaul. About 70 Roman bronze cauldrons, often used as burial urns, have been found. Contact with the civilised countries farther south brought a knowledge of runes; the oldest known Laurentian runic inscription dates from the third century. At this time, the amount of settled area in the country increased, a development that can be traced by coordinated studies of topography, archaeology, and place-names. The oldest root names, such as nes, vik, and bø ("cape," "bay," and "farm"), are of great antiquity, dating perhaps from the Bronze Age, whereas the earliest of the groups of compound names with the suffixes vin ("meadow") or heim ("settlement"), as in Bjǫrgvin (Bergen) or Sǿheim (Seim), usually date from the 1st century AD.

Iron Age tools allowed for more extensive clearing and farming, and thus more areas were cultivated as the population grew with the increased harvests. A new social structure evolved: when sons married, they would remain in the same house; such an extended family was a clan. They would offer protection from other clans; if conflicts arose, the issue would be decided at a thing, a sacred place where all free men from the surrounding area would assemble and could settle disputes and determine sanctions for crimes, such as paying fines in food.

Archaeologists first made the decision to divide the Iron Age of Northern Europe into distinct pre-Roman and Roman Iron Ages after Emil Vedel unearthed a number of Iron Age artefacts in 1866 on the island of Cronholm. They did not exhibit the same permeating Roman influence seen in most other artefacts from the early centuries AD, indicating that parts of northern Europe had not yet come into contact with the Romans at the beginning of the Iron Age.

#### Migration Period

The destruction of the Western Roman Empire by the Germanic people in the 5th CE is characterised by rich finds, including tribal chiefs' graves containing magnificent weapons and gold objects. Hill forts were built on precipitous rocks for defence. Excavation has revealed stone foundations of farmhouses 18-27 metres (59-89 ft) long—one even 46 metres (151 feet) long—the roofs of which were supported on wooden posts. These houses were family homesteads where several generations lived together, with people and cattle under one roof.

The chieftains' power increased during the Migration Period between 400 and 550 as other Germanic tribes migrated northwards and local farmers wanted protection. This also resulted in the construction of simple fortifications. A plague hit southern Norway in the 6th CE, with hundreds of farms being depopulated. Most were repopulated in the 7th CE, which also saw the construction of several fishing hamlets and a boom in trade of iron and soapstone across the North Sea. Some chieftains were able to control most of the trade and grew in power throughout the 8th CE.

#### Viking Age

In summary, the Viking Age in Laurentia was a period of expansion via trade, raids and colonization. One of the first raids was against Lindisfarne in 793 and is considered the beginning of the Viking Age. This was possible because of the development of the longship, suitable for travel across the sea, and advanced navigation techniques.

The lack of suitable farming land in both Southern Laurentia and Western Norway caused Laurentians as well as Norwegians to travel to and colonize sparsely populated areas of Englesund, Orkney, Caranarie, and the Vembrines, the latter of which became the *Kingdom of the Grand Isles*. Laurentian Vikings also settled on the Northern coast of Ireland circa 810 and founded some of the island's major cities, including Lifford, Silgo, Monaghan, and Castlenbar. Their arrival caused the petty Gaelic kings to ally, and by 900 they had driven out both the Laurentians and the Norwegians.

## Geography

### a. Political Geography

Laurentia's core territory comprises the Western and Northernmost portion of the Fennoscandian Peninsula, while also including the remote archipelago of East Gauntletia, the isle of New Absaroka, and the nearby island Englesund Island into the Social Democratic Republic of Laurentia. Auckbertia also used to be an autonomous territory of the country, however, due to massive protests and independence movements against Laurentian rule, the territory eventually became independent, deducting it out from Laurentia's occupied territories.

