Bahk

Bahk (pronounced ['bach] in English) is the second-largest country by total area, occupying the western half of Cephiron. Bahk shares a land border with Amigosa to the west. Inhabited first by nomadic kins (or clans in English), Bahk was founded as a union of the largest kins left after the Kin wars. Bahk is a constitutional monarchy and democratic republic. Comprising three provinces and one territory, Bahk is a bilingual and multicultural nation, with both Bahkan and English as official languages at the federal level. A technologically advanced and industrialized nation, Bahk maintains a diversified economy heavily reliant on trade, particularly with Amigosa, with which Bahk has had a long and complex relationship.

Bahk

Flag of Bahk
Motto: What we do in life, echoes in eternity
Bahk[1]
Region	Cephiron
Capital	Travincal
Official Language(s)	Bahkan, English
Leader	Rupert Steinbahk III
Population	490 Million
Currency	Gold Piece (GP)
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History

The history of Bahk before 1200 A.D is still a mystery to historians even today. It is known that the eastern half of Cephiron was inhabited by several dozen kins (Kins were nomadic family units of skilled warriors). It's not known when or why the Kin wars started but it's generally accepted that the wars were fought mainly over hunting territory. As the kins grew larger and more organized encounters between rival kins became quite common. The violence escalated causing what is known today as the Kin wars. Vicious battles over the best hunting grounds had initiated the wars but the constant fighting created blood feuds and a never ending cycle of violence and death. It is estimated that over two million natives were killed and by 1200 A.D. only six kins remained. Rupert Steinbahk, the leader of the largest kin which occupied what is now the province of Kurast, reached out to the other kins with a promise of peace. The kin leaders were suspicious of Steinbahk's motives but were also ready to put an end to the bloodshed. Steinbahk shared his vision of a united people with the other kin leaders and in July of 1205 the Unification treaty was signed putting an end to the Kin wars. In 1217 the country was named Bahk in honor of the newly chosen king. The family Steinbahk has ruled over the unified Bahkan people ever since.

Geography

Location: Cephiron

Area: Total: 10,184,670 sq km Land: 9,293,507 sq km Water: 891,163 sq km

Land Boundaries: Total: 6,893 km Border Country: Amigosa

Coastline: 200,008 km

Maritime Claims: Territorial Sea: 12 nm Contiguous Zone: 24 nm Exclusive Economic Zone: 200 nm Continental Shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin

Climate: Varies from temperate in south to sub-arctic and arctic in north Highest Recorded Temperature: 40 °C Lowest Recorded Temperature: -54 °C

Terrain: Northern regions are heavily forested. Plains and mountains in the east and lowlands in the southwest make up the rest of Bahk.

Elevation Extremes: Lowest point: Lief Sea 0 m Highest point: Mount Oulatep 7,959 m

Natural Resources: Wide natural resource base including major deposits of coal, and many strategic minerals, timber, fish, wildlife, hydropower note: formidable obstacles of climate, terrain, and distance hinder exploitation of natural resources

Land Use: Arable Land: 7.17% Permanent Crops: 2.11% Other: 90.72%

Irrigated Land: 14,700 sq km

Natural Hazards: Permafrost over much of Northern Hyland and Northam Province is a major impediment to development.

Environmental Issues: Minor air pollution from industry and emissions from motor vehicles.

Geography - Note: Second largest country in Cephiron

People

Population: 490,000,000 (November 2006 Census)

Age Structure: 0-25 years: 13.6% 26-45 years: 13.9% 46-65 years: 14.4% 66-85 years: 16.1% 86-105 years: 22.1% 106-125 years: 10.5% 125 years and older: 9.4%

Life Expectancy: Average: 139 years Male: 136 years Female: 142 years

Nationality: Noun: Bahkan(s) Adjective: Bahkan

Ethnic Groups: 77.3% Hythorian (White) 12.7% Ethorian (Black) 6% Aethorian (Asian) 4% Other

