Gjoa

Gjoa, officially the Condominium Territory of Gjoa, is a colony of Liotain and Fusou located in the extreme north of the Akaina.

### History

The region was first explored in 1890 and 1891 by the First Liotainian Arctic Expedition. Geographers believed that there was a straight to the north of Akaina, allowing ocean currents to flow under the polar ice into the northern end of the Encircled Sea. Instead, the expedition found a land bridge connecting Akaina with Zamoroziet.

The expedition named the territory "Gjoa" after one of the team's boats.

During their survey, the explorers identified significant reserves of relatively easily-accessible mineral resources, but noted there was virtually no native population.

A tentative claim to the territory was established in 1891 (claiming that the territory bordered and thus was included in neighboring Kanqaamiut). However, the further examinations of the maps and survey data concluded that Kanqaamiut and Gjoa were separated by a strait. In 1895, a Liotainian court judged that the two territories would be identified as legally distinct areas.

Beginning in 1900, a Fusoan exploration team also surveyed the territory. Conversations between the governments of Liotain and Fusou began shortly thereafter, with proposals ranging from dividing the territory between them to a joint co-rule.

In 1905, the two governments signed the 1905 Gjoa Treaty, declared a Condominium, and began settling the territory.

### Government and Politics

Gjoa is defined as a Condominium, with overall sovereignty shared jointly by both Liotain and Fusou. Each metropolitan government appoints a Residency which acts as a government for the nation's colonists in the territory. The Residencies are exactly mirrored, with each bureaucratic role filled by one Liotainian and one Fusoan, who consult with each other and enforce the same policies. An intentional Dualism is applied to all positions within the government.

Due to the small and seasonal population of Gjoa, there is a Territorial Council (composed of three individuals selected by each of the two Residencies) who act as a governing body.

Tokkaido was selected by both countries as the de facto mediator, in the event that Fusou and Liotain were unable to agree on a particular point of policy.

By mutual agreement, Liotain is primarily responsible for defense, with Fusou taking the secondary role.

### Geography

Gjoa is covered by fairly rough stony hills and several small ranges of glacial-carved mountains.

Arctic grasses grow during the summer, allowing seasonal reindeer herds to move into the area. During the winter, the reindeer return south.

### Economy

Gjoa exists almost exclusively for mining, which is active during the summer months, between late April and early October. Over 95% of the population is employed either by the Residencies or by Fusoan and Liotainian mining companies.

### Demographics

Due to its status as a mining colony and the lack of a large permament population, Gjoa's demographics are heavily tilted toward men (85% of the summer population as of 1907) in the 18-45 age range.

During the first two winters since settlement started, the winter population dropped to approximately 15% of the peak summertime population.

The primary port, and Gjoa's capital city, is Aurora Borealine, located on the west coast of Gjoa. Aurora Borealine was chosen as it possessed a deep-water harbour (although it is littered with floating ice even during the summer months), was sheltered from extreme winds by nearby hills and cliffs, and had good access to the iron and manganese mine at Fire Hill.

A secondary port was started on the east coast in 1908.

Large portions of the summertime population live in bunkhouses either in the settlements or in the mining camps.

### Infrastructure

The capital of Aurora Borealine has a radio transmitter, but it is only powerful enough to reach Kanqaamiut or Tok Bara during ideal weather. A plan to connect Gjoa to the telegraph line in Matinsoq was held up in 1905, and has been stalled ever since.

#### Transport

During the months of 1906 and 1907, the Liotainian Gjoa Company began constructing the 38km Gjoa Cableway, designed to carry ore from the mines at Gelezine Kelva down to the port of Aurora Borealine. The cableway will enter operation in May 1908, and a second cableway of 32km will be started to the mines at Yamamoto Butte. Prior to the cableway, all transport occured with pack trains using donkeys, mules, or Joseon yaks. The cableway will take over approximately 35% of the current mining yield.

Dog sledges are used in select areas, whenever the hilly terrain permits.

Aurora Borealine possesses three stone jetties each measuring 150 meters in length. Docking is often tricky due to ice and the lack of tugs.

### Culture

Due to the seasonal mining, most settlers work at least six days per week, and over half of the population lives in bunkhouses; they usually return south for the winter.

In February 1908, the first baby was born in Gjoa. The baby girl was the daughter of a Liotainian woman and a Fusoan man, sparking local jokes about the extent of Fusouan-Liotainian collaboration. The girl received joint citizenship for both Fusou and Liotain.

The official flag of Gjoa is composed of the two major symbols of Liotain and Fusou. The left half is blue with the Liotainian *cross fleury* in white, while the other half is red and marked with the Fusoan national symbol, also in white.

Gjoa, like many countries, has the "Arctic ethos" of leaving the door unlocked, a fire laid on the fireplace, and seven days of food stored in an easily-accessible location.