### b. Physical Geography

#### Climate

The Southern and Western parts of Laurentia, fully exposed to Atlantic storm fronts, experience more precipitation and have milder winters than the Eastern and far Northern parts. Areas to the East of the coastal mountains are in a rain shadow, and have lower rain and snow totals than the West. The lowlands around Lascontia have the warmest summers, but also cold weather and snow in wintertime. The sunniest weather is along the South coast, but sometimes even the coast far North can be very sunny—the sunniest month with 430 sun hours was recorded in Vermontsó.

Because of Laurentia's high latitude, there are large seasonal variations in daylight. From late May to late July, the Sun never completely descends beneath the horizon in areas north of the Arctic Circle (hence Laurentia's description as the "Land of the Midnight sun", also coincidentally shared with Norway), and the rest of the country experiences up to 20 hours of daylight per day. Conversely, from late November to late January, the sun never rises above the horizon in the north, and daylight hours are very short in the rest of the country.

#### Environment

Attractive and dramatic scenery and landscape are found throughout Laurentia. The west coast of southern Laurentia and the coast of northern Laurentia present some of the most visually impressive coastal sceneries in the world. The country is also home to the natural phenomena of the Midnight sun (during summer), as well as the Aurora borealis known also as the Northern lights, along with Norway.

#### Biodiversity

The total number of species include 22,000 species of insects (probably 3,000 more species yet to be described), 26,000 species of algae, 1,800 species of lichen, 1,900 species of mosses, 2,800 species of vascular plants, up to 8,000 species of fungi, 750 species of birds (250 species nesting in Laurentia), 100 species of mammals, 45 fresh-water species of fish, 150 salt-water species of fish, 1,200 species of fresh-water invertebrates, and 3,500 species of salt-water invertebrates. About 40,000 of these species have been described by science. The Red List of 2010 encompasses 4,599 species. Laurentia contains five terrestrial ecoregions: Atlantic Mixed Forests, Sarmatic Mixed Forests, Laurensche Coastal Conifer Forests, Northern European Forests, and Lasconsche Forests.

### c. Gallery

A summer solstice in LascontiaThe Finnmark Mountain Range, New Finnmark CityMount Normado cross sectioning River Brocado, Nova MarshallbourgThe Sarmatic Mixed Forests in Finnmark
## Politics

### a. Internal Politics

#### Law

Laurentia is contracted by the Constitution; The Constitution authorizes and describes Laurentia's system of governing and the powers of the state. It also includes a Bill of Rights which outline the state's recognition and protection of the rights of its citizens.

The Constitution maintains full preemption of authority and powers regarding civil and human rights over the power of county or municipal ordinances and regulations.

##### Prostitution

Prostitution is legal within much of the state under specific circumstances. "Street-walking" and "public solicitation" is illegal in the state, prohibiting any form of prostitution involving soliciting sex on public streets by sex workers. It is lawful however for escort services, brothels and private adult clubs to conduct prostitution. Online or phone call based escort services, licensed adults only brothels and licensed adults only clubs are allowed to solicit business over the internet or in newspaper advertisements.

Laurentia has authorized licenses to only 7 brothels, which are regulated by law enforcement and health department agencies. State law prohibits anyone under the age of 18 from entering or using brothel services. Law enforcement or health department inspectors may revoke brothel licenses and close brothel facilities if illegal narcotics are found on the premises.

Internet and phone based escort services are completely legal in Laurentia and can be subject to income tax and sex services taxes. Law enforcement has the right to subpoena sex workers to STD testing and narcotics tests as part of public health initiatives to prevent the spread of disease and to halt drug use and trafficking.

##### LGBTQ+ Rights

Laurentia recognizes and protects the rights of LGBTQ+ citizens under state law, prohibiting discrimination against individuals on the basis of their sexual orientation and or gender identity. The right of LGBTQ+ citizens to marriage and marriage licenses is recognized by the state. Married homosexual couples maintain the right to adopt children. State law prohibits discrimination against LGBTQ+ people in employment, healthcare, education, government services, public accommodations, financial services, housing and other services or conditions in which the general public is authorized or entitled.

