Physical Environment: Donovia
Over 200,000 square miles comprise the Caucasus, a mountainous region located between the Black Sea and Caspian Sea. The Caucasus includes Atropia, Gorgas, and Limaria, as well as parts of Ariana and Donovia. The Caucasus Mountains, consisting of the Greater and Lesser Caucasus ranges, traditionally form the separation between Europe and Asia. The Caucasus region contains two major parts—the North Caucasus and the South Caucasus—that are divided by the Greater Caucasus Mountains. The North Caucasus region is contained entirely within Donovia, while the South Caucasus contains Atropia, Gorgas, Limaria, and part of Ariana.
Table of Physical Environment Data
| Measure | Data | Remarks |
|---|---|---|
| Land Area (sq miles) | 653,587 | includes inland water |
| Land Border (miles) | 5,980 | Atropia (119); Gorgas (649) |
| Coastline (miles) | 1,299 | Black & Azov Seas (497), Caspian Sea (802) |
| Arable (Cultivated) Land (%) | 12 | Primarily in the south |
| Perm. Crops (%) | 1 | |
| Perm. Pasture (%) | 10 | Caspian Lowland & Barbodrag Upland |
| Irrigated Land (%) | 4 | Ostremek Plain |
| Forested Land (%) | 15 | Primarily mountainous areas |
Terrain
Donovia possesses 653,587 square miles of territory and lies in the very easternmost part of Europe. It shares 5,980 miles of border with several different countries, including both Gorgas and Atropia to the south, and three bodies of water—the Black Sea, Sea of Azov, and Caspian Sea. The country contains varied terrain to include mountains, hills, lowland plains, forests, steppes, and uplands.
Roughly Y-shaped, Donovia can be divided into northern and southern parts, with the northern “fork” of the Y separated from the southern “stem” by a neck of land measuring around 310 miles from east to west. In the north, the Dnieper, Volga, and Kama Rivers form most of the country’s northern boundary and the Ural River defines much of the far eastern border. In the south, the country consists primarily of the land confined by the Azov and Black Seas on the west, the Greater Caucasus Mountains to the south, and the Caspian Sea on the east. The vast majority of Donovia lies below 1000 feet in elevation, with the only notable exceptions being the Ural Mountains in the far east and the Greater Caucasus Mountains in the far south.
The terrain of northern Donovia consists of a series of uplands and lower plains. The Desna Uplands lie in the far west, followed by the Oka Plain to the east. In the center of the region, the Volga Hills descend eastward to the Volga Plain. The Ural Uplands lie further east and rise to the Ural Mountains, which end at the Ural River and Donovia’s border. The northern region lies entirely above sea level, with the Ural Mountains reaching up to 5,380 feet.
In southern Donovia, the North Caucasus Plain gives way to the Caspian Lowland in the east and the Barbodrag Upland in the south, then finally to the Greater Caucasus Mountains in the far south. While the North Caucasus Plain’s elevation is similar to most of northern Donovia, the Caspian Lowland lies below sea level. The highest point in Donovia—and all of Europe—is Mount Elbrus, which lies at 18,510 feet above sea level in the Greater Caucasus Mountains. The eight southernmost republics in the country form the North Caucasus region, whose unique features include the Kuban-Azov Lowland (west) and the Ostremek Plain (east)—both part of the North Caucasus Plain—and the Kuma-Manich Depression (north).
Bodies of Water
Donovia’s major bodies of water are primarily seas and reservoirs. The landlocked Caspian Sea, to the east, also borders Atropia and Ariana. Shallow in the north and deepening to the south, it possesses oil and natural gas reserves that are sometimes the subject of disputes among its bordering countries. The Azov and Black Seas, on the west, allow maritime access to the Mediterranean Sea and, by extension, the Atlantic Ocean. The Azov Sea is the world’s shallowest sea, with a maximum depth of only 46 feet. It is rich in fish and other marine life, and is fished extensively. The Black Sea is considerably deeper and is shared by neighboring Gorgas, among other countries. Donovia boasts ports on all three seas. The country lacks large natural lakes, but has three substantial reservoirs whose uses include drinking water, irrigation, and hydroelectric power.
Donovia possesses a large river system that runs throughout the country. The largest of these rivers, the Volga, is Europe’s longest river. More than 2,000 miles of its 2,193-mile course lie either on the border of or inside Donovia. The Don is the second-longest river in the country, with a course of 1,162 miles. Other important waterways include the Desna, Dnieper, Kama, Moscow, Oka, and Ural Rivers in the north, and the Kuban, Kuma, Manich, Sunsha, Sulak, and Terek Rivers in the south. Most of these rivers terminate at the Azov, Black, or Caspian Seas and are at least partway navigable. Many of them, including the Volga, Don, Kama, Ural, Sulak, and Terek, have hydroelectric power plants along their courses. Canals—such as the Barbodrag canal system in the North Caucasus and the Moscow Canal between the Moscow and Volga Rivers—provide water, transport, and/or hydroelectric power to parts of the country.
