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Difference between revisions of "Infrastructure: Limaria"

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[[Category:Limaria]]
 
[[Category:Limaria]]
 
[[Category:Infrastructure]]
 
[[Category:Infrastructure]]
While the region’s five countries have a significant number of rural residents, the majority of each country’s population lives in urban areas. About two-thirds of the Arianian (68%), Donovian (67%), and Limarian populace (64%) and just over half of the Gorgan (53%) and Atropian (52%) populace live in urban areas. All five countries contain a mixture of modern urban cities and almost pre- modern rural villages. Modern utilities can be found in most major cities but not in the rural villages and countryside.
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While the region’s five countries have a significant number of rural residents, the majority of each country’s population lives in urban areas. About two-thirds of the Arianian (68%), Donovian (67%), and Limarian populace (64%) and just over half of the Gorgan (53%) and Atropian (52%) populace  live in urban areas. All five countries contain a mixture of modern urban cities and almost pre- modern rural villages. Modern utilities can be found in most major cities but not in the rural villages and countryside.
  
Gorgas contains few natural resources and little industry and needs to find its role in the Caucasus region. This is true for Gorgan infrastructure, as the country possesses a negative urbanization rate of 0.6%. In order for some urban Gorgans to avoid starvation, they returned to their rural roots
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Nearly two-thirds of Limarians live in cities, with over one-third of them located in the capital city, Yerevan. Limaria remains an urban country still surviving on the infrastructure built between 1950 and 1990. With little natural resources, the country does not possess the economic means to  maintain its current infrastructure, let alone build new infrastructure. Most rural and many urban Limarians cannot access the three basic utilities—electricity, potable water, and sewage disposal. With limited funds, it remains likely that Limaria will continue to struggle with the maintenance of its current infrastructure. Due to problems in the infrastructure and other reasons, Limaria faces a negative urbanization rate as some of the people chose to return to the country to become  subsistence farmers. Even though rural people may not possess the same standard of living as those in the urban areas, the farmers will not starve. Limaria would like to become involved in the hydrocarbon pipeline distribution system that surrounds its country, but the possibility of potential conflicts keeps investors at bay.
 
 
where they can attempt to survive through subsistence farming. Most rural Gorgans cannot access modern utilities (electricity, potable running water, and a modern sewage disposal system), and the same holds true for many urban Gorgans. Even with one-third of the Gorgan people located in one city, Gorgas remains almost evenly split between urban and rural dwellers.
 
  
 
__TOC__
 
__TOC__
  
 
==Construction Patterns==
 
==Construction Patterns==
As previously mentioned, the majority of residents in all five countries live in urban areas. Most urban cities contain a mixture of old neighborhoods with roughshod construction, while buildings in newer neighborhoods are made with modern construction methods. In rural villages and areas, residents use whatever materials they can obtain to build their houses. [[File:Block-Style Apartment Building.PNG|thumb|500px|Block-Style Apartment Building]]
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As previously mentioned, the majority of residents in all five countries live in urban areas. Most urban cities contain a mixture of old neighborhoods with roughshod construction, while buildings in newer neighborhoods were made with modern construction methods. In rural villages and areas, residents use whatever materials they can obtain to build their houses.  
  
Gorgas’ largest cities contain four distinct types of neighborhoods based on the time of their construction. The oldest parts of the cities contain the dense random construction as the city grew from a village to a metropolitan area. The second area consists of extra-large rectangular block apartment buildings in closed orderly block construction that suffer from a lack of maintenance. The third area consists of neighborhoods that use more Western-style construction methods. In those cities that possess significant industrialization, houses built to support a factory exist to create a strip area neighborhood. For the most part, Gorgas does not possess the financial capacity to maintain its infrastructure, either private or public.
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Like Gorgas and Atropia, Limarian urban construction patterns reflect mostly Donovian influenced architecture except for their inner city core. Dense random construction built up since the city’s formation shapes each city’s original neighborhoods. Limaria’s largest cities built multi-family buildings to house the urban residents in a closed orderly block construction. In areas near factories, apartment buildings create strip area neighborhoods. Newer construction shows more signs of Western influence.
  
Tbilisi remains the only Gorgan city with enough   people  where   military   operations would likely require a significant amount of urban operations. No other city possesses a population of over 200,000 people. Even in these smaller cities, however, military personnel will face dense random construction in the inner cities with narrow alleys and buildings built close to each other. Except for Tbilisi, the lack of an urban population may create manpower shortages for any host nation support requests.
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With only three cities over 100,000 people, most Limarians live in medium or small cities, where 46.2% of the population support themselves in a job related to the agricultural industry. Except for Yerevan, military operations in Limaria will likely not require extensive urban operations. This will probably reduce the numbers of displaced civilians in most military operations and will also likely mitigate the possibility that the military will need to support large numbers of civilians with food. The major exception would occur in the Yerevan metropolitan area.
  
==Major Gorgan Cities and Urban Zones==
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==Major Limarian Cities and Urban Zones==
While the majority of Gorgas’ citizens live in urban areas, 47% of its citizens live in rural areas. One- third of Gorgas’ 4.5 million inhabitants live in its capital city, Tbilisi. In fact, no other Gorgan city possesses a population with over 200,000 inhabitants. The lack of any major cities other than Tbilisi could make the distribution of information to citizens difficult, but will also deter any insurgents’ ability to unite their supporters.
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Almost two-thirds of Limarians live in urban areas, but 46.2% of the people work in agriculture- related fields. Over one-third of Limarians live in its capital city, Yerevan. Limaria only has five cities with over 50,000 residents, and only three of them contain over 100,000 residents.
  
 
[[File:Gorgas Largest Cities.PNG|1000px|Gorgas' Largest Cities]]
 
[[File:Gorgas Largest Cities.PNG|1000px|Gorgas' Largest Cities]]
  
===Tbilisi===
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===Yerevan===
Tbilisi, Gorgas’ capital and largest city at around 1.5 million metropolitan area residents, grew on both sides of the Kura River due to its strategic location on the trade routes between Europe and Asia. It lies over 200 miles east of the Black Sea, surrounded by mountains on three sides. The mountain ridges that extend down from the Trialeti Range of the Lesser Caucasus Mountains to the city mean Tbilisi contains both densely populated low-rise residential neighborhoods and largely uninhabited tracts of land on the south side of the Kura River. This difficult terrain forced Tbilisi to build on the north side of the Kura River to the east and northeast. The oldest city neighborhoods contain buildings that feature Middle Eastern-influenced dense random construction, forming city core and core periphery urban zones. Tbilisi contains the country’s largest industrial area and possesses several thriving commercial areas. The city operates a subway system with two lines, 22 stations, and 186 cars. The Gorgan military places several of its key military units in bases in the Tbilisi metropolitan area.
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With over 1.1 million in Yerevan and another 200,000 in the metropolitan area, over one-third of all Limarians live in the vicinity of Limaria’s capital city. Yerevan possesses two airports, 46 bus lines, 24 trolley lines, and a subway system with 10 stations. The only train line operates to Gorgas to the north due to Kalarian and Atropian blockades in the other directions. Besides serving as Limaria’s financial center, other major businesses include chemicals, metals, machinery, textiles, alcoholic beverages, and processed food. Seventy-one of Limaria’s 90 institutes of higher learning are in Yerevan. Yerevan contains a dense, randomly constructed old city that creates a city core urban zone with its adjacent core periphery urban zone. While Yerevan contains many new buildings because of a building boom in the 1990s, the blocks do not conform to a typical Western grid pattern, but spring up haphazardly based on the terrain and the builders’ preferences. Yerevan also contains many low-rise residential areas and commercial areas. A large number of industrial areas surround the city. The Limarian military locates several of its key military units not in support of the Lower Janga region in the Yerevan metropolitan area.
 
 
===Kutaisi===
 
Kutaisi, Gorgas’ second-largest city at just under 200,000 people, lies about 138 miles west of Tbilisi and 60 miles east of the Black Sea along both banks of the Rioni River. Due to the physical constraints of the Greater Caucasus Mountains to the north, Kutaisi grew primarily toward the southeast to its current population of 199,780 residents. The city features a large number of parks and abundant greenery attributable to its physical location, climate, and spring snowmelt. Kutaisi contains both city core and core periphery urban zones. While some high-rise residential areas exist, most residents live in low-rise residential urban zones. The city contains the normal number of commercial areas for a city its size, but not many industrial areas.
 
 
 
Military activities in the Kutaisi area will find a dichotomy of urban and rural military operations at the same time. The random construction, while not as dense as many other old cities, will require significant numbers of soldiers to clear. Due to the large number of farms on Kutaisi’s outskirts, military operations should not significantly damage the food transportation network.
 