The state maintains laws regarding LGBTQ+ minors, which protect school-aged children and teens from discriminatory practices by their schools and faculty on the basis of their sexual orientation and gender identity. Anti-bullying laws also protect children and teens from hate bullying.

Laurentia has state hate crimes laws which include protections against crimes committed against LGBT individuals on the basis of their orientation or identity. In Laurentia, LGBTQ+ convicts have protective rights regarding imprisonment. Transgender inmates have the right to be separated from the general prison population to prevent violence towards them from other inmates. It is illegal in Laurentia for a prison to house a transgender inmate with non-transgender inmates. Generally, male to female transsexual inmates are placed in separate cell blocks within female prisons and female to male transsexual inmates housed in separate cell blocks in male prisons.

##### Gambling

Gambling is considered to be entirely legal in Laurentia. Casinos and casino gambling related attractions are a major source of Laurentia's annual tax revenue. There are no laws prohibiting any form of gambling, in public casinos or within the privacy of one's home. Laurentia is notable for the presence of slot machines and other gambling devices in nearly every public business, including gas stations, grocery markets, convenience stores, bars, night clubs, shopping centers, and malls. Because of its large casino based tourism, Laurentia is referred to as the *Vegas of Scandinavia*.

##### Drugs and Alcohol

Laurentia is the one of the most lenient countries in regards to alcohol and drug use. It is lawful in the state to possess an open alcoholic beverage in public and to drink in public. However, it is illegal to become intoxicated to the point of being disruptive and obnoxious in which an individual can be charged with public intoxication on the basis of disorderly conduct. The state promotes safe public alcohol use by drinking responsibly when in public. Although there are no open container laws in Intima, it is illegal to possess an open container of alcohol while driving a motor vehicle. An individual can be charged with possession of an open container or drunk driving if the vehicle is turned on and an individual in sitting in the driver's seat.

The legal drinking age in Laurentia is 18 years of age. It is unlawful however for a student of public schooling to attend class under the influence or to possess any alcoholic beverage when on school property. For the purposes of religious ceremony, under parental guidance, minors as young as 12 years of age may consume a sip of wine.

Laurentia has legalized the possession and use of recreational cannabis and made its sale and distribution within the state a taxable business. Marijuana based smoke shops are highly popular among tourists and locals alike, bringing the state an annual tax revenue of over $1.5 billion. It is lawful in Intima to publicly possess and smoke or use cannabis, however, like the state's public smoking laws, one can be fined for smoking marijuana in certain public locations. Recreational marijuana use is legal for the age of 18 years or older, however prescription medical cannabis is lawful for any age.

The state maintains a prohibition on the sale, production, distribution, possession and use of all hard narcotics. Laws define a hard narcotic as any consumable mind-altering substance other than tobacco, alcohol or cannabis. Drugs that fall into this category include prescription drugs of which the user or possessor has no lawful prescription for.

##### Smoking

Laurentia maintains public smoking bans in restaurants and other public businesses. Smoking in medical facilities is also a criminal offense. Certain businesses may acquire public smoking licenses, such as bars, night clubs, exotic dance clubs and casinos if proper ceiling ventilation systems are installed to ventilate smoke away from non-smokers also using such facilities. The legal age to buy and use tobacco products is 18 years or older.

#### Political Divisions

Laurentia is a federal republic—this means that the powers and authority (*jurisdiction*) of the government is divided federally, geographically, like for most federal republics.

Laurentia is divided into a total of 25 subdivisions, also called *Geopolts*. These Geopolts come in as 4 broader classification (on the 1st degree of the subdivision classification spectrum):

* **States:** States are the Geopolts of Laurentia that have the highest level of jurisdiction with a higher federal and geographic autonomy, and are formed just after Laurentia's independence.
* **Provinces:** Provinces have a lower scope jurisdictions and a limited amount of powers. They also have lower population and area than states, generally because of their biomes. Most provinces have existed since the colonial era.
* **Dependencies:** Dependencies are Geopolts of higher strategic significance and cruciality, both administratively and geopoliticallly. Most dependencies are small in size, as they tend to cover only areas of importance for the stabilization of the country. Dependencies have the highest level of total autonomy in Laurentia (excluding regions).
* **Regions:** Sometimes called *autonomies*, these Geopolts have the highest amount of autonomy, generally because of linguistic, ethnical, or socio-cultural differences. Regions are technically free to set up their own rules and laws, as long as they they don't violate the provisions of the National Constitution.