Mobility Classification
Movement in Donovia is less restricted in the upland steppes and lowland plains than in the mountains. Heavy snows and icy conditions seriously hamper troop movement in the mountains during winter months, while flooding causes mobility problems in spring and summer. The presence of dense forests in the north and south increases difficulties and provides cover for enemy forces and smugglers, while multiple rivers and streams challenge mechanized and motorized movement. Air operation impediments include tall mountains, thick forests, steep valleys and gorges, strong winds and sudden wind direction changes, low clouds, dense mist and fog, and dust storms. Donovia actively uses landmines in the region, especially in the Gamrun Republic and in the Greater Caucasus Mountains along the border with Gorgas.
Natural Hazards
Donovia is subject to many types of natural disasters, including hailstorms, tornadoes, wildfires, and floods. Mountainous areas experience land and mudslides, and the North Caucasus region has frequent earthquakes. Record heavy rains created flooding and landslides in the latter region in 1993, leaving more than 230 people dead and totally destroying over 20,000 homes, with the total number of people affected in the hundreds of thousands. The North Caucasus region has also experienced major earthquakes, including one in 2008 that measured 5.8 on the Richter scale and left 13 people dead. Lower-magnitude events are frequent, with over 35 magnitude 3.0–3.9 earthquakes occurring last year.
Subterranean Environment
Donovia, well aware of the advanced surveillance capabilities of its enemies, has developed a significant subterranean environment to combat this capability. This environment likely includes networks, tunnels, and facilities that support government-regulated, primarily military, activities and illicit criminal activities.
The underground facilities (UGFs) managed by the Donovian government support national missile and nuclear enrichment and development programs. Due to the sensitivity of these programs, much of the activity associated with them is conducted in the UGFs to provide protection from enemy detection and destruction.
In Southern Donovia, along the border of Atropia, there is a network of tunnels used by the Donovian-supported insurgent group Bilasuvar Freedom Brigade (BFB). The network of tunnels is used by this group to facilitate access into Atropia. It is believed that these tunnels support the movement of personnel and supplies for the BFB’s operations.
There are two violent extremist organizations based on religion that operate in Donovia and use UGFs. The first is One Right Path (ORP), which is a Shia Muslim violent extremist splinter group of about 5,000 active members whose goal is the establishment of a regional Islamic Caliphate. ORP wants to overthrow the Atropian government and limit Donovian influence. While there are rumors of some sort of association with Ariana, there is nothing confirmed by any authority. In cities that have underground passageways, this group will often meet in them or use them to move clandestinely around the city.
The second violent extremist splinter group is The True Believers (TTB), a Sunni-based group of about 5,000 members. Its goal is the transformation or elimination of any Muslims of the Shia faith, but eventually a worldwide Islamic Caliphate. While this group does not build tunnels, it will take full advantage of any UGFs it happens across in its area of operations.
The criminal network in Donovia also makes significant use of underground tunnel systems. Donovia has become a hotbed for the black market that deals in human trafficking, drug trafficking, and weapons trade. It is believed that the Al Iksir Cartel, the local criminal gang, has created a significant tunnel network in southern Donovia and northern Atropia to facilitate its operations. It is rumored that the Donovian Mafia also controls smuggling tunnels into neighboring countries. One popular theory is that none of the tunnels has been discovered due to corruption or intimidation. In addition, insurgent and criminal groups from neighboring countries have constructed their own tunnels into Donovia.
Vegetation
Land Cover
Around 15% of Donovia consists of forested land, primarily in the far north, the Volga Hills, and in/around both mountain ranges. Lower-elevation forests normally have broadleaf trees—namely ash, beech, birch, elm, hornbeam, maple, and oak—while those at higher elevations usually consist of conifers such as spruce, pine, fir, and yew. In the Greater Caucasus Mountains, these give way to subalpine and alpine meadows as elevation increases. Great portions of the steppes and plains are devoted to agriculture. Those that are not and the dryer, semi-desert areas in the Caspian Lowland are covered by cereal vegetation, flowering plants, grasses, and sagebrush.
Agriculture
Donovian agricultural pursuits employ 20% of the labor force and produce 4% of the national GDP, with the southern region playing a very important role in this sector. While the country possesses only 12% arable land overall, most of the North Caucasus Plain is arable; much of the remainder of the country is either used for pasture or covered with forests. Crops produced in Donovia include wheat, corn, millet, barley, oats, sunflowers, sugar beets, hemp, tea, potatoes, vegetables, melons, and other fruit and vines. The vast majority (70–90%) of available land is used for cereal or fodder crops, with the remainder dedicated to potatoes, vegetables, melons, and industrial crops such as soybeans, sunflower, hemp, and flax. In addition to the presence of many rivers and reasonable rainfall, a canal system that provides irrigation is present in the Ostremek Plain.