 
 
===Batumi===
 
Batumi, with a population of over 120,000 residents, is Gorgas’ third-largest city and most important Black Sea port. The city also serves as the last stop of the Transcaucasian Railway. Batumi once served as a kerosene pipeline terminus from Baku, Atropia, but became obsolete once the new '''''Caspian & Black Seas petroleum (CBS-P) pipeline''''' began operation in the mid-1990s. Still, for its size, Batumi contains a large industrial area as the city serves as Gorgas’ primary port for oil exports. Batumi’s other industries include shipbuilding, food processing, and light manufacturing. While the city does not demonstrate the dense random construction of other old cities, it does not resemble planned orderly square blocks either. More people live in low-rise residential areas than high-rise areas.
 
  
Any military operations in the local area will need to ensure that the Batumi port continues its operations so Gorgas can export hydrocarbon products to the Western world and import needed supplies from the rest of the world. Military operations in Batumi will not require much urban operations, and the port should provide a logistics '''''hub''''' for any military operations in Gorgas.
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===Gyumri===
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Limaria’s second-largest city, Gyumri, only contains about 160,000 people and lies approximately 80 road miles northwest of Yerevan. Located along the Akhuryan River, Gyumri suffers from very cold winters and warm summers as a result of its elevation. Gyumri contains an old city with dense random construction, and organized block areas with large apartments built from the 1950s to the 1980s that form the city core and core periphery urban zones. Gyumri shows signs of Western-style grid block construction that creates both high-rise and low-rise residential areas. Some industrial areas exist, along with the expected number of commercial areas for a city of its size.
  
===Rustavi===
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===Vanadzor===
Rustavi, Gorgas’ fourth-largest city at under 120,000 people, lies only 15 miles southeast of Tbilisi along the Kura River. Founded before the 4th century BC on a primary trade route, invaders completely destroyed the city in 1265. Primary industries include iron, steel, chemicals, cement, and synthetic fibers. Over 25% of the population in the mid-1990s left the Rustavi area to find work elsewhere. Still, the city currently contains 90 large- and medium-size industrial plants. While Rustavi lacks the normal city core found in most Gorgan cities, it does possess a core periphery  urban zone. Most Rustavis live in high-rise residential areas, with some low-rise residential areas on the city’s edges. While commercial areas exist, the exodus of the population created a large number  of vacant buildings.
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At 109,640 people, Vanadzor claims the distinction as Limaria’s third-largest city. Vanadzor lies approximately 55 road miles directly north of Yerevan, and many consider it Limaria’s most picturesque city. The chemical industry serves as Vanadzor’s primary business and creates a large industrial area for a city of its population. Commercial areas exist that support the residents and the city’s two schools of higher learning. Unlike many other old cities, Vanadzor’s downtown does not contain dense random construction, but relatively wide streets built in the 1950s and 1960s to create only a core periphery urban zone.
  
Any military operations in the Rustavi area will likely encounter high levels of pollution. Military units will need to test any water sources before use. The city does not contain much dense random construction. The old rectangular box-style apartment buildings, however, may require room-by- room clearance in any urban operation. Any military activities in the Rustavi area may find a  limited amount of manpower and supplies from the host nation, so the military should plan on providing all its own logistics support.
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===Nakhchivan===
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Nakhchivan (population 70,400) ranks as Limaria’s fourth-largest city and lies approximately 100 miles southeast of Yerevan. Nakhchivan contains all six civilian urban zones: city core, core periphery, high-rise residential, low-rise residential, commercial, and industrial areas in the typical three-ring pattern—core, residential/commercial, and industrial—from the city center.
  
===Zugdidi===
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Military operations in Nakhchivan may require extensive urban operations to support house-to- house fighting found in dense inner city cores. The city also contains a number of large apartment buildings that the military may need to clear room by room. Nakhchivan may provide some limited logistical support to foreign military.
Zugdidi, with a population of just over 75,000 people, is Gorgas’ fifth-largest city. Due to its nearness to one of Gorgas’ breakaway territories, Zugdidi has doubled its population with the influx  of refugees since the mid-1990s. Most construction consists primarily of random construction but not as dense as most center cities. In the 1993 Gorgan Civil War, Zugdidi changed hands several times in the fighting between the two sides. Zugdidi contains a dense city core urban zone with the adjacent core periphery. Most citizens live in low-rise residential urban zones. Few industrial areas exist due to its relatively small size, but commercial areas thrive to support the recent growth in population.
 
  
Any military activity in the Zugdidi area may cause additional internally displaced persons (IDPs) as the people may fear possible extermination from the other side as in previous recent wars. Due to the city’s small size, the military should not expect either manpower or supplies from the local area so all logistical support will likely remain organic to the military unit. Military units should expect that the local civilians will want protection from the other side as local combatants may use any excuse to obtain vengeance for past wars. As a result of the dense random construction of much of Zugdidi, military operations could face extensive urban operations in the local area.
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===Ejmiatsin===
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Ejmiatsin, Limaria’s fifth-largest city, lies fewer than 15 miles due west of Yerevan. The  city contains about 57,000 people and primarily supports the agriculture industry, as it is totally surrounded by farms. Ejmiatsin contains a small city core urban zone, a smaller core periphery urban zone, and mostly low-rise residential area. Limited commercial areas exist, with only a small number of industrial areas and almost no high-rise residential areas.
  
 
===Population Density===
 
===Population Density===
*Tbilisi: 1,588 people per square mile
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*Yerevan: 12,681 people per square mile  
*Kutaisi: 7,124 people per square mile
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*Gyumri: 8,425 people per square mile  
*Batumi: 6,027 people per square mile
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*Vanadzor: 10,857 people per square mile  
*Rustavi: 5,258 people per square mile
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*Nakhchivan: 12,816 people per square mile  
*Zugdidi: 3,999 people per square mile  
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*Ejmiatsin: 3,354 people per square mile
  
 
==Utilities Present==
 
==Utilities Present==
Line 57: Line 49:
  
 
===Power===
 
===Power===
Another dichotomy in the Caucasus region is that countries like Ariana, Atropia, and Donovia export hydrocarbons, coal, or electrical power to other countries, while Gorgas and Limaria must import the same resources to meet their requirements. The countries that can export hydrocarbon products or electricity become richer while those that must import significant quantities of power become poorer. At least 75% of all structures in the five countries can access power because they are located in  urban areas.
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Another dichotomy in the Caucasus region is that countries like Ariana, Atropia, and Donovia export hydrocarbons, coal, or electrical power to other countries while Gorgas and Limaria must import the same resources to meet their requirements. The countries that can export hydrocarbon products or electricity become richer while those that must import significant quantities of power become poorer. At least 75% of all structures in the five countries can access power because they are located  in urban areas.
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Limaria is another country with a dearth of hydrocarbon resources in the Caucasus region, as it produces no crude oil or natural gas and does not export any oil, natural gas, or coal. In the previous five years, Limaria increased its natural gas imports almost 25% (60 to 73 billion cubic feet), but it dropped during the last calendar year to 68 billion cubic feet. Coal consumption demonstrates a similar graph, as it increased from 88,000 short tons for five consecutive years to 110,000 short tons before a drop to 66,000 short tons in the last calendar year. In the five years previous to that,
  
Gorgas contains very little hydrocarbon resources, small coal deposits, and limited electrical generation capacity. What electricity Gorgas produces comes from a limited number of very small hydroelectric plants. Gorgas increased its natural gas and coal imports between 2005 and  the present to offset its reduced ability to purchase crude oil. Over the last decade, Gorgas barely managed to obtain enough power to keep its people from freezing in the winter months. Overall, at least 75% of the people in Gorgas can access a modern power system.
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Limaria’s electricity generation dropped slightly (5.977 to 5.584 billion kilowatt hours), while increased electricity imports covered the rise in electrical usage during the time period. Over the last six years, Limaria shows a general trend with a slight increase in power production imports each year.
  
Gorgas’ lack of hydrocarbon resources forces it to purchase oil and gas from other countries. Unless Gorgas finds a way to produce more electricity through hydropower, the country will always need to rely on other countries for its energy resources.
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Limaria contains no known hydrocarbon resources and few coal deposits, so it will always remain reliant on other countries for a large portion of its energy needs. The country generates 24% of its electricity from three thermal power plants located at Vanadzor, Hrazdan, and Yerevan. Limaria receives another 33% of its electricity from nine hydroelectric power plants located throughout the country. Most of Limaria’s other electricity comes from 313 small hydroelectric plants scattered throughout the country. The country currently possesses only one wind power plant, but plans for additional plants exist. Unless Limaria finds a way to produce more electricity from hydropower, the country will not possess the necessary financial resources for modernization. Without electricity, Limaria’s rural areas will continue to obtain their power from inefficient generators or the burning of fossil fuels.
  
 
===Water===
 
===Water===
 
The majority of the Caucasus region’s urban population has access to potable water. As areas become more rural, people must rely on local sources—rivers, streams, and wells—to obtain water for cooking, drinking, and washing.
 
The majority of the Caucasus region’s urban population has access to potable water. As areas become more rural, people must rely on local sources—rivers, streams, and wells—to obtain water for cooking, drinking, and washing.
  
