Physical Environment: Olvana
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Olvana is a large country located in eastern Asia that borders three major bodies of water: the Yellow Sea, the East China Sea, and the South China Sea. The country’s terrain varies from high mountains and green plateaus to river valleys and deltas, with climates ranging from tropical to semiarid to sub-alpine. Multiple natural hazards exits, resulting from Olvana’s geology, weather, native wildlife, and human activity.
Contents
Table of Physical Environment Data
| Measure | Data | Remarks |
| Land Area (sq miles) | 1,394,198 | Includes inland water |
| Land Border (miles) | 7956 | |
| Coastline (miles) | 6230 | |
| Highest Elevation (ft) | 24,970 | Mount Gongga |
| Lowest Elevation (ft) | 0 | Sea Level |
| Arable (cultivated) Land (%) | 15% | |
| Permanent Crops (%) | 1% | |
| Permanent Pasture (%) | 39% | |
| Irrigated Land (%) | 35% | |
| Forested Land (%) | 26% | |
| Urban Area (%) | 43% |
Terrain
Olvana’s terrain in the northern portion and southern portion of the country both contain a mix of mountains, basins, plateaus, plains with the only major differences between the two areas being that the northern portion has highlands and the southern portion has river deltas. The terrain in the west is extremely mountainous, progressing into basins, plateaus and plains as you head east. The eastern coast is a mix of plains and urban terrain, with some mountains in the southeast. The fertile Yangtze River Valley starts in the center of the country and flows east to East China Sea.
Bodies of Water
Olvana’s major bodies of water are primarily freshwater lakes and seas. Freshwater lakes of most prominence are Taihu, Dongting and Poyang, all located in the central region. Dongting Lake is a large, shallow lake, a flood basin of the Yangtze River. Its size depends on the season and rainfall levels. It is approximately 1,089 square miles in area, but can grow to 7,700 square miles during flood season. Poyang Lake, located in Jiangxi Province, is the largest freshwater lake in Olvana. Poyang Lake is approximately 1,240 square miles in area with an average depth of 28 feet and a maximum depth of 82 feet. Lake Taihu is the third largest freshwater lake in Olvana. It is located in the Yangtze Delta plain in vicinity of the city of Wuxi, it has an area of 869 square miles and an average depth of 6.6 feet.
Olvana’s coastline comprises the country’s eastern and southern borders. It includes the coastlines of the Yellow Sea, East China Sea and South China Sea. The Yellow Sea is approximately 150,000 square mile in area, with an average depth of 144 feet and a maximum depth of 499 feet, gradually increasing in depth from the north to the south. It possesses oil reserves, and is a productive commercial fishing ground with over 200 species of edible species fished. The East China Sea is approximately 482,000 square miles in area. It opens to the north into the Yellow Sea, to the east into Pacific Ocean, and to the south into the South China Sea. The East China Sea contains a natural gas field estimated to hold 364 billion cubic feet of natural gas. The South China Sea is approximately 1,400,000 square miles in area. The South China Sea is of strategic and economic importance, as one third of the world’s shipping passes through it. It also possesses oil and natural gas reserves, as well as being a crucial fishery area for many nations in Southeast Asia.
Olvana’s rivers run throughout the country and played a critical role in the nation’s development and growth patterns. The largest river in the country is the Yangtze River, which runs from Olvana’s western border to the East China Sea. It is an important transportation route and has been traditionally used to divide Olvana into north and south. The Yangtze features world’s largest hydroelectric dam. The second largest river in Olvana is the Yellow River, which runs from Olvana’s western border to the Yellow Sea. It serves as a major conduit for transportation, ferrying freight and agriculture. Other important rivers include Xi Jang River and Pearl River. Both are located in Southeastern Olvana; the Pearl River’s delta is one of the most densely populated places on earth and is a critical component of the Olvanese economy All of the major rivers in Olvana are used to produce hydroelectric power.
Mobility Classification
Mobility in Olvana is varies widely based on region and time of year. Movement is easier in the central plains than in the western area with its mountainous terrain. Snow and ice may cause major mobility problems in mountainous areas during the winter, while flooding and mudslides will similarly impact mobility in the spring and summer. Forests in the south limit mobility and provide cover and concealment for enemy forces and criminals involved in smuggling operations. Rivers and streams throughout the country pose challenges for mechanized and motorized forces. Air operations must account for mountain ranges, forests, steep valleys and gorges, and cyclonic storms.
Natural Hazards
Olvana regularly suffers natural disasters, including typhoons, flash floods, land and mudslides, earthquakes, droughts and tsunamis. Areas most prone to land and mud slides are in hilly and mountainous areas impacted by deforestation: one such incident killed over 100 people last year. Coastal areas are susceptible to typhoons and tsunamis, which can lead to severe flooding of towns and villages along the coast. The areas along rivers face flooding problems during the rainy season, which disrupts critical transportation routes and destroys critical agriculture. Earthquakes are frequent in the region and can cause enormous damage and destruction. Several of worst national disasters in human history are earthquakes and floods that hit Olvana.