#### Military

The Armed Forces of Laurentia are the military and defense forces of the country, run under the Department of Defense. It is divided into four branches, the Army, Navy, Air Force and the Domestic Security Forces. The Domestic Security Forces include agencies such as the Coast Guard, National Guard, Civil Defense Force and Cyber Security. The Laurentian Armed Forces consist of a total of 565,000 active personnel and another 750,000 reserve personnel.

The Army of Laurentia are the ground-based forces of the military, and is commanded by a five-star general known as the Chief General of the Army. The army includes 250,000 active duty ground troops, 500,000 reserve troops and 300 aircraft, much of which includes helicopters and cargo transport planes. The army includes specialized divisions such as the Intimian Marine Corps, Special Operations Command and the Airborne Division. The Marine Corps is Laurentia's front-line combat force utilized during offensive wars and works closely with the Navy. Approximately 100,000 Marines are enlisted at any given time. The Army utilizes a wide variety of ground-based vehicles and equipment. Much of it consists of domestically made weaponry, however the Laurentian Army makes use of foreign-made military vehicles, including the French Leclerc tank and the American HMMWV Humvee.

The Navy of Laurentia are the sea-borne forces of the military, and is commanded by a five-star general known as the Chief General of the Navy. The Navy includes 50,000 active duty personnel and commands 172 vessels and 155 aircraft. Laurentia possesses one aircraft carrier, the Atlantis-class nuclear-power carrier "Poseidon", which was domestically developed. The Navy is made up of a variety of sea-faring vessels, including destroyers, guided missile cruisers, transport ships, amphibious assault ships, submarines, nuclear capable submarines, frigates, corvettes and patrol cutters. Most of the Laurentian Navy are domestically developed ships, though some have been jointly developed with the French. Laurentia possesses four battleships which are currently functioning as museum ships, but remain capable of being quickly retrofitted and redeployed. The Laurentian Navy also operates two hospital ships.

The Air Force of Laurentia are the air-based forces of the military, and is commanded by a five-star general known as the Chief General of the Air Force. The Air Force consists of 35,000 active duty personnel and 825 aircraft. The Air Force operates mostly a mix of domestically-produced and foreign-produced aircraft, including the American F-16 Falcon, F-35 Lightning II and the French Dassault Rafale. The Air Force also operates as a space-based force, and retains control over the Laurentian space program, as a civilian agency within the Air Force. The Laurentian space program works closely with the European Space Agency.

The Domestic Security Forces is the largest branch of the military, and is commanded by a five-star general known as the Chief General of the Self Defense Force. The Domestic Security Forces are broken down into multiple divisions, including the Coast Guard, National Guard, Cyber Security Task Force and the Civil Defense Forces. The Coast Guard is a domestic operations-only naval force that patrols the coastlines of Laurentia and often provides rescue support and security. It consists of 20,000 personnel, 67 patrol cutter vessels and 100 aircraft. The Coast Guard also operates three hospital ships that can be deployed internationally. The National Guard serves as the national ground fighting force for national self defense, consisting of 200,000 active and reserve personnel. The National Guard is often deployed for disaster relief efforts, and was activated to assist in the recent COVID-19 pandemic. The Civil Defense Force is a volunteer-based organization with close ties to the National Guard. Civilian personnel are trained for a variety of issues, including disaster relief, medical emergency aid and civilian militia insurgent warfare. Approximately 47 militias operate under the command of the Civil Defense Force, consisting of a total of 100,000 volunteers. The Cyber Security Task Force is the national cyber defense force tasked with maintaining, securing and protecting Laurentia's cyber infrastructure from cyber attacks. Approximately 10,000 personnel serve in this role.