Most residents in Gorgas’ four largest cities—Tbilisi, Kutaisi, Batumi, and Rustavi—can access potable water. Except for Kutaisi, where 96% of the people receive their water from wells, all residents in the other three cities receive drinking water through a modern system. Only 31% of Zugdidi residents, however, can access potable water through a Western-style system. Most rural residents do not have access to a modern water system and still obtain their water through rivers, streams, and wells that remain susceptible to contamination. Since most people live in Tbilisi or one of the other larger cities, at least 75% of the Gorgan people can access a modern water system.
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While a majority of the residents in Limaria’s three largest cities—Yerevan, Gyumri, and Vanadzor—can access a modern water system, the numbers do not reach those of their neighboring countries. In Yerevan, about 85% of the residents can access safe drinking water. This number drops to 66% in Gyumri and 61% in Vanadzor. The more rural the area, the lower the percent of Limarians with access to potable water through modern means. As a result, Limarians suffer the effects of contamination found in rivers, streams, wells, and other ground water. Overall, approximately 70% of all Limarians can access a modern water system. Military personnel will need to check all water to determine its cleanliness before use, especially away from the very largest cities.
  
 
===Sewage===
 
===Sewage===
 
The vast majority of Ariana, Atropia, Donovia, and Gorgas urban residents use modern sewage disposal methods to get rid of waste, but most Limarians do not. Urban residents have greater access to modern sewage treatment than rural residents. The more remote a person, the less likely he/she will use modern sewage treatment techniques. Poor disposal methods in rural areas contaminate ground water that other residents rely on for drinking and cooking.
 
The vast majority of Ariana, Atropia, Donovia, and Gorgas urban residents use modern sewage disposal methods to get rid of waste, but most Limarians do not. Urban residents have greater access to modern sewage treatment than rural residents. The more remote a person, the less likely he/she will use modern sewage treatment techniques. Poor disposal methods in rural areas contaminate ground water that other residents rely on for drinking and cooking.
  
Overall, only 45% of Gorgas’ cities and towns possess a functional modern sewage system. In Gorgas’ four largest cities, at least 75% of all residents can access a modern sewage disposal system. This ranges from a high of 97% in Tbilisi to a low of 74% in Rustavi, with Kutaisi and Batumi in the 80% range. Gorgas’ fifth largest city, Zugdidi, remains an outlier as only 8% of its residents can access a modern sewage system. The majority of Gorgan rural residents cannot access a modern sewage system either, but the overall access rate for Gorgan people is 75%.
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Like water, many Limarians cannot access a modern sewage system. In Yerevan, where almost one- third of the populace lives, only 24% can access a modern sewage system. The numbers appear better in Gyumri and Vanadzor where 66% and 51%, respectively, dispose of their waste through a modern sewage system. Rural Limarians have even fewer opportunities to access a modern sewage system than those in the urban areas, so the entire country’s overall access rate to a modern sewage system remains below 25%.
  
 
===Transportation Architecture===
 
===Transportation Architecture===
Line 77: Line 71:
  
 
===Road Systems===
 
===Road Systems===
Overall, roads in this part of the world do not meet US or Western Europe standards. Driving is hazardous, especially in the winter months or in bad weather. Generally, drivers do not obey all traffic laws, and vehicle owners often fail to maintain their vehicles properly.
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Overall, roads in this part of the world do not meet US or Western Europe standards. Driving is hazardous, especially in the winter months or in bad weather. Generally, drivers do not obey all traffic laws, and vehicle owners often fail to maintain their vehicles properly.
  
[[File:Gorgas Major Roads.PNG|1000px|Gorgas' Major Roads]]
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Unlike most countries in the region, Limaria contains more paved than unpaved roads. Of the country’s '''''7,492''''' miles of road, paved roads account for 80% or '''''5,967''''' of the miles. Most of the roads, however, do not receive proper maintenance. While most roads remain passable, many need considerable repair work to meet Western standards. Limaria’s main road, called the Kajaran Highway, links Limaria to Ariana. Limaria also contains two major roads that link it to Gorgas, but these roads attract bandits who rob vehicles traversing them.
  
Gorgas contains approximately '''''14,134''''' miles of road. About 39% or '''''5,460''''' miles of paved roads exist throughout the country. From Tbilisi, four main highways spoke off in the four cardinal directions— north, south, east, and west—to Donovia, Limaria, Atropia, and the Black Sea. Gorgas labels its three best highways M1, M2, and M3. Highway M1 (M27) goes west from Tbilisi to Kutaisi and then to Senaki, where it turns north to the Gorgan border. Highway M2 (A305) parallels the coastline  from the Kalarian border through '''''Hopa,''''' Batumi, and Poti, '''''all''''' Black Sea ports, before it turns northeast to Senaki. M3 starts in Tbilisi and goes almost due north into Donovia. Most rural Gorgan roads do not receive proper maintenance, and rain further deteriorates the road system.
 
 
===Bus===
 
===Bus===
 
All five countries maintain some sort of bus system, but its quality depends on the country and location. The larger the city, the more likely it will operate a public bus system. Usually, intercity buses run between the larger cities, and “private” buses may also operate in some areas. Due to the relatively cheap cost of public transportation, buses remain a favorite method for local civilians to travel long distances within their country.
 
All five countries maintain some sort of bus system, but its quality depends on the country and location. The larger the city, the more likely it will operate a public bus system. Usually, intercity buses run between the larger cities, and “private” buses may also operate in some areas. Due to the relatively cheap cost of public transportation, buses remain a favorite method for local civilians to travel long distances within their country.
  
Both official and unofficial buses operate in Gorgas. Intercity bus service operates between Tbilisi and other larger Gorgan cities such as Batumi and '''''Kutaisi'''''. Buses also operate on routes from Tbilisi to cities in Kalaria and Atropia. Currently, no buses operate between Tbilisi and Donovia.
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Limaria operates its bus system on a hub and spoke design. Each city operates buses that travel to smaller villages in the local area and also to other large cities. Mini-buses also operate in the same method except they do not sell tickets, as riders just pay the driver for the price negotiated.
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Limaria’s largest bus system operates in its capital, Yerevan. Yerevan contains over 350 buses that move an estimated 150 million customers each year. The city also operates a large trolley fleet of 320 vehicles that moves 100 million riders each year. Yerevan’s public transportation system also runs a tram system with 150 cars.
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Any military operation in Limaria will require an inspection of the buses for weapons and contraband. Additionally, any military activities in the Yerevan area will need to ensure the continued operation of the bus, trolley, and tram system. A major disruption to Yerevan’s public transportation system could drastically affect the local civilian populace due to its importance for civilian travel.
  
 
===Rail===
 
===Rail===
 
All five Caucasus countries operate a railroad system, but they suffer many problems due to maintenance issues, non-standard equipment, criminal activity, and high cost.
 
All five Caucasus countries operate a railroad system, but they suffer many problems due to maintenance issues, non-standard equipment, criminal activity, and high cost.
  
Gorgas contains 1,002 miles of railway track throughout the country that link it with Donovia, Atropia, and Limaria. The Gorgan railroad suffers from poor maintenance, criminal activity, and fuel shortages that make it unreliable.
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Limaria operates approximately 525 miles of railway track; most of it powered by electricity. '''''Only two international train routes currently operate: one to Gorgas, and the other to Ariana. Due to the current conflict with Atropia over the Lower Janga region, the rail lines are blocked at all Atropian and Lower Janga borders.''''' The Limarian railroad system suffers from poor maintenance and crime, which deter passengers from its use. Talks about improving the railroad system, however, recently occurred between Limaria and neighboring countries.
  
Tbilisi operates a subway system that covers just over 16 miles in the Gorgan capital city. Twenty below-ground and two above-ground stations service over 105 million passengers annually. The Tbilisi subway operates between 0600 and 2400 daily.
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Yerevan operates a single subway line of about 8.5 miles and 10 stations. Discussions about an additional two lines recently stalled due to the construction cost. Over 50,000 people use the Yerevan metro system every day. Any military activities in the Yerevan area that disrupt the subway system could hurt the city economically. As with all subway systems, civilians could use the underground stations as air raid shelters.
 
 
[[File:Gorgas Major Railroads and Ports.PNG|1000px|Gorgas' Major Railroads and Ports]]
 
  
 
===Air Transportation Systems===
 
===Air Transportation Systems===
 
All five countries maintain both paved and unpaved runways of varying distances. Many of the unpaved runways resemble nothing more than a cleared dirt path only suitable for the sturdiest of planes.
 
All five countries maintain both paved and unpaved runways of varying distances. Many of the unpaved runways resemble nothing more than a cleared dirt path only suitable for the sturdiest of planes.
  
Gorgas contains 18 paved and 4 unpaved runways for a total of 22 runways in the entire country. All unpaved runways in Gorgas do not exceed 5,000 feet. The map on the following page indicates the location of the major Gorgan runways, and the chart provides the data on each runway (not all runways shown on map or chart).
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Limaria contains 11 runways throughout the entire country; all but one has a paved surface. The only unpaved runway in Limaria does not exceed 3,000 feet. The map indicates the location of the major Limarian hard surface runways, and the chart provides runway data (not all runways are shown on either the map or in the chart).
  
