Physical Environment: Atropia
Table of Physical Environment Data
| Measure | Data | Remarks |
|---|---|---|
| Land Area (sq. miles) | 31,848 | includes inland water |
| Land Border (miles) | 1,073 | Ariana (289); Donovia (119); Gorgas (188); Limaria (467) |
| Coastline (miles) | 556 | Caspian Sea |
| Arable (Cultivated) Land (%) | 23 | |
| Perm. Crops (%) | 3 | |
| Perm Pasture (%) | 28 | |
| Irrigated Land (%) | 17 | |
| Forested Land (%) | 10 | Primarily in the mountains |
Terrain
The Greater and Lesser Caucasus mountain ranges dominate Atropia’s topography and extend beyond its borders. Atropia occupies a total land area of 31,848 square miles. The country possesses two geographic regions: the mountain ranges and the vast flatlands (sometimes referred to as the Kura-Aras lowland).
Bodies of Water
A dam on the Kura River in the northwestern part of the country creates Atropia’s largest body of water, the Mingachevir Reservoir, at 233.5 square miles. The reservoir possesses a flow capacity of 555 billion cubic feet per year and is used for flood control, irrigation, and hydroelectric power. The Kura is the longest river in Atropia and in the Caucasus region. It flows 932 miles to the Caspian Sea, with 559 miles in Atropia. The Kura plays an important role in maritime transportation as Atropia’s only navigable river, with only the lower 310 miles passable for ships. The Kura is rated at more than 2.5 ounces of suspended particle per cubic foot of river water, making it one of the most turbid (cloudy) rivers in the world. The Aras River also flows along the southern border with Ariana to form Atropia’s second-longest river.
Mobility Classification
Heavily populated areas such as Baku, Ganja, Sumgayit, Shirvan, and Mingachevir will slow down troop movement and hinder operations because of their construction patterns. The close construction provides numerous hideouts and concealed movement opportunities for fighters. Underground passageways, rooftops, and narrow streets will allow fighters to move easily from building to building. On the other hand, houses in rural villages remain relatively small and dispersed, and their low population density will favor military activities. Roads throughout Atropia exhibit poor condition, lighting, and signage that will further complicate vehicular traffic. Inadequate maintenance of those roads and bridges leads to poor trafficability and could increase vehicle maintenance requirements.
The central lowlands offer the best opportunity for military travel in Atropia as the rolling hills and flat plains in the Kura-Aras lowland will expedite the travel of armored or mechanized forces. The defender will use the Kura-Aras lowland terrain to defend his avenues of approach. This lowland terrain will offer adequate cover and concealment to both the offense and the defense.
Atropia’s mountainous regions serve as perfect hideouts for fighters and facilitate smuggling. The mountainous terrain will force mechanized or armored forces to slow their movements or find alternate routes to conduct missions. The rugged terrain will also pose an obstacle to dismounted infantry forces. The Greater and Lesser Caucasus mountain ranges will make movement across the mountainous terrain difficult and suitable for enemy ambushes. In winter, heavy snowfalls and frost may close some mountain passes for three to six months and force planners to find longer alternate routes. Unpredictable mud volcanoes west of Sangacal (southwest of Baku) and northeast of Baku will negatively influence military missions in those areas.
Natural Hazards
Atropia suffers from a few types of natural disasters—earthquakes, floods, and landslides. Atropia lies in an area with high seismic activity. The United Nations Development Programme suggests that Atropia could receive magnitude 8-9 earthquakes on the Richter scale. The northern region and the Tramaz and Hachzi peninsulas in the eastern part of the country suffer the most earthquakes. The most dangerous areas include the slopes of the Greater Caucasus Mountains.
Snow melts and heavy rains during the spring and fall often cause the Kura and Aras Rivers to overflow and initiate flooding in Atropia. Heavy rains, snow melts, and strong precipitation trigger many landslides in Atropia. Landslides generally occur in the spring season and mostly in the country’s northern part.
Subterranean Environment
Atropia, in its defensive military efforts against Limaria, has developed a small subterranean environment consisting of tunnels near the Atropian-Limarian border. These tunnels, while small, facilitate the movement of people and supplies for Atropian troops. In addition to the the government-regulated tunnels, insurgent forces supported by the Donovian government have created a network of tunnels to facilitate easy movement between Donovia and Atropia. These tunnels are also used for the movement of personnel and supplies to support the operations of these forces, including the Bilasuvar Freedom Brigade (BFB), within the borders of Atropia.