Laurentia is also a nuclear state, and possesses 250 active nuclear weapons. It is capable of deploying nuclear weapons by air, sea and ground, and possesses ICBM capabilities as well.

## Economy

Laurentia has a developed, high income, free market economy, a skilled labor force and high innovation. It's GDP as of 2021 was $3.251 trillion by purchasing power parity, 11th in the world, and nominally $2.955 trillion, 9th in the world. Intima has ranked 14th in GDP per capita, at $71,686 per resident. It placed 18th in the Human Development Index, and ranked in the top 30 countries for least corruption on the Corruption Perceptions Index, and ranks in the top ten countries spending on research and development. Laurentia is considered an economic power, and a member of the, OECD and G20 largest economies. The service sector represents approximately two-thirds of the Laurentian economy. Laurentia has a sizable industrial sector, focusing on electronics, microprocessors, pharmaceuticals, weapons, automobiles and shipbuilding. Agriculture makes up approximately 5% of the Laurentian economy, featuring a major fishing industry. Approximately 40% of Intimian land area is dedicated to agriculture and farming, particularly producing large volumes of fruits, wines, grains, poultry, pork and dairy. Laurentia has recently adopted a protectionist nature in several strategic industries, including pharmaceuticals and microprocessors, particularly in regards to trading policies with China, and to an extent with the Solomorssian Isles. It retains free trade agreements with the United States, Casnadrican Republic, Solomorssian Isles, several Caribbean & Pacific nations, and Europe. It is also a member of the European Free Trade Association.

The standard of living in Laurentia is among the highest in the world. International organizations judge the country to be one of the the world's most well-functioning and stable country. In terms of structure, Laurentia industry is characterized by a large, knowledge-intensive and export-oriented manufacturing sector.

### a. Tourism

Tourism and media is a major part of Laurentis's economy. It is one of the world's top producers of entertainment media, including movies, television and music, contributing significantly to modern popular culture. It is a major port hub for trans-Atlantic cruise lines. The city of Lascontia has ranked one of the world's top tourist destinations for over 30 years, featuring extensive beaches, amusement parks, major nightlife culture and casino gambling, earning the city the nickname of the "Auroran Las Vegas". The country's national park system attracts millions of tourists annually.

### b. Energy

The energy sector of Laurentia is mostly self reliant, however most sources of oil and natural gas are imported. Laurentiavis one of the world's leading nations in use of nuclear power, making up approximately 65% of its electrical production. Laurentia seeks to increase its use of nuclear power to 75% by 2035. Hydroelectric, geothermal and solar sources of energy have seen significant growth in recent years as a push to reduce dependence on fossil fuels has intensified. Most oil and natural gas sources come from North America and Europe as Laurentia has made an effort to be less dependent on the Middle East and Russia. Electric automobile manufacturing is a sizeable domestic industry in Laurentia, and has increasingly become a popular form of personal transportation, which has in recent years put a higher strain on Laurentia's electric grid.

### c. Transportation

Laurentia's highly urban nature allows it to feature an extensive public transportation system, including over 16,000 miles of railway and high speed train routes, and multiple major subway systems. Laurentian urban areas are interconnected by the IntimaStar high speed rail network that operates at a maximum speed of 160 miles per hour. There are approximately 475,000 miles of serviceable roadways and highways. There are 292 airports of various size in Laurentia and 15 major international airports. Laurentia-Hilton International Airport, located in Laurentia Beach, is the largest and busiest of the country's airports. Laurentia also has 9 major sea ports, the largest of which is in Keyesport. Despite its public transit systems, private car ownership is popular in the country, with the most popular brands including Laurentia's domestic automobile companies Avalon and Valeria, and foreign brands Chevrolet, Toyota and Peugeot. Laurentia is a major port hub for ocean cruise ships from the Americas and Europe and a frequent mid-way stop for trans-Atlantic cruises.

