Otso
| Royal Duchy of Otso | |
|---|---|
 Flag | |
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| Capital | Otavia |
| Largest city | Kupio (113,364) |
| Official languages |
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| Ethnic groups |
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| Religion |
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| Demonym | Otsonian |
| Government | Constitutional monarchy |
• Head of State | Duke Gustaf Peter Niklas Armfelt |
• Prime Minister | Elina Ahonen |
| Area | |
• Total | 51,390 sq mi (133,100 km2) |
| Population | |
• Estimate | 1.4 Million |
• Density | 18/sq mi (6.9/km2) (116) |
| GDP | Current estimate |
• Total | $52.6B |
| Time zone | Europe (UCT+2) |
Otso sits on the Eastern-most edge of the region. Previously part of a larger Otsobothnia, it has been an independent nation since the end of the Second World War. Originally Donovia utilized OtsoOtso as a buffer between itself and the wider alliance of Torrike and Bothnia, however since the relationship between Bothnia and Torrike has soured in recent times it has been seen as a stepping stone by the Donovians and Bothnians in the region.
Political
Otso is a Constitutional Monarchy with open elections. It prides itself on being neutral, not only within the old Skolkan region, but also among the EU/NATO. In reality it does tend to have Donovian sympathies.
Otso’s main aim since the foundation of the country has been to contribute to regional stability through the application of a firm and fair policy of neutrality and membership in the GBCC. Otso considers that it is setting an enlightened example and to this end support for the UN is a key pillar of their policy. A key aim is to ensure that any dispute is brought to arbitration at the earliest opportunity and full engagement of the relevant international bodies is actively pursued.
For the past 20 years a coalition from the Unity Party and the Freedom Party have shared power in Otso; this has strengthened Otsan resolve to remain neutral.
Military
Otso has a small population and the Armed Forces are correspondingly small. The basic structure is built on the Otsonian perception of the Canadian model, with a single service (defense forces) and specialist branches (Land, Air, Naval). As in the Canadian model, rank badges are uniform throughout the service and ranks in the air and land arms are identical, whereas the Naval and Coast Guard elements use traditional naval terms. The forces are largely conscript, with a professional core; the ratio of regular to conscript varies depending on the complexity of the assigned task. On completion of service, conscripts have a reserve liability until their 50th birthday.
Economic
Otso is a resource‐poor and relatively small politico‐economic entity. The country has no deposits of natural gas or coal. Otso has an industrialized, mixed economy with a high per capita output equating to that of other European countries. The largest sector of the economy is services at 60%, followed by manufacturing and refining at 35%. Primary production is 3.9%. With respect to foreign trade, the key economic sector is manufacturing. The largest industries are electronics (20%), machinery, vehicles and other engineered metal products (22%), forest industry (15%), and chemicals (8.9%). Otso has timber and several mineral and freshwater resources. Forestry, paper factories, and the agricultural sector (on which taxpayers spend around USD $1 billion annually) are politically sensitive to rural residents. Otavia and the Lappeenranta areas generate around a third of GDP. Overall short-term outlook was good and GDP growth has been above many European countries peers.
Social
Otso has a population of approximately 1.4 million. Ethnically, the country is homogeneous and the population has a strong sense of national pride. It has accepted few refugees on the grounds that the economy is insufficiently developed to be able to cope. Given its reputation as unwelcoming and the climate, few refugees or asylum seekers attempt to make their way to Otso, which suits the country. The population tends to be fairly cold to outsiders, but are extremely hospitable once the initial barriers are overcome. In the far north, inside the Arctic Circle, there are still nomadic tribes who maintain a traditional lifestyle herding reindeer. Unlike Donovia, Otso makes no attempt to restrict their range to within the country’s borders and the herders may move into Bothnia or Torrike or back without hindrance.
Information
The Otsan information systems are modern and well‐funded. It upholds the essence of freedom of expression. Otso has a free and extremely lively press which represents a wide spectrum of opinion. Only extremist publications are banned and some care is taken to ensure that opinions that are offensive to either Donovia or Bothnia are kept within reasonable bounds. There are a few major radio stations, most of which belong to one of the two major press groups; but there is also a significant number of small stations that cater to a wide variety of tastes. Information technology (IT) and internet infrastructure is extremely good in the southern half of the country, although broadband is not widely available in the far north. This picture is rapidly changing as mobile phone infrastructure is established throughout the country and mobile phone usage is expanding rapidly. Internet access in the north is currently available from government subsidized booths in libraries, Post Offices, etc. As the broadband network expands, these booths are slowly disappearing.
Infrastructure
With the major exception of Otavia, the country’s infrastructure is fairly limited. Road systems are adequate for the country’s needs and become extremely primitive in the north, although there are projects to upgrade road systems in the south of the country. There is a limited railway system operating on a broad gauge for both passenger and freight. The rail system effectively ends mid-country at Kajaani. There is also an extensive canal system which links both to the Bothnia and Donovian canal systems. The road network also links directly to the Bothnia network and the easiest routes north to south occasionally runs through both countries. Otso possesses a mix of fossil fuel, biomass and hydroelectric power stations that provides power for the entire country and generates a sufficient surplus for export to be feasible. Otso has two international harbors Otavia and Hamina, but freight is also exported through Vyborg using the Saimaa canal. Otsan infrastructure has recently seen some improvement following a 15‐year economic investment program. Notable amongst improvements over the past 30 years has been the construction and improvement of the ports of Otavia and Hamina that now ensure maximum access even during the coldest of winters.
Physical Environment
Thousands of lovely lakes dot Otso’s landscape, and thick forests cover almost two‐thirds of the land. Bothnia lies to the west of Otso, northern Torrike to the north and Donovia to the east. The Gulf of Finland borders Otso to the south. The northernmost part of the country lies inside the Arctic Circle in a region called the Land of the Midnight Sun. The sun shines in this region 24 hours a day for long periods each summer. Equally, the winters are long and dark. Otavia, the country’s capital and largest city, is located in the south, on the Gulf of Finland.
Otso covers 133,162 square kilometers. The country is largely a plateau broken by small hills and valleys and low ridges and hollows. The land rises gradually from south‐ southwest to north‐ northeast, but the average altitude is only about 120 to 180 meters above sea level. About 60,000 lakes are scattered throughout the country, and forests cover almost two‐third of the land.