 
====Paved Runways====
 
====Paved Runways====
*Over 10,000 feet: 1
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*Over 10,000 feet: 2
*8,000 to 10,000 feet: 7
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*8,000 to 10,000 feet: 2
*5,000 to 8,000 feet: 4
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*5,000 to 8,000 feet: 0
 
*3,000 to 5,000 feet: 4
 
*3,000 to 5,000 feet: 4
 
*Under 3,000 feet: 2
 
*Under 3,000 feet: 2
Line 112: Line 107:
 
*8,000 to 10,000 feet: 0
 
*8,000 to 10,000 feet: 0
 
*5,000 to 8,000 feet: 0
 
*5,000 to 8,000 feet: 0
*3,000 to 5,000 feet: 2
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*3,000 to 5,000 feet: 0
*Under 3,000 feet: 2
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*Under 3,000 feet: 1
  
 
====Major Runways====
 
====Major Runways====
Line 120: Line 115:
 
|'''Map #'''
 
|'''Map #'''
 
|'''Elevation (Feet)'''
 
|'''Elevation (Feet)'''
|'''Latitude (D, M, S)'''
+
|'''Latitude (D, M, S)'''
|'''Longitude (D, M, S)'''
+
|'''Longitude (D, M, S)'''
 
|'''Length (Feet)'''
 
|'''Length (Feet)'''
 
|'''Width (Feet)'''
 
|'''Width (Feet)'''
 
|'''Surface Type'''
 
|'''Surface Type'''
 
|-
 
|-
|301
+
|401
|105
+
|5000
|41 36 37.00 N
+
|40 45 06.00 N
|41 35 58.90 E
+
|43 51 36.00 E
|7325
+
|10564
|150
+
|147
 
|Asphalt
 
|Asphalt
 
|-
 
|-
|302
+
|402
|79
+
|4846
|43 06  14.56 N
+
|41 02 59.04 N
|40 34  45.38 E
+
|44 20 41.00 E
|9802
+
|6546
|164
+
|110
|Concrete
+
|Asphalt
 
|-
 
|-
|303
+
|403-1
|223
+
|2863
|42 10 36.57 N
+
|39 11 19.70 N
|42 28 57.77 E
+
|45 27 30.39 E
|8202
+
|10826
|144
+
|148
|Concrete
+
|Asphalt
 
|-
 
|-
|304
+
|403-2
|384
+
|2863
|42 14  55.01 N
+
|39 11 19.70 N
|42 37  28.78 E
+
|45 27 30.39 E
|4692
+
|10826
|114
+
|138
 
|Asphalt
 
|Asphalt
 
|-
 
|-
|305-1
+
|404
|1624
+
|4836
|41 40 09.00 N
+
|41 02 54.42 N
|44 57 17.00 E
+
|44 20 13.82 E
|9843
+
|6555
|147
+
|92
|Concrete
 
|-
 
|305-1
 
|1624
 
|41 40  09.00 N
 
|44 57  17.00 E
 
|8202
 
|196
 
 
|Asphalt
 
|Asphalt
 
|-
 
|-
|306
+
|405
|1305
+
|UNK
|41 27 33.16 N
+
|40 07 19.17 N
|44 46 59.56 E
+
|44 27 54.33 E
|8170
+
|8694
|130
+
|UNK
|Concrete
+
|UNK
|-
 
|307
 
|1250
 
|41 38  57.24 N
 
|44 56 11.15 E
 
|8131
 
|255
 
|Concrete
 
|-
 
|308
 
|1460
 
|41 37 40.95 N
 
|45 01 50.70 E
 
|8205
 
|175
 
|Concrete
 
 
|-
 
|-
|309
+
|406-1
|1795
+
|4501
|41 22  46.36 N
+
|40 17 30.56 N
|46 22  02.40 E
+
|44 34 06.74 E
|8862
+
|3295
|130
+
|250
 
|Concrete
 
|Concrete
 
|-
 
|-
|310
+
|406-2
|53
+
|4501
|42 51 29.64 N
+
|40 17 30.56 N
|41 07 41.32 E
+
|44 34 06.74 E
|12012
+
|3252
|172
+
|250
 
|Concrete
 
|Concrete
 
|-
 
|-
|311
+
|407
|1489
+
|2838
|41 57  12.35 N
+
|40 08 50.19 N
|45 30  28.78 E
+
|44 23 45.17 E
|5551
+
|12629
|110
+
|184
 
|Asphalt
 
|Asphalt
 
|}
 
|}
  
====Airports/Airlines====
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====Airlines====
Gorgan Airlines operates as the country’s national carrier. Gorgan Airlines provides direct service domestically to Batumi and internationally to Almaty, Amsterdam, Athens, Dubai, Frankfurt, Kharkov, Kiev, Minsk, Paris, Tel Aviv, and Vienna. Gorgas Airlines operates daily flights to some cities, but only once or twice per week to others. Several foreign carriers such as Lufthansa and British Airlines operate flights into Tbilisi. Tbilisi power outages sometimes strike the airport and force pilots to land without electronic airport navigation aids. Gorgan Airlines operates Canadian Regional Jet (CRJ)-100, CRJ-200, and Boeing 737 airplanes. The American Embassy advises travelers to use Western carriers to avoid the risk from poorer maintenance procedures by non- Western airlines.
+
Limarian Airlines is Limaria’s national carrier and operates a fleet of 25 planes. The only Limarian Airlines plane that meets Western European standards to land is a leased Airbus A310. Limarian Airlines operates international flights from Zvartnots International Airport outside of Yerevan to Amsterdam, Frankfurt, and Paris. Anyone who flies Limarian Airlines should expect frequent delays, unexpected refueling stops, and poor service due primarily to insufficient maintenance practices.
  
 
===Ports/Sea/River Transportation Systems===
 
===Ports/Sea/River Transportation Systems===
 
The five Caucasus countries share a diverse maritime culture. Ariana has a significant coastline and a large oceangoing fleet to export its oil. Atropia maintains ports on the Caspian Sea. Gorgas has three ports on the Black Sea that are accessible through the '''''Bosporus Strait'''''. Limaria is completely landlocked, with no direct access to any ocean or sea. Due to its location, Donovia has several seaports on the Black and Caspian Seas.
 
The five Caucasus countries share a diverse maritime culture. Ariana has a significant coastline and a large oceangoing fleet to export its oil. Atropia maintains ports on the Caspian Sea. Gorgas has three ports on the Black Sea that are accessible through the '''''Bosporus Strait'''''. Limaria is completely landlocked, with no direct access to any ocean or sea. Due to its location, Donovia has several seaports on the Black and Caspian Seas.
  
Gorgas operates three major ports on the Black Sea—Batumi, Poti, and Sokhumi—from which the country receives most of its imports. Batumi operates year-round and serves as the primary port to handle oil exports and imports that range from four to five million tons annually. Poti, located at the end of the Rioni River, contains 17 berths that include some floating cranes. With its current storage facilities, both warehouse and open space, the port can handle five to six million tons of imports and exports annually. Sokhumi, located on the bay of the same name, contains one cargo pier and two passenger quays. Due to damage from Gorgas’ civil war, the port is currently inoperable. '''''The country also has two minor ports – one south of Poti at Supsa, and the other south of Batumi at Hopa'''''.
+
Without access to open sea, Limaria operates no ports and conducts very little transportation of goods on its rivers. Limaria must rely on its neighbors to export its products to other countries.
 
 
Gorgas also contains several navigable rivers that the country uses for the transportation of goods. Luckily, the two major rivers—the Kura and the Rioni—flow in opposite directions. The Kura River begins in Kalaria and flows eastward to the Caspian Sea. The Rioni River flows west, and the water eventually reaches the Black Sea. While the Gorgans use their rivers for transportation, they primarily use them to generate electrical power. The majority of commercial shipping occurs on the Black Sea and not inland (''see railroad map on page 2D-6-7 for locations of major Gorgan ports'').
 
 
 
Any military operations in Gorgas could possibly use the three major ports to support the  deployment logistically. Sokhumi port, however, would require some rehabilitation before its use by the military. Additionally, Kalaria would need to allow the military’s resupply ships to pass through the Bosporus Strait in order to support the force through the Black Sea.
 
  
 
===Pipelines===
 
===Pipelines===
 
The security of hydrocarbon pipelines will be paramount in any military operations in the Caucasus region. Any disruption to the flow of crude oil and natural gas to the Western world could cause economic problems, as many modern countries rely on hydrocarbons to fuel their industries.
 
The security of hydrocarbon pipelines will be paramount in any military operations in the Caucasus region. Any disruption to the flow of crude oil and natural gas to the Western world could cause economic problems, as many modern countries rely on hydrocarbons to fuel their industries.
  