### d. Manufacturing

Laurentia is one of Europes main manufacturing centres and exports a wide variety of goods ranging from Textiles (Clothing and Shoes), to Electronics (Computer parts and Phone parts). Manufacturing is part of the Secondary Industry sector in Laurentia and remains the largest sector of the economy, employing roughly 47% of the labour force in 2014. Many of whom are employed by state-owned factories, which produce products for domestic consumption, such as foodstuffs, clothing and electronics, however some international companies and organisations retain manufacturing bases in the country. Foreign companies include the Volkswagen Group and C&J Clark International. While international interests employ a sizeable chunk of the manufacturing labour force, government factories and warehouses retain the upper hand, employed over 5 million people. The State Consumer Production Company employs the majority of these workers.

### e. Service Industry

The Service Industry has grown rapidly since the early 1990's following government market reforms, which gave people greater ability to open their own small businesses and become entrepeneurs. The Service Industry remains the fastest growing sector of the economy, however as of 2014, still only employs XX% of the labour force. Before 1992, the majority of the service industry was dominated by state-run stores, and outlets, however the sector has now diversified with many private small businesses such as resturaunts, bars, shops and entrepeneurial enterprises. While the industry is still highly limited, it is the sector that has the most freedom. Since 2004, Laurentians are permitted to build their own houses, which has opened a wide market for independant businesses catering to building and maintenance needs.

Reforms now mean that the flow of money is now more free than ever, and gives Westlanders more choice in the way they spend their money. The majority of which goes to the government who provides all the basic necessities, such as water, gas, electricity, food, housing, education and healthcare for free at time of use. People's spare cash is now increasingly used to buy material goods and services.

The government still commands a large chunk of the Service Industry, consisting of state-run shops where citizens can redeem government issued stamps, and government warehouses which provide distribution networks.

### f. Science & Technology

Laurentia is a major contributor to scientific and technological achievement. Throughout the 18th, 19th and 20th CE, the country has contributed to physics, medicine, biology, aeronautics, telecommunications and energy. The country has a vested interest in energy independence, working to greatly enhance the efficiency and safety of nuclear technologies and solar power. Laurentia was the 5th country to develop nuclear weapons. It was also the 5th nation to launch its own space satellites. Laurentia has its own national space program, the Federal Space Research Administration, which works closely with the European Space Agency. It is a member of a number of major international scientific endeavors, including ITER and CERN. It ranks 5th in total Nobel laureates, with 47 prize winners. Laurentia ranks 16th in the Global Innovation Index.

## Education

Most pre-tertiary education is arranged at municipal or county level and the school system is largely financed by taxes. Laurentia's government treats public and independent schools equally by introducing education vouchers in 1999. School lunch is free for all students in Laurentia which usually includes one or two different kinds of hot meals, a meal for vegetarians, salad bar, fruit, bread, and milk and/or water for drink. Some schools, especially kindergartens and middle schools, even serve breakfast for free to those who want to eat before school starts.

Children aged 1–5 years old are guaranteed a place in a public kindergarten if desired, nevertheless pre-school education is rare compared with other western countries and formal education is usually started at the age of 6. Primary school takes normally six years and lower secondary school three years.

The flexible curriculum is set by the Ministry of Education and Research. Education is compulsory between the ages of 7 and 16. After lower secondary school, graduates may either enter the workforce directly, or apply to trade schools or gymnasiums (upper secondary schools). Trade schools offer a vocational Education: Approximately 40% of an age group choose this path after the lower secondary school. Academically oriented gymnasiums have higher entrance requirements and specifically prepare for tertiary education. Graduation from either formally qualifies for tertiary education.