Subterranean Environment
Olvana has numerous cave systems, both above and below sea level. A few of these caves are used by criminal elements for smuggling operations. Caves are also used as emergency shelters by local residents in coastal areas during and after larger cyclonic storms. Olvana is also building underground facilities and tunnels for use by its military forces, to hide and protect key assets from missiles to personnel.
Vegetation
Olvana’s vegetation varies from region-to-region and based on topography. The northwest portion of Olvana contains various types of forest, such as conifers broadleaf’s, as well as meadows and bush. The central region contains a mix of broadleaf forest, bush, coniferous forest and grasslands. The southern region contains coniferous forest, bush, broadleaf forest, grasslands, meadows, tropical forest and wetlands. Some of the types of trees found in Olvana are dove trees, dawn redwood, bamboo, fir, cypress, gutta-percha tree, spruce, oak, bonsai and cathaya argyrophylla.
Agriculture
AOlvana has only has 15% arable land. Most is located along the river valleys and the eastern and southern coasts. Just over 35% of crop lands are irrigated. The primary food crops produced in Olvana are rice, wheat, potatoes, tomato, sorghum, peanuts, tea, millet, barley, cotton, oilseed and soybeans. Olvana also produces fiber crops: cotton, ramie, flax, jute, and hemp.
Livestock and Wildlife
Olvana’s common domestic animals include cattle, pigs, poultry, sheep and goats. The majority of the livestock is raised along rivers, due to the abundance of water and food. Olvana’s wildlife population is one of the world’s most diverse, and includes elephants, tigers, panda bears, crocodiles, golden haired monkeys and dolphins just to name a few. Due to the expansion of humans into their natural environments, much of Olvana’s wildlife is found either in zoos or wildlife conservation areas.
Climate and Weather
Olvana’s weather varies from extreme cold in the north to hot and humid in the south. The south is normally wet—with a constant threat of flooding—while the north is mainly dry and routinely faces droughts. Rain tends to be the most abundant near the coasts and along the Yangtze River valley. Typhoons regularly hit the southeast coast. The climate in the southern portion of the country is a mix of tropical to the far south with a humid subtropical as you move north. In the northern portion of the country the climate is a mix of semiarid to arid in the far north with a humid continental in the lower portion of the north. Both portions of the country also have a highland climate along their western border.
Seasons
Olvana has four seasons: winter, spring, summer and fall. Winter is the longest season, while spring, summer and fall are shorter. The northern portion of the country can be extremely cold, while southern regions are generally mild. Spring normally only lasts from March till May and results in milder temperatures and increased precipitation nationwide. Summer is from June to August and is the hottest time period of the year, with average temperatures of 90 degrees (Fahrenheit) across Olvana. Summer also brings the largest amounts of rainfall, due largely to monsoons coming from the oceans along the southeastern coastal area. Fall is the shortest season, normally only the months of September and October. It features reduced rainfall and cooler temperatures.
| Season | Months | Remarks |
| Winter | November – February | |
| Spring | March – May | |
| Summer | June – August | Large amounts of rainfall |
| Fall | September - October |
Precipitation
Precipitation in Olvana comes in both the form of rain and snowfall, with the averages increasing from the north to south. The average along the southeast coastline is 80 inches a year, while the Yangtze valley receives 40 to 45 inches a year. In the northern portion of the country annual precipitation averages between 12 to 20 inches.
Temperature-Heat Index
The average monthly high temperatures for Olvana vary with elevation, latitude, and proximity to the ocean. The northern region has a yearly average temperature of 64 degrees (Fahrenheit), with the winter months averaging in the low 40s and the summer months averaging in the mid 80s. The central region’s yearly average temperature is 68 degrees (Fahrenheit), with the winter months averaging in the low 50s and the summer months averaging in the high 80s. The southern region has a yearly average temperature of 79 degrees (Fahrenheit), with the winter months averaging in the mid to high 60s and the summer months averaging in the low 90s.
Temperature-Wind Chill Index
The wind chill in Olvana will vary from region-to-region and season-to-season. In northern areas wind chill will be a significant concern due to low temperatures and persistent high winds. In southern areas, the threat of wind chill is lessened due to the tropical conditions found there year round. The mountainous areas in the western portion of the country has the coldest wind chills that will degrade the capabilities of forces as they operate there during the winter season.
Relative Humidity
The relative humidity throughout Olvana varies depending on the region and latitude. The average for northern regions is roughly 49 to 52 percent. This increases as you go south, to an average relative humidity of 83 to 85 percent. The main reason for the huge disparity of relative humidity from the north to the south is the subtropical climate in the south, which has higher temperatures and precipitation than in the north.
Wind
The prevailing winds in Olvana are from the west to the east in the north, and from the southeast to northwest in the south. During the late winter to early spring, fierce sand storms and dust storms in the north routinely reduce visibility to less than one kilometer. Typhoon season along the coastline starts in April and ends in October: wind speeds from these typhoons average between 75 to 150 miles per hour and can be very destructive.
Summary
Olvana’s physical environment varies widely. Its impact on operations will depend on region, time of year, local terrain, and weather. Units operating in Olvana must be tailored to meet challenges faced in specific regions, ranging from dangerous cold to mudslides and flooding. Olvana routinely faces catastrophic national disasters, many of which have had major impacts on the nation’s history.