Sections of the '''''Trans-Caucasus petroleum (TC-P)''''' and the '''''Caspian & Black Seas petroleum (CBS-P)''''' pipelines pass through Gorgas on their way to ports where the crude oil flows into tankers for refinement in other countries. Gorgas serves as an intermediate country for '''''220''''' miles of the 1,099-mile TC-P pipeline that originates in Atropia and concludes in Kalaria. The CBS-P pipeline travels basically the same route as the TC-P pipeline '''''through central Gorgas''''', but the former continues west toward its terminus in Supsa, near Batumi, '''''while the latter veers south toward Kalaria. The natural gas pipeline in Gorgas is the Trans-Caucasus natural gas (TC-G) pipeline, which follows the same path as the TC-P pipeline. An additional natural gas pipeline from Limaria to Donovia also crosses Gorgan territory, from which Gorgas receives 10% of its gas as a transit fee.''''' Any military activity in Gorgas will need to mitigate possible damage to these '''''four major pipelines''''', as the disruptions would hurt the economic systems of '''''both regional and Western countries.'''''
+
Since Limaria possesses no hydrocarbon resources, Donovia provides the bulk of Limaria’s natural gas through a pipeline that passes through Gorgas. Gorgas takes 10% of the natural gas bound for Limaria as a transit fee. Construction continues on a 122-mile-long pipeline that will carry natural gas from Tabriz, Ariana, to Ordubad, Limaria, where it will connect with the current distribution network.
  
European consortiums are building two additional pipelines to access the fields in Central Asia. These new oil and gas pipelines will originate in Central Asia, cross the Caspian Sea, and then follow the '''''TC-P''''' and '''''TC-G''''' pipelines through Atropia, Gorgas, and Kalaria en route to European markets. '''''Referred to as the Trans-Caucasus 2 petroleum (TC2-P) and natural gas (TC2-G) pipelines''''', they will double the capacity of the current pipelines.
+
Currently, no pipelines that export  hydrocarbon products to Europe from the three oil- and gas-rich countries—Ariana, Atropia, and Donovia—cross Limaria, so the country receives no transit fees. Even though Limaria offers a shorter direct route to Kalaria  than Gorgas, the unstable military situation in Limaria discourages companies from construction through a potential war zone. The European consortiums decided a safer option would be to  construct additional gas and oil pipelines that follow the '''''Trans-Caucasus petroleum (TC-P) and natural gas (TC-G) pipelines''''' through Atropia, Gorgas, and Kalaria before reaching the European markets.
 +
 
 +
If military activities in Limaria interrupt the hydrocarbon transportation network, Limaria’s economy will come to a complete halt. Without its own oil and natural gas resources, Limaria remains reliant on its hydrocarbon-rich neighbors to supply its needs.
  
 
[[File:Gorgas Major Pipelines.PNG|1000px|Gorgas' Major Pipelines]]
 
[[File:Gorgas Major Pipelines.PNG|1000px|Gorgas' Major Pipelines]]
  
 
===Telecommunications Architecture===
 
===Telecommunications Architecture===
For the most part, Caucasus-region residents use cellular telephones to communicate with each  other due to the lack of landline telephone infrastructure. Many residents never owned any type of telephone until they received their first cellular phone. Most can access news from either television or radio, but some rural residents have no information access via modern methods. (See Information variable for additional details.)
+
For the most part, Caucasus-region residents use cellular telephones to communicate with each other due to the lack of landline telephone infrastructure. Many residents never owned any type of telephone until they received their first cellular phone. Most can access news from either television or radio, but some rural residents have no information access via modern methods. (''See Information variable for additional details.'')
  
Similar to other countries in the Caucasus, most Gorgan citizens can use telephone or receive information from a television or radio station. In a country of 4.6 million people, only 618,000 landlines exist but there are over 2.7 million cell phones. Since a long waiting list exists for connection to the fixed lines, most Gorgans turn to the cell phone for their communication needs. In urban areas, about 20% of the people can access a landline, but only about 4% in rural areas. Across the entire country, 75% of all Gorgans can access a cellular telephone. About one-fifth of Gorgas’ population or over 1.3 million residents can access the Internet from one of the 104,243 Internet hosts. Gorgas operates one state-owned television station with two networks. Eight private television stations also operate along with a dozen cable operators. Gorgas also operates two state-owned radio stations alongside many private stations. The military will find the radio and television are excellent methods to communicate with most of the Gorgan people.
+
Limaria contains sufficient telephones for almost every citizen, but the country does not show as much advancement in Internet connections as its neighboring countries. With about three million people, Limaria contains 650,000 landline telephones and 2.336 million cellular phones. The privatization and recent modernization of the old telephone system, built in the 1950s, caused the increase—with the result that now almost every Limarian can use a telephone. Only 36,354 Internet hosts operate in Limaria, and only about 191,000, or less than 7% of the citizens, access the Internet on a regular basis. That differs from Limarian governmental claims that 47% of its residents can access the Internet. Two public and over 35 private television stations operate in Limaria, providing almost total coverage to the entire country. Nine radio stations, both public and private, also operate throughout Limaria. The military will find that television serves as the best medium to reach the largest audience in Limaria.
  
 
===Agriculture===
 
===Agriculture===
Agriculture production still dominates the labor forces of Gorgas (55.6%) and Limaria (46.2%), but not Ariana (25%), Atropia (38.3%), or Donovia (20%). Even in the Caucasus region’s predominately agricultural countries, farming creates less than one-fourth of each country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP). Except for Atropia, the region relies on food imports to feed its people. Any food import disruption may increase the military’s burden to feed civilians and prevent starvation.
+
Agriculture production still dominates the labor forces of Gorgas (55.6%) and Limaria (46.2%), but not Ariana (25%), Atropia (38.3%), or Donovia (20%). Even in the Caucasus region’s predominately agricultural countries, farming creates less than one-fourth of the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP). Except for Atropia, the region relies on food imports to feed its people. Any food import disruption may increase the military’s burden to feed civilians and prevent starvation.
  
Of the five countries in the region, more Gorgans work in agriculture-related jobs than any other, at 55.6% of the population. Since 1992, the number of Gorgans who work in agriculture has more than doubled from 25%. Even with this large number of farm workers, agriculture only generates 11% of Gorgas’ GDP. Family-operated farms dominate Gorgas as the average farm contains less than one hectare, and only 4.6% of the farms contain more than two hectares. Only 10.7% of Gorgas’ land is arable enough for farming, with over 85% of its croplands dedicated to grain production. Corn accounts for 40% and winter wheat for 37% of the cultivated grains produced. Gorgas’ main crops include corn, winter wheat, grapes, tea, citrus fruits, and non-citrus fruits. Gorgans also maintain cattle, pigs, and sheep that account for about 25% of their agriculture economy.
+
Due to a lack of industrialization and hydrocarbon resources, Limaria finds itself as a primarily agricultural country. Approximately 46.2% of the people work in farming-related occupations that produce 22% of Limaria’s GDP. Despite the large number of Limarian farmers, the country still needs to import 65% of its food. In 1989, the Limarian government privatized 63% of cultivated  fields, 80% of orchards, and 91% of vineyards. The country contains 300,000 small farms that range from one to five hectares in size. Some agriculture-related businesses such as food processing plants and hothouse operations remain under government control. With the assistance of massive irrigation projects between the 1920s and the 1960s, Limaria increased its food production and the amount of arable land to '''''23%''''' of the entire country. The fertile volcanic soil provides an excellent environment to grow wheat, barley, figs, pomegranates, cotton, apricots, olives, peaches, walnuts, quince, potatoes, grapes, berries, sugar beets, and tobacco. Limaria also contains abundant pastureland for sheep, goats, and horses. Any military that operates in the country will likely not find any excess fruits and vegetables to supplement its soldiers’ rations, because Limaria already needs to import so much food to feed its own people.
  
 
===Industry===
 
===Industry===
Because of their hydrocarbon resources, Ariana, Atropia, and Donovia are more industrialized than Gorgas and Limaria. Industry GDP ranges from a low of 27.1% in Gorgas to a high of 61.4% in Atropia. The protection of the Gorgan hydrocarbon infrastructure remains paramount for any military operations in the area and the military should refrain from any unnecessary damage to the industrial sector to facilitate economic recovery after the end of hostilities.
+
Because of their hydrocarbon resources, Ariana, Atropia, and Donovia are more industrialized than Gorgas and Limaria. Industry GDP ranges from a low of 27.1% in Gorgas to a high of 61.4% in Atropia. Limaria produces 46.6% of its GDP from industry. The protection of the hydrocarbon infrastructure remains paramount for any military operations in the area, and the military should refrain from any unnecessary damage to the industrial sector to facilitate economic recovery after the end of hostilities.
 +
 
 +
Since the end of major Donovian influence, industries have become less important to Limaria, as many people returned to farming to prevent their family from starving. Lack of fuel and electricity decreased industrial production by 40% between 1992 and 1993, primarily caused by the Atropian blockade. Before 1992, Limaria produced chemicals, petrochemicals, fertilizers, and building materials. Now, Limaria’s major products included knitted clothing and hosiery, canned goods, aluminum foil, and shoes. The country mines copper, zinc, gold, and lead, and contains  small deposits of coal, gas, and petroleum, but delays plague their development. Limaria still possesses a large amount of toxic industrial chemicals from a couple of decades ago when manufacturing plants began to close and many of the industrial plants just boarded the windows when raw materials ran out.
  