Both regular forces and insurgents involved in the Lower Janga conflict—the Limarian Liberation Front (LLF) and the Free Lower Janga Movement (FLJM)—have established tunnels in Lower Janga for freedom of movement and logistical purposes, with some of the FLJM’s tunnels crossing over into Atropian-controlled territory.
There are two violent extremist organizations based on religion that operate in Atropia 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, 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.
To further complicate the subterranean environment, there are several organized criminal organizations that operate throughout Atropia. These organizations have sponsored their own networks of tunnels in northern Atropia, where the Al Iksir Cartel operates, and in Baku, where the Bocyowicz Crime Family operates. Criminal groups from outside the country, including the Donovian Mafia, have also constructed their own tunnels into the country. Atropian law enforcement also estimates that there are around 20–30 cross-border smuggling tunnels into neighboring countries.
Vegetation
Land Cover
Forests cover only about 10% of Atropia and most consist of broad-leaf trees. The Greater Caucasus Mountains possess vast forest areas on the northern slopes of their eastern section. In Atropia’s southeast region, the forests disappear and more arid areas generally dominate. While the forests exhibit a very diverse variety of trees, the main broad-leaf trees include hornbeam, pistachio, and oak.
Agriculture
While 38% of Atropians work in agriculture-related occupations, farming only produces 5.5% of the country’s GDP. The agriculture sector employs over three times the number involved in industry. The arable land and variable climate allow for diverse crop cultivation that includes vegetables, fruits, tea, grains, and nuts, the with majority of agricultural activity occurring in the Kura- Aras Lowland. Cotton reigns as Atropia’s largest agricultural product.
Climate
Atropia exhibits a wide variety of climates dependent on location, elevation, and proximity to the Caspian Sea. Based on altitude and distance from the Caspian Sea coastline, parts of Atropia enjoy dry-subtropical, wet-subtropical, temperate, and alpine climates. The Kura-Aras lowland, the Tramaz Peninsula, and the Hachzi Peninsula exhibit a dry-subtropical climate, while the Talish Mountains feature a wet-subtropical climate. Temperate climates dominate the slopes of the Greater and Lesser Caucasus Mountains, while the ridges and peaks feature an alpine climate.
Seasons
| Season | Months |
| Winter | Jan – Mar |
| Spring | Mar – End May |
| Summer | Jun – Oct |
| Fall | Mid Oct – Dec |
Weather
Precipitation
The location and the season dramatically affect precipitation throughout Atropia. In the east, along the Caspian Sea, most precipitation occurs in the fall and winter. In that period, communication systems can lose effectiveness. In the west, most precipitation occurs in spring and early summer. The southern coast of the Tramaz Peninsula receives the lowest annual precipitation, which varies from 8 to 12 inches. Along the Caspian Sea to the south, precipitation can reach between 47 to 55 inches annually.
Temperature-Heat Index
July and August produce the hottest temperatures in Atropia, especially in the lowlands. The lowest summer average daily temperatures in the lowlands may only fall to 79°F, and temperatures in Baku often surpass 100°F.
Temperature-Wind Chill Index
In winter, the highest Atropian mountain areas can become very cold, with sub-zero temperatures. January represents Atropia’s coldest month, with daily temperatures around 36°F in the lowlands and 14°F in the mountains.
Relative Humidity
Relative humidity varies dependent on location. In the drier areas of the country, such as the Kura-Aras lowland and the Tramaz Peninsula, humidity is around 60–65% in the summer and higher in the winter. The lower elevations of the Greater and Lesser Caucasus Mountains are considerably more humid. The most humid part of the country is the Talish Mountains region, with humidity peaking in spring and summer.
Wind
Numerous winds traverse Atropia, but the most common winds include the Gilavar and Khazri. The Khazri blows from the north and the Gilavar from the southwest. In the lowlands, winds usually blow in the southeastern and northwestern directions. Winds reach higher speeds in the Tramaz and Hachzi peninsulas, where strong, stormy winds are considered normal. Generally, winds throughout the rest of the country reflect lower speeds that favor air assault, airborne, and aviation operations.
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 condition 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.