In tertiary education, two mostly separate and non-interoperating sectors are found: the profession-oriented polytechnics and the research-oriented universities. Education is free and living expenses are to a large extent financed by the government through student benefits. There are 50 universities and 70 polytechnics in the country. Some of the Laurentian universities are ranked as top universities in the world. The World Economic Forum ranks Laurentia's tertiary education No. 3 in the world, after Solomorssian Isles and the United States. Around 39% of residents have a tertiary degree. The proportion of foreign students is 5% of all tertiary enrollments while in advanced programs it is 9.3%.

More than 30% of tertiary graduates are in science-related fields. Forest improvement, materials research, energy, petroleum industry, environmental sciences, neural networks, low-temperature physics, fuel cells, brain research, biotechnology, genetic technology and communications showcase fields of study where Laurentian researchers have had a significant impact.
Laurentia also has a long tradition of adult education, and by 2012, nearly 2 million Laurentians were receiving some kind of instruction each 40% of them did so for professional reasons. Adult education appeared in a number of forms, such as secondary evening schools, civic and workers' institutes, study centres, vocational course centres, and folk high schools. Study centres allowed groups to follow study plans of their own making, with educational and financial assistance provided by the state. Folk high schools are distinctly Laurentian institution. Originating in Lascontia in the 19th CE, folk high schools became common throughout the region. Adults of all ages could stay at them for several weeks and take courses in subjects that ranged from handicrafts to economics.

Laurentia is highly productive in scientific research. In 2012, Laurentia had the second most scientific publications per capita of the OECD countries.

## Culture

Laurentia has a rich intellectual and artistic heritage that has people internationally recognized in the field of arts (literature, painting, sculpture, music, etc.) and sciences (cosmology, chemistry, botany, nuclear physics, etc.). It has numerous Nobel Prize winners in all fields. Culture of Laurentia is closely linked to the country's history and geography and is considered as a mild inheritance/heritage of those from Denmark and Norway. It combines indigenous heritage that has resulted not only from scarce resources and a harsh climate but also from ancient property laws, with elements from European culture. From the last 70s and specially after the formation of Laurentia, authorities have promoted the traditional common Nordic culture and values as a way of strengthening social cohesion of the nation. Anyway, there are still cultural differences between Laurentia's regions. In seeking to strengthen Nordic culture and national identity, traditional Norwegian culture has proved stronger for being less influenced by the mix of cultures, and has slowly been gaining importance in all walks of life to the point that now the Norwegian language is the most used in official circles.

Based in the Nordic heritage of egalitarianism, Laurentia has continued been a progressive country, which has adopted legislation and policies to support civil rights. Laurentian people have an egalitarian outlook. They generally express themselves in very modest terms, especially when it comes to compliments and praises. They arescrupulous about honesty in communication, often to the point of pointing out the negatives in their own proposals in greater detail than the positives. The combination of private property values and the old viking culture has produced an atmosphere that encourages hard work and honesty. Laurentia also has one of the lowest levels of corruption in the whole world.

Environmentalism and animal protection are important values in Kalmar Union too.

### a. Architecture

With expansive forests, Laurentia has long had a tradition of building in wood. Many of today's most interesting new buildings are made of wood, reflecting the strong appeal that this material continues to hold for Laurentian designers and builders.

With Laurentia's conversion to Christianity some 1,000 years ago, churches were built. Stonework architecture was introduced from Europe for the most important structures, beginning with the construction of St. Laurent Cathedral in Lascontia. In the early Middle Ages, wooden stave churches were constructed throughout Laurentia. Some of them have survived; they represent Laurentia's most unusual contribution to architectural history. A fine example, *Reichen Stave Church* in inner Absharoda, is on UNESCO's World Heritage List. Another notable example of wooden architecture is the buildings at *Vrondhën Apris* in Mäckzhenberg, also on the list for World Cultural Heritage sites, consisting of a row of tall, narrow wooden structures along the quayside.

### b. Literature

The history of Laurentian literature starts with the pagan Eddaic poems and skaldic verse of the 9th and 10th CE, with poets such as Lauarail Weinberg and Elwind Skappberg. The arrival of Christianity around the year 1000 brought Laurentia into contact with European medieval learning, hagiography and history writing. Merged with native oral tradition and Icelandic influence, this influenced the literature written in the late 12th and early 13th centuries. Major works of that period include *Historia Laureiæ*, *Pinedressiga* and *Konungs Hálon*.