Since the turn of the 21st century, Gorgas has chosen to change the way it does business to improve its economy, moving up from 112th to 18th ranking in the world for “the ease of doing business.” The country, however, still suffers from the residue of Donovian influence in its industrial sector. Prior to 1991, 90% of the raw materials for Gorgan light industry came from outside the country, and Gorgas cannot operate without these raw materials. Major Gorgan products include machine tools, prefabricated buildings, cast iron, steel pipe, synthetic ammonia, and silk thread. Gorgas also possesses some gasoline and diesel fuel plants that use imported crude oil. Large amounts of toxic industrial chemicals exist throughout Gorgas that are used for multiple purposes, including water purification, wastewater management, and fertilizer to increase agricultural output.
+
While Limaria does not operate any nuclear power plants or contain all the components necessary to master the nuclear fuel cycle, reports indicate that the country possesses two to five functional nuclear weapons despite the government’s denial.
  
 
===Pollution===
 
===Pollution===
 
All five Caucasus-region countries face significant pollution problems stemming from poor industrial practices. The governments cared more about natural resource extraction and product production than the stewardship of the planet. This lack of concern for the environment occurred regardless of which government '''''was in power'''''. The region’s military operations will need to address pollution, with soldiers taking precautions due to high-level air pollution and units considering any local water source not potable until tested.
 
All five Caucasus-region countries face significant pollution problems stemming from poor industrial practices. The governments cared more about natural resource extraction and product production than the stewardship of the planet. This lack of concern for the environment occurred regardless of which government '''''was in power'''''. The region’s military operations will need to address pollution, with soldiers taking precautions due to high-level air pollution and units considering any local water source not potable until tested.
  
Gorgas suffers from significant levels of air and water pollution throughout the entire country. Of  the cities in the country, Tbilisi, Kutaisi, and Rustavi rank at the top of the list as most polluted. Despite the drop in industrial output since 1992, pollution remains rampant. Most air pollution comes from vehicles, industries, and energy production centers. Almost all Gorgan rivers contain excessive pollution, with high concentrations of phenols, hydrocarbons, copper, manganese, zinc, and nitrogen. Most water treatment plants do not work properly or operate on the low end of the efficiency scale. Experts consider at least 60% of Gorgan sewage treatment plants obsolete and in need of immediate replacement. Only 18% of Gorgas’ wastewater receives adequate sewage treatment, and the remainder pollutes its final destination, the Black Sea. The Black Sea pollution, in turn, harms Gorgas’ tourism industry. While the Gorgan government may have attempted to address pollution problems over the last 20 years, results do not show any significant improvements. Gorgas, however, does possess a dedicated Environmental Response Store in case of a spill from the '''''CBS-P pipeline'''''.
+
Limaria became one of the first Caucasus countries to adopt anti-pollution laws in 1994, but circumstances prevented their actual execution. Owing to the Atropian blockade of supplies and electricity in the winters of the early 1990s, Limarians increased the burning of wood to provide  heat, and this worsened air pollution. The country also closed several chemical plants for environmental reasons, but reopened them later for economic reasons without any changes to the air and water pollution they caused. Limaria also suffers soil pollution from toxic chemicals such as DDT. Until alternative economic avenues and electrical production methods present themselves, Limarians must continue to use old technology with high levels of pollution production.
  
 
==Summary==
 
==Summary==
Most of Gorgas contains outdated infrastructure that suffers from a combination of age, outdated technology, lack of maintenance, and damage from conflicts. Due to a lack of funds over the past 25 years, Gorgas never invested much in any type of infrastructure. Lack of financial resources meant that the Gorgan people made shoddy repairs to old equipment if factories possessed the raw materials to continue their production lines. Gorgan infrastructure also suffered collateral damage from combat as parts of the country attempted to break off and form their own independent states. While some improvement occurred over the last decade, the lack of any sizeable capital prevents the modernization of Gorgan infrastructure.
+
Limaria has the worst infrastructure of the five countries in this region. Much of its population, even in the urban areas, cannot access modern utilities—water, electricity, and sewage disposal. To prevent starvation, many people left the urban areas over the last decade to return to their historical family farms, which created additional abandoned buildings in the cities. Without any natural resources for Limaria to exploit, the country will find it difficult to build new infrastructure except through the generosity of its allies, Ariana and Donovia.

Revision as of 19:37, 13 April 2017

While the region’s five countries have a significant number of rural residents, the majority of each country’s population lives in urban areas. About two-thirds of the Arianian (68%), Donovian (67%), and Limarian populace (64%) and just over half of the Gorgan (53%) and Atropian (52%) populace  live in urban areas. All five countries contain a mixture of modern urban cities and almost pre- modern rural villages. Modern utilities can be found in most major cities but not in the rural villages and countryside.

Nearly two-thirds of Limarians live in cities, with over one-third of them located in the capital city, Yerevan. Limaria remains an urban country still surviving on the infrastructure built between 1950 and 1990. With little natural resources, the country does not possess the economic means to  maintain its current infrastructure, let alone build new infrastructure. Most rural and many urban Limarians cannot access the three basic utilities—electricity, potable water, and sewage disposal. With limited funds, it remains likely that Limaria will continue to struggle with the maintenance of its current infrastructure. Due to problems in the infrastructure and other reasons, Limaria faces a negative urbanization rate as some of the people chose to return to the country to become  subsistence farmers. Even though rural people may not possess the same standard of living as those in the urban areas, the farmers will not starve. Limaria would like to become involved in the hydrocarbon pipeline distribution system that surrounds its country, but the possibility of potential conflicts keeps investors at bay.

Construction Patterns

As previously mentioned, the majority of residents in all five countries live in urban areas. Most urban cities contain a mixture of old neighborhoods with roughshod construction, while buildings in newer neighborhoods were made with modern construction methods. In rural villages and areas, residents use whatever materials they can obtain to build their houses.

Like Gorgas and Atropia, Limarian urban construction patterns reflect mostly Donovian influenced architecture except for their inner city core. Dense random construction built up since the city’s formation shapes each city’s original neighborhoods. Limaria’s largest cities built multi-family buildings to house the urban residents in a closed orderly block construction. In areas near factories, apartment buildings create strip area neighborhoods. Newer construction shows more signs of Western influence.

With only three cities over 100,000 people, most Limarians live in medium or small cities, where 46.2% of the population support themselves in a job related to the agricultural industry. Except for Yerevan, military operations in Limaria will likely not require extensive urban operations. This will probably reduce the numbers of displaced civilians in most military operations and will also likely mitigate the possibility that the military will need to support large numbers of civilians with food. The major exception would occur in the Yerevan metropolitan area.

Major Limarian Cities and Urban Zones

Almost two-thirds of Limarians live in urban areas, but 46.2% of the people work in agriculture- related fields. Over one-third of Limarians live in its capital city, Yerevan. Limaria only has five cities with over 50,000 residents, and only three of them contain over 100,000 residents.

Gorgas' Largest Cities

Yerevan

With over 1.1 million in Yerevan and another 200,000 in the metropolitan area, over one-third of all Limarians live in the vicinity of Limaria’s capital city. Yerevan possesses two airports, 46 bus lines, 24 trolley lines, and a subway system with 10 stations. The only train line operates to Gorgas to the north due to Kalarian and Atropian blockades in the other directions. Besides serving as Limaria’s financial center, other major businesses include chemicals, metals, machinery, textiles, alcoholic beverages, and processed food. Seventy-one of Limaria’s 90 institutes of higher learning are in Yerevan. Yerevan contains a dense, randomly constructed old city that creates a city core urban zone with its adjacent core periphery urban zone. While Yerevan contains many new buildings because of a building boom in the 1990s, the blocks do not conform to a typical Western grid pattern, but spring up haphazardly based on the terrain and the builders’ preferences. Yerevan also contains many low-rise residential areas and commercial areas. A large number of industrial areas surround the city. The Limarian military locates several of its key military units not in support of the Lower Janga region in the Yerevan metropolitan area.

Gyumri

Limaria’s second-largest city, Gyumri, only contains about 160,000 people and lies approximately 80 road miles northwest of Yerevan. Located along the Akhuryan River, Gyumri suffers from very cold winters and warm summers as a result of its elevation. Gyumri contains an old city with dense random construction, and organized block areas with large apartments built from the 1950s to the 1980s that form the city core and core periphery urban zones. Gyumri shows signs of Western-style grid block construction that creates both high-rise and low-rise residential areas. Some industrial areas exist, along with the expected number of commercial areas for a city of its size.