Climate
Donovia mainly experiences a continental climate, while the Black Sea coastal region is subtropical and the southeast, near the Caspian Sea, is sub-arid. Summers are longer and warmer in the south than in the north, with the opposite being true for winters. While summer temperatures range from comfortable to hot, temperatures in winter are subfreezing throughout the country. The mountains experience cooler temperatures year-round as compared to the steppes and plains, as well as heavy snow in the winter. Precipitation levels peak in June/July and are higher in the mountains than in the plains.
Seasons
| Season | Months | Remarks |
|---|---|---|
| Winter | November-March | longer in the north; shorter in the south |
| Spring | April-May | later in the north; earlier in the south |
| Summer | June-August | shorter in the north; longer in the south |
| Fall | September-October | earlier in the north; later in the south |
Weather
Precipitation
Precipitation in Donovia varies by location and elevation, with amounts usually decreasing as one moves to lower elevations. Most of the country receives 12–25 inches annually, with the far northwest and the Ural Mountains receiving more (25–40 inches). The Caspian Lowland is the driest part of the country, with only 4–12 inches of precipitation falling each year. The Greater Caucasus Mountains is by far the wettest part of Donovia, with up 125 inches of annual precipitation. Rains usually peak in June/July, and snow falls heavily in the mountains during winter. Flooding can occur in the lower elevations in spring and summer due to both rain and snow runoff from the mountains.
Temperature-Heat Index
Temperatures vary with elevation in Donovia, with July being the hottest month. Average temperatures in the Greater Caucasus Mountains reach only 50°F in July as compared to 81°F in the Caspian Lowland and 73°F in the north. With moderate relative humidity levels and maximum temperatures that can reach 100°F in the north and even higher in the south, summer days can be quite uncomfortable.
Temperature-Wind Chill
Donovia has cold winters, with all areas experiencing subfreezing average temperatures. January is the coldest month, with averages as low as 30°F on the coasts, 18°F on the plains and steppes, and 1°F in the Ural Mountains. Monthly minimum air temperatures can reach -40°F in the northeast, with the country’s absolute minimum being around -65°F. The Greater Caucasus Mountains, though at a much higher elevation than the Urals, tend to be warmer due to the presence of the Black and Caspian Seas. Higher elevations also experience significant snowfall, especially in the mountains, which can be coupled with mist and fog.
Relative Humidity
As with other elements of weather in Donovia, relative humidity—which ranges from 40% to 100%—varies by elevation and location. The mountains are driest in April/May and reach peak humidity around September/October, with usual levels ranging from 60–100% throughout the year. The rest of the country experiences the lowest relative humidity from May–August (40%) and the highest during November–January (90%), with humidity increasing earlier in the year with greater northern latitude.
Wind
The year-round prevailing wind direction throughout Donovia is from the west. With the exception of the Ural Mountains and the Barbodrag Upland, average wind speeds tend to be low to moderate throughout the country. This limits locations for potential wind power, but provides aircraft with a safer operating environment. The only exceptions to this are the occasional weather hazard—such as tornadoes—and some wind phenomena that are specific to the North Caucasus region of the country.
One of the winds the North Caucasus region experiences is bora, meaning a very strong gust of cold wind. More common in the winter, cold air trapped in the western Greater Caucasus foothills reaches sufficient altitude to flow through the mountain pass and northwest along the Black Sea coast. Lasting several days at a time, temperatures can drop 35°F while wind speed may exceed 130mph.
On the opposite side of the spectrum are the fens, or warm, dry winds. These winds may raise temperatures 25°F, reach 45 mph, and can change direction twice within a 24-hour period. They usually occur in the mountains and foothills, and their effects are exacerbated in valleys and gorges.
Dust storms also occur in the region. They peak in May and August, and are more common during droughts. One such storm, in 1970, lasted for 200 hours and blew away several inches of topsoil.
Threats to operations from these wind types are multiple. In addition to sudden extreme temperature and wind speed changes, ice presents a serious danger to operations during boras. Wind direction changes endanger airborne operations during fens, and dust storms can damage both machinery and equipment as well as limit visibility.
Summary
The Caucasus region, containing the Greater and Lesser Caucasus Mountains, forms the traditional division between Europe and Asia. All countries contain different weather and terrain, and soldiers must prepare for seasonal extremes—winter and summer. Areas with flat plains and valleys, such as coastal plains, will favor troop mechanized movement. The mountainous regions, especially in the Greater and Lesser Caucasus Mountains, will compound vehicle and equipment breakdowns. Numerous roads, already in poor conditions in most of the countries, will become inaccessible for vehicular traffic because of winter snow. Military planners will need to anticipate the closure of mountain passes for up to six months a year due to snow.