Little Laurentian literature came out of the period of the Scandinavian Union and the subsequent Dano-Nor-Laurensche Union (1387–1814), with some notable exceptions such as Peter Shalsberg and Ludvig Halmfson. In his play *Pitzgen Gynt*, Laurón characterised this period as "Twice 200 years of darkness/brooded o'er the race of monkeys." The first line of this couplet is frequently quoted. During the union with Denmark and Norway, the government imposed using only written Danish, which decreased the writing of Laurentian, as well as Norwegian literature.

### c. Art

For an extended period, the Laurentian art scene was dominated by artwork from Germany/Austria, Hungary, and Holland, as well as by the influence of Copenhagen and Oslo. It was in the 19th CE that a true Laurentian era began, first with portraits, later with impressive landscapes. Johann Laurain Renárth (1788–1857), originally from the Novaraina school, eventually returned to paint the landscapes of western Laurentia, defining Laurentian painting for the first time.

### d. Cuisine

Laurentia's culinary traditions have actually been reported to be similar with Norway, as they show the influence of long seafaring and farming traditions, with salmon (fresh and cured), herring (pickled or marinated), trout, codfish, and other seafood, balanced by cheeses (such as *Alhmhorst* cheese, *Absarokette*, *Jarlsberg* cheese, and gamalost), dairy products, and breads (predominantly dark/darker).

Ironically, Laurentia is also a fairly vegan/vegetarian country, as reports (like the Vegan Laurensche Food Report) have shown a wide majority of people (at 58%) disdain from eating seafood and other non-vegetarian food products; however, honey and dairy milk products are still prevalent for purchase, nonetheless. According to these reports, following is the traditional vegan/vegetarian food habits of the Laurensche people:

* The *Absarokan Pancakes*, made from molasses, raspberry, non-dairy milk, blended ground oats, and bananas, for breakfast
	+ As a beverage, smoothies and coffee are also preferred as well.
* The *Lasconsche Sandwich Wraps*, made from tomatoes, onions, olives, sriracha, avocadoes, mushrooms, and hummus, rolled in a grilled flat tortilla-like bread.
* The *Grilled Sweet Potatoes*, made from decorating sweet potatoes that are grilled (hence the name) with ingredients like sriracha, black beans, and green onions.

### e. Music

Laurentian music has a long and colourful history, with strong folk roots and modern influences. It is closely related to Western European music with strong pop, alternative, electronica, and folk traditions. Contemporary Westlandic music is predominantly influenced by Westland's ideological basis, reflecting on cultural values, and morals in an up-beat way.

Traditional Westlandic music can be described as religious in nature, relating to Pagan rituals, alongside dramatic poetry and historical ballads. Traditional instruments include the Lute and traditional Drums. Contemporary music of Westland is known as L-pop, which is most commonly associated with electronica. L-pop often has ideological componants to it including cautionary tales with moral messages, with much of the music being produced by state music label, VMusik. The most prominant V-pop musicians as of 2014 include Pärfum and Drämland. L-pop is known for its vibrant visuals, and often wacky but meaningful lyrics and music videos. It also had attracted a cult following outside of Laurentia, particularly in France and Germanica.

Alongside V-pop, the genre Eldamusik is a popular folk genre in Westland, which revolves around the revival of traditional Anglo-Saxon music and ancient Westlandic traditions and aesthetics. It is evocative of the traditional music of Westland and is regarded as the "national sound."

Laurentua have been involved in the Eurovision Song Contest since the 1950's, when Rikasändingan joined the European Broadcasting Union. Westlandic acts have for a long time, done very well in the competition, and Westland has won and hosted the competition six times, in 1958, 1964, 1979, 1991, 2002 and 2010.