Vanadzor

At 109,640 people, Vanadzor claims the distinction as Limaria’s third-largest city. Vanadzor lies approximately 55 road miles directly north of Yerevan, and many consider it Limaria’s most picturesque city. The chemical industry serves as Vanadzor’s primary business and creates a large industrial area for a city of its population. Commercial areas exist that support the residents and the city’s two schools of higher learning. Unlike many other old cities, Vanadzor’s downtown does not contain dense random construction, but relatively wide streets built in the 1950s and 1960s to create only a core periphery urban zone.

Nakhchivan

Nakhchivan (population 70,400) ranks as Limaria’s fourth-largest city and lies approximately 100 miles southeast of Yerevan. Nakhchivan contains all six civilian urban zones: city core, core periphery, high-rise residential, low-rise residential, commercial, and industrial areas in the typical three-ring pattern—core, residential/commercial, and industrial—from the city center.

Military operations in Nakhchivan may require extensive urban operations to support house-to- house fighting found in dense inner city cores. The city also contains a number of large apartment buildings that the military may need to clear room by room. Nakhchivan may provide some limited logistical support to foreign military.

Ejmiatsin

Ejmiatsin, Limaria’s fifth-largest city, lies fewer than 15 miles due west of Yerevan. The  city contains about 57,000 people and primarily supports the agriculture industry, as it is totally surrounded by farms. Ejmiatsin contains a small city core urban zone, a smaller core periphery urban zone, and mostly low-rise residential area. Limited commercial areas exist, with only a small number of industrial areas and almost no high-rise residential areas.

Population Density

  • Yerevan: 12,681 people per square mile
  • Gyumri: 8,425 people per square mile
  • Vanadzor: 10,857 people per square mile
  • Nakhchivan: 12,816 people per square mile
  • Ejmiatsin: 3,354 people per square mile

Utilities Present

The Caucasus area faces a dichotomy when it comes to utilities such as electricity, water, and  sewage treatment. Most urban households can access modern utilities, but rural areas cannot. Many rural residents who cannot access modern utilities live similarly to their ancestors generations ago.

Power

Another dichotomy in the Caucasus region is that countries like Ariana, Atropia, and Donovia export hydrocarbons, coal, or electrical power to other countries while Gorgas and Limaria must import the same resources to meet their requirements. The countries that can export hydrocarbon products or electricity become richer while those that must import significant quantities of power become poorer. At least 75% of all structures in the five countries can access power because they are located  in urban areas.

Limaria is another country with a dearth of hydrocarbon resources in the Caucasus region, as it produces no crude oil or natural gas and does not export any oil, natural gas, or coal. In the previous five years, Limaria increased its natural gas imports almost 25% (60 to 73 billion cubic feet), but it dropped during the last calendar year to 68 billion cubic feet. Coal consumption demonstrates a similar graph, as it increased from 88,000 short tons for five consecutive years to 110,000 short tons before a drop to 66,000 short tons in the last calendar year. In the five years previous to that,

Limaria’s electricity generation dropped slightly (5.977 to 5.584 billion kilowatt hours), while increased electricity imports covered the rise in electrical usage during the time period. Over the last six years, Limaria shows a general trend with a slight increase in power production imports each year.

Limaria contains no known hydrocarbon resources and few coal deposits, so it will always remain reliant on other countries for a large portion of its energy needs. The country generates 24% of its electricity from three thermal power plants located at Vanadzor, Hrazdan, and Yerevan. Limaria receives another 33% of its electricity from nine hydroelectric power plants located throughout the country. Most of Limaria’s other electricity comes from 313 small hydroelectric plants scattered throughout the country. The country currently possesses only one wind power plant, but plans for additional plants exist. Unless Limaria finds a way to produce more electricity from hydropower, the country will not possess the necessary financial resources for modernization. Without electricity, Limaria’s rural areas will continue to obtain their power from inefficient generators or the burning of fossil fuels.

Water

The majority of the Caucasus region’s urban population has access to potable water. As areas become more rural, people must rely on local sources—rivers, streams, and wells—to obtain water for cooking, drinking, and washing.

While a majority of the residents in Limaria’s three largest cities—Yerevan, Gyumri, and Vanadzor—can access a modern water system, the numbers do not reach those of their neighboring countries. In Yerevan, about 85% of the residents can access safe drinking water. This number drops to 66% in Gyumri and 61% in Vanadzor. The more rural the area, the lower the percent of Limarians with access to potable water through modern means. As a result, Limarians suffer the effects of contamination found in rivers, streams, wells, and other ground water. Overall, approximately 70% of all Limarians can access a modern water system. Military personnel will need to check all water to determine its cleanliness before use, especially away from the very largest cities.

Sewage

The vast majority of Ariana, Atropia, Donovia, and Gorgas urban residents use modern sewage disposal methods to get rid of waste, but most Limarians do not. Urban residents have greater access to modern sewage treatment than rural residents. The more remote a person, the less likely he/she will use modern sewage treatment techniques. Poor disposal methods in rural areas contaminate ground water that other residents rely on for drinking and cooking.

Like water, many Limarians cannot access a modern sewage system. In Yerevan, where almost one- third of the populace lives, only 24% can access a modern sewage system. The numbers appear better in Gyumri and Vanadzor where 66% and 51%, respectively, dispose of their waste through a modern sewage system. Rural Limarians have even fewer opportunities to access a modern sewage system than those in the urban areas, so the entire country’s overall access rate to a modern sewage system remains below 25%.

Transportation Architecture

Roads are the primary transportation method throughout the Caucasus region. Train and especially air travel remain too expensive for many residents of Ariana, Atropia, Gorgas, and Limaria. Most roads, especially the unpaved ones, suffer from a lack of maintenance. Ariana and Donovia maintain a complex transportation architectural system while the other three countries operate a moderate one due to railway system limitations.

Road Systems

Overall, roads in this part of the world do not meet US or Western Europe standards. Driving is hazardous, especially in the winter months or in bad weather. Generally, drivers do not obey all traffic laws, and vehicle owners often fail to maintain their vehicles properly.

Unlike most countries in the region, Limaria contains more paved than unpaved roads. Of the country’s 7,492 miles of road, paved roads account for 80% or 5,967 of the miles. Most of the roads, however, do not receive proper maintenance. While most roads remain passable, many need considerable repair work to meet Western standards. Limaria’s main road, called the Kajaran Highway, links Limaria to Ariana. Limaria also contains two major roads that link it to Gorgas, but these roads attract bandits who rob vehicles traversing them.

Bus

All five countries maintain some sort of bus system, but its quality depends on the country and location. The larger the city, the more likely it will operate a public bus system. Usually, intercity buses run between the larger cities, and “private” buses may also operate in some areas. Due to the relatively cheap cost of public transportation, buses remain a favorite method for local civilians to travel long distances within their country.

Limaria operates its bus system on a hub and spoke design. Each city operates buses that travel to smaller villages in the local area and also to other large cities. Mini-buses also operate in the same method except they do not sell tickets, as riders just pay the driver for the price negotiated.

Limaria’s largest bus system operates in its capital, Yerevan. Yerevan contains over 350 buses that move an estimated 150 million customers each year. The city also operates a large trolley fleet of 320 vehicles that moves 100 million riders each year. Yerevan’s public transportation system also runs a tram system with 150 cars.

Any military operation in Limaria will require an inspection of the buses for weapons and contraband. Additionally, any military activities in the Yerevan area will need to ensure the continued operation of the bus, trolley, and tram system. A major disruption to Yerevan’s public transportation system could drastically affect the local civilian populace due to its importance for civilian travel.

Rail

All five Caucasus countries operate a railroad system, but they suffer many problems due to maintenance issues, non-standard equipment, criminal activity, and high cost.

Limaria operates approximately 525 miles of railway track; most of it powered by electricity. Only two international train routes currently operate: one to Gorgas, and the other to Ariana. Due to the current conflict with Atropia over the Lower Janga region, the rail lines are blocked at all Atropian and Lower Janga borders. The Limarian railroad system suffers from poor maintenance and crime, which deter passengers from its use. Talks about improving the railroad system, however, recently occurred between Limaria and neighboring countries.

Yerevan operates a single subway line of about 8.5 miles and 10 stations. Discussions about an additional two lines recently stalled due to the construction cost. Over 50,000 people use the Yerevan metro system every day. Any military activities in the Yerevan area that disrupt the subway system could hurt the city economically. As with all subway systems, civilians could use the underground stations as air raid shelters.

Air Transportation Systems

All five countries maintain both paved and unpaved runways of varying distances. Many of the unpaved runways resemble nothing more than a cleared dirt path only suitable for the sturdiest of planes.

Limaria contains 11 runways throughout the entire country; all but one has a paved surface. The only unpaved runway in Limaria does not exceed 3,000 feet. The map indicates the location of the major Limarian hard surface runways, and the chart provides runway data (not all runways are shown on either the map or in the chart).

