Geography of Meriad

Meriad is a situated in Northern Escar, Meriad lies to the west of the Nordeaic Sea on the north-east of the Nordellic Peninsula. The southern border of the country is formed almost entirely by the Uinkaret mountain chain, which separates Meriad from Greater Allidron to the south. The Yurgen River, the third-largest river in Escar, forms a short border with to the south-east. Merad shares a maritime border with Kolintha to the east, and is bounded in the west by the Neptic Ocean. Meriad is divided into three distinct regions based on geography. The northern portion of the country, from the coastal border with Allidron to Duvnafjördur Sound, is known as the Nordkysten region (literally northern coast), and is characterized by its rugged coastline of massive, hundreds of islands, and numerous small glaciers. can be found year-round in the higher mountainous areas, especially in the interior of Islagskogen. The North Neptic Jetstream which sweeps along the northern Meriadni coastline causes higher temperatures and more precipitation year-round, and contributes to the presence of four distinct seasons. The Uinkaret Mountains block the warmer air from moving inland, and consistently lower temperatures and levels of precipitation are found within several dozen miles of the coast. The interior of the region is mainly coniferous forest, and the mountains frequently extend to the coast. The mountainous areas close to the Allid border have the lowest mean population density in the country, and are home to numerous species of wildlife that are unique to the region. The central geographic region is known as Skallia in reference to the Kingdom of Bärdenskalla that existed in the region until the mid-1700s. The Skallic coast ranges from Duvnafjördur Sound south to Varelsaend, and is characterized as a transition zone from the tall fjords of Nordkysten to the much flatter coastal region of Innsjørd that continues southwards. Mountains and fjords are common as far south as Gröstavik, where the Uinkaret Mountains begin to gradually recede from the coastline. Just north of Húsavik, the Varik Spur extends to the ocean and divides the country into two distinct sections to the north and south, as well as forming the southern border of Skallia.

The southernmost geographic region of Innsjørd encompasses Varelsaend and Ulvaskogen, as well as all land to the southern border of the country. South of the Varik Spur, the land becomes considerably flatter, and glacial features become more apparent. The region is characterized by an abundance of lakes and formed during a period of major glaciation that ended around 11,400 BC. The Innsjørd region is home to nearly 14,000 lakes (larger than 500 m2), as well as thousands of islands and numerous waterways. In addition to the abundant lakes, the landscape is covered mostly by coniferous forests and, with little cultivated land. In low-lying areas with poor drainage, are common.

Climate
As a result of the relatively large north-south distance, the climate of Meriad is very fragmented dependent upon region. This is especially evidenced by the southern regions of the country, which are significantly flatter and more temperate in climate than the northern regions. Because of the Tartaro-Neptic Confluence, where warm air from the equatorial regions of the planet meet much colder air fronts from the Tartaric Ocean, the western coast of Meriad experiences higher average temperatures and greater precipitation than would be expected for its latitude. This also means that the north-western area of the country are exposed to Tartaric storm fronts, contributing to the high amounts of precipitation. The Innsjørd region of the country, especially Sydilströp, has an characterized by very few extreme temperatures throughout the year, but rather cool summers and cool (but not cold) winters. This makes the region superb for agriculture, and the southern portion of the country is widely farmland where elevation and topography allow.

Environment
Stunning natural scenery and landscape is found throughout Meriad. The northern fjords of the country have been ranked as one of the most visually beautiful sites in the world, and the country's stringent environmental standards ensure the protection of Meriad's natural resources. A significant portion of the country is reserved as a part of the Meriadni National Park System, and there are several Wilderness Areas in which human entrance in totally forbidden. The National Park System, which is overseen by the Office of the Interior, maintains some of the strictest national park regulations in the world, and entrance into most national parks by motor vehicle is prohibited except by special permit. The majority of all traffic in national parks is by foot, although aircraft overflight above a certain altitude and in certain areas is legal.

Saint Claire Island
Saint Claire Island, Meriad's sole autonomous region, is situated in the Tartaric Ocean, and has access to the extensive Baker oil field. The climate of the island is heavily affected by the Tartaro-Neptic Confluence, which brings a large amount of precipitation to the island. Saint Claire is volcanic in nature, although the three volcanoes that form the exposed part of the island are all extinct. Due to the volcanic nature of the soil, moisture is absorbed and evaporates very easily amid the sheltered mountain valleys and peaks. Cloud banks thus form when the weather is moderate and when wind speeds are relatively low. These clouds regulate the temperature of the island's interior extremely well, as well as serving to nourish the plants that live amid the rocks. The climate of the island is cold, windy and humid maritime. Rainfall is common roughly half of the year, averaging around 22 inches in the administrative capital of Saint Claire, and sporadic light snowfall occurs throughout the winter months, and occasionally throughout the fall and late summer. The temperature is generally between 64.0 and 36.0 °F in Saint Claire, but can vary to 47 °F early in the year and 36 °F in July and early August. Strong westerly winds and cloudy skies are common along the coast, although the interior of the island is usually sheltered from the wind.