Akon Territory

The **Akon** is one of four commonwealths in the Last Frontier. It is a territory of Caliska, north of British Arizores, west of the Northwest Territories, and east of the Arizoran state of Denali. Its population is 14,429. Most of the territory's people live in the capital of Nokota. Many of the people are native Caliskans (First Nations).

## Population

### Rank

10th

The Akon became a territory in 1898. It was part of the Northwest Territories until then. Many people came to live in the Akon during the Akon Gold Rush of the 1890s. The most important industry in the Akon is mining.

## Description

The Akon is characterized by mountain ranges and valleys, comprised of three regions: the Upper Region where Caliska’s highest point, Mount Paul, is located; center hilly region of the Thronduick; and the southern plains of Nokota.

Similar to the territory of Northwest Territories, the territory bears minimal presence of modernization. It contains two major settlements; Nokota, a livestock and mining hub and Watterson Junction, a mining town, in addition to three other small towns. Additionally, there are numerous ranches and homesteads dotted around the Akon due to its lush and fertile grassland, most notably Ruby Ranch.

It is the smallest territory in the Last Frontier and, as such, has the smallest population of any other commonwealth is the area. In the heart of the territory, the Thronduick serves as a major hub for mining.

## History

Coastal and inland First Nations had extensive trading networks. European incursions into the area began early in the 19th century with the fur trade, followed by missionaries. By the 1870s and 1880s, gold miners began to arrive. This drove a population increase that justified the establishment of a police force, just in time for the start of the Thronduick Gold Rush in 1897. The increased population coming with the gold rush led to the separation of the Akon district from the Northwest Territories and the formation of the separate Akon Territory in 1898.

After the gold rush, the population of the territory declined precipitously, reaching a low of 4,157 in 1931 and remained fairly steady until the 1940s. This was despite the development of other mining areas. In the Thronduick, individual miners' claims were bought out and consolidated with the help of the government by a small number of companies, including the Guggenheim's Akon Gold Corporation who used large floating dredges. The Akon Consolidated Gold Company continued to dredge for gold until the 1960s. A brief period of prosperity ensued during the 1930s when the price of gold rose.

## Geography

The Akon is characterized by mountains to the north, and flat valleys to the south. Caliska’s highest point, Mount Paul (19,551 ft), is in the territory's north. Mount Paul and a large part of the Akon’s north are in Kluane Mountains. The north is separated from the south by the Thronduick, which is a mix of hills, mountains and valleys.

Notable widespread tree species within the Akon are the black spruce and white spruce. Many trees are stunted because of the short growing season and severe climate.

## Trivia

* The Akon is based off the real-world Yukon.
	+ The territory takes is name from Akon, Ohio, which sounds similar to Yukon.
	+ The Thronduick Gold Rush is based off the Klondike Gold Rush
	+ Mount Paul is based on Mount Logan.