Paved Runways

  • Over 10,000 feet: 2
  • 8,000 to 10,000 feet: 2
  • 5,000 to 8,000 feet: 0
  • 3,000 to 5,000 feet: 4
  • Under 3,000 feet: 2

Unpaved Runways

  • Over 10,000 feet: 0
  • 8,000 to 10,000 feet: 0
  • 5,000 to 8,000 feet: 0
  • 3,000 to 5,000 feet: 0
  • Under 3,000 feet: 1

Major Runways

Gorgas' Major Runways (Not All Shown)

Map # Elevation (Feet) Latitude (D, M, S) Longitude (D, M, S) Length (Feet) Width (Feet) Surface Type
401 5000 40 45 06.00 N 43 51 36.00 E 10564 147 Asphalt
402 4846 41 02 59.04 N 44 20 41.00 E 6546 110 Asphalt
403-1 2863 39 11 19.70 N 45 27 30.39 E 10826 148 Asphalt
403-2 2863 39 11 19.70 N 45 27 30.39 E 10826 138 Asphalt
404 4836 41 02 54.42 N 44 20 13.82 E 6555 92 Asphalt
405 UNK 40 07 19.17 N 44 27 54.33 E 8694 UNK UNK
406-1 4501 40 17 30.56 N 44 34 06.74 E 3295 250 Concrete
406-2 4501 40 17 30.56 N 44 34 06.74 E 3252 250 Concrete
407 2838 40 08 50.19 N 44 23 45.17 E 12629 184 Asphalt

Airlines

Limarian Airlines is Limaria’s national carrier and operates a fleet of 25 planes. The only Limarian Airlines plane that meets Western European standards to land is a leased Airbus A310. Limarian Airlines operates international flights from Zvartnots International Airport outside of Yerevan to Amsterdam, Frankfurt, and Paris. Anyone who flies Limarian Airlines should expect frequent delays, unexpected refueling stops, and poor service due primarily to insufficient maintenance practices.

Ports/Sea/River Transportation Systems

The five Caucasus countries share a diverse maritime culture. Ariana has a significant coastline and a large oceangoing fleet to export its oil. Atropia maintains ports on the Caspian Sea. Gorgas has three ports on the Black Sea that are accessible through the Bosporus Strait. Limaria is completely landlocked, with no direct access to any ocean or sea. Due to its location, Donovia has several seaports on the Black and Caspian Seas.

Without access to open sea, Limaria operates no ports and conducts very little transportation of goods on its rivers. Limaria must rely on its neighbors to export its products to other countries.

Pipelines

The security of hydrocarbon pipelines will be paramount in any military operations in the Caucasus region. Any disruption to the flow of crude oil and natural gas to the Western world could cause economic problems, as many modern countries rely on hydrocarbons to fuel their industries.

Since Limaria possesses no hydrocarbon resources, Donovia provides the bulk of Limaria’s natural gas through a pipeline that passes through Gorgas. Gorgas takes 10% of the natural gas bound for Limaria as a transit fee. Construction continues on a 122-mile-long pipeline that will carry natural gas from Tabriz, Ariana, to Ordubad, Limaria, where it will connect with the current distribution network.

Currently, no pipelines that export  hydrocarbon products to Europe from the three oil- and gas-rich countries—Ariana, Atropia, and Donovia—cross Limaria, so the country receives no transit fees. Even though Limaria offers a shorter direct route to Kalaria  than Gorgas, the unstable military situation in Limaria discourages companies from construction through a potential war zone. The European consortiums decided a safer option would be to  construct additional gas and oil pipelines that follow the Trans-Caucasus petroleum (TC-P) and natural gas (TC-G) pipelines through Atropia, Gorgas, and Kalaria before reaching the European markets.

If military activities in Limaria interrupt the hydrocarbon transportation network, Limaria’s economy will come to a complete halt. Without its own oil and natural gas resources, Limaria remains reliant on its hydrocarbon-rich neighbors to supply its needs.

Gorgas' Major Pipelines

Telecommunications Architecture

For the most part, Caucasus-region residents use cellular telephones to communicate with each other due to the lack of landline telephone infrastructure. Many residents never owned any type of telephone until they received their first cellular phone. Most can access news from either television or radio, but some rural residents have no information access via modern methods. (See Information variable for additional details.)

Limaria contains sufficient telephones for almost every citizen, but the country does not show as much advancement in Internet connections as its neighboring countries. With about three million people, Limaria contains 650,000 landline telephones and 2.336 million cellular phones. The privatization and recent modernization of the old telephone system, built in the 1950s, caused the increase—with the result that now almost every Limarian can use a telephone. Only 36,354 Internet hosts operate in Limaria, and only about 191,000, or less than 7% of the citizens, access the Internet on a regular basis. That differs from Limarian governmental claims that 47% of its residents can access the Internet. Two public and over 35 private television stations operate in Limaria, providing almost total coverage to the entire country. Nine radio stations, both public and private, also operate throughout Limaria. The military will find that television serves as the best medium to reach the largest audience in Limaria.

Agriculture

Agriculture production still dominates the labor forces of Gorgas (55.6%) and Limaria (46.2%), but not Ariana (25%), Atropia (38.3%), or Donovia (20%). Even in the Caucasus region’s predominately agricultural countries, farming creates less than one-fourth of the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP). Except for Atropia, the region relies on food imports to feed its people. Any food import disruption may increase the military’s burden to feed civilians and prevent starvation.

Due to a lack of industrialization and hydrocarbon resources, Limaria finds itself as a primarily agricultural country. Approximately 46.2% of the people work in farming-related occupations that produce 22% of Limaria’s GDP. Despite the large number of Limarian farmers, the country still needs to import 65% of its food. In 1989, the Limarian government privatized 63% of cultivated  fields, 80% of orchards, and 91% of vineyards. The country contains 300,000 small farms that range from one to five hectares in size. Some agriculture-related businesses such as food processing plants and hothouse operations remain under government control. With the assistance of massive irrigation projects between the 1920s and the 1960s, Limaria increased its food production and the amount of arable land to 23% of the entire country. The fertile volcanic soil provides an excellent environment to grow wheat, barley, figs, pomegranates, cotton, apricots, olives, peaches, walnuts, quince, potatoes, grapes, berries, sugar beets, and tobacco. Limaria also contains abundant pastureland for sheep, goats, and horses. Any military that operates in the country will likely not find any excess fruits and vegetables to supplement its soldiers’ rations, because Limaria already needs to import so much food to feed its own people.

Industry

Because of their hydrocarbon resources, Ariana, Atropia, and Donovia are more industrialized than Gorgas and Limaria. Industry GDP ranges from a low of 27.1% in Gorgas to a high of 61.4% in Atropia. Limaria produces 46.6% of its GDP from industry. The protection of the hydrocarbon infrastructure remains paramount for any military operations in the area, and the military should refrain from any unnecessary damage to the industrial sector to facilitate economic recovery after the end of hostilities.

Since the end of major Donovian influence, industries have become less important to Limaria, as many people returned to farming to prevent their family from starving. Lack of fuel and electricity decreased industrial production by 40% between 1992 and 1993, primarily caused by the Atropian blockade. Before 1992, Limaria produced chemicals, petrochemicals, fertilizers, and building materials. Now, Limaria’s major products included knitted clothing and hosiery, canned goods, aluminum foil, and shoes. The country mines copper, zinc, gold, and lead, and contains  small deposits of coal, gas, and petroleum, but delays plague their development. Limaria still possesses a large amount of toxic industrial chemicals from a couple of decades ago when manufacturing plants began to close and many of the industrial plants just boarded the windows when raw materials ran out.

While Limaria does not operate any nuclear power plants or contain all the components necessary to master the nuclear fuel cycle, reports indicate that the country possesses two to five functional nuclear weapons despite the government’s denial.

Pollution

All five Caucasus-region countries face significant pollution problems stemming from poor industrial practices. The governments cared more about natural resource extraction and product production than the stewardship of the planet. This lack of concern for the environment occurred regardless of which government was in power. The region’s military operations will need to address pollution, with soldiers taking precautions due to high-level air pollution and units considering any local water source not potable until tested.

Limaria became one of the first Caucasus countries to adopt anti-pollution laws in 1994, but circumstances prevented their actual execution. Owing to the Atropian blockade of supplies and electricity in the winters of the early 1990s, Limarians increased the burning of wood to provide  heat, and this worsened air pollution. The country also closed several chemical plants for environmental reasons, but reopened them later for economic reasons without any changes to the air and water pollution they caused. Limaria also suffers soil pollution from toxic chemicals such as DDT. Until alternative economic avenues and electrical production methods present themselves, Limarians must continue to use old technology with high levels of pollution production.

Summary

Limaria has the worst infrastructure of the five countries in this region. Much of its population, even in the urban areas, cannot access modern utilities—water, electricity, and sewage disposal. To prevent starvation, many people left the urban areas over the last decade to return to their historical family farms, which created additional abandoned buildings in the cities. Without any natural resources for Limaria to exploit, the country will find it difficult to build new infrastructure except through the generosity of its allies, Ariana and Donovia.

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