Religions: The practice of any and all religions is permitted but the Government does not support religion and no funding if provided to religious organizations. 24% Atenist (An Ancient religion in which followers worshiped a sun god called the Aten. It was popular during the infancy of the Republic but support has dwindled over the last 500 years as the majority of Bahkan's have abandoned religion) 15% Unspecified 61% None

Languages: Official language: Bahkan Secondary Languages: English, French

Literacy: Definition: Person age 15 and over can read and write Total Population: 99% Male: 99% Female: 99%

Government

Country Name: Conventional Long Form: The People's Republic of Bahk Conventional Short Form: Bahk Abbreviation: PRB

Governmental System: Constitutional Monarchy and Democratic Republic

Administrative Divisions: Provinces: Kurast, Hyland, Northam Territory: Yuhkra

Capital: Travincal

Provincial/Territory Capitals: Kurast: Westmarch Hyland: Jecht Northam: Ashelon Yuhkra: Kaladan

Independence: 13 July 1205 AD (Union of Bahkan Kins)

National Holiday: Unification Day, 13 July 1205 AD

Constitution: Made up of unwritten and written acts, customs, judicial decisions, and traditions; the written part of the constitution consists of the Constitution Union of 11 January 1217, which created a Republic of three provinces, and the Constitution Act of 17 April 1222, which transferred formal control over from the individual Kins to the newly chosen King of Bahk, and added a Bahkan Charter of Rights and Freedoms as well as procedures for constitutional amendments.

Legal System: Based on civil law system

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Executive Branch: Chief of State: King Rupert Steinbahk III (since 8 June 1942) Head of Government: Executor Valshara Steinbahk (since 23 January 2005) Elections: None, the monarchy is hereditary; Executor appointed by the monarch on the advice of the Dukes for a two-year term.

Legislative Branch: Head of Kurast: Duke Malorious Dukain Head of Northam: Duchess Cassandra Isenhart Head of Hyland: Duke Sylus Kutan Head(s) of Yuhkra: Duke Malkor Duran, Duke Conrad Nimos, Duchess Jhamira Talos The Dukes are elected by the people to represent and speak for the people in the Senate, each province holds elections every two years. The territories of Yuhkra elect three Dukes due to a technicality in the Constitution which states that the former ruling member of a Kin would have a seat on the Senate. Yuhkra was ruled by three large Kins at the end of the clan wars and therefore were allowed to be represented equally in the Senate. Recently, the three provinces of Bahk have petitioned the King to remove two of the Yuhkra representatives seats from the Senate because it gives them an unfair advantage. The King is currently working on an amendment to the Constitution despite Yuhkra's objections. Elections: Senate - last held 23 January 2005 (next to be held in 2007)

Judicial Branch: Supreme Judicator: Yunalesca Ellison Supreme Court of Bahk (Judicators are appointed by the King through the Senate and serve for life) Political Parties and Leaders: None, political parties have been banned as they create divisions in society and promote bad politics.

Economy

Economy Overview: An affluent, high-tech industrial society in the trillion dollar class, Bahk is a socialist market-oriented economic system with very good living standards. Since 1950, the impressive growth of the manufacturing, mining, and service sectors has transformed the nation from a largely rural economy into one primarily industrial and urban. The 1989 Bahk-Amigosa Free Trade Agreement (FTA) and the 1994 Cephiron Free Trade Agreement (CFTA) (which includes Centonal, Draloch, Darmoch, Minos Tora, Lythora, Tritune, and Sacragata) touched off a dramatic increase in trade and economic integration. Given its great natural resources, skilled labor force, and modern capital plant, Bahk enjoys solid economic prospects.

Gross Domestic Product (GDP): $2,258,964,179,072.27

GDP Per Capita: $4,676.94

Unemployment Rate: 11.54%

Population Below Poverty Line: 12.9%

Exports: $261,787,395,932.27

Exports - Commodities: Motor vehicles and parts, industrial machinery, aircraft, telecommunications equipment, chemicals, plastics, fertilizers, wood pulp, timber, electricity, aluminum, wood and wood products, metals, and chemicals

Exports - Partners: Amigosa 80.1% Lythora 8.4% Centonal 6.5% Tritune 5%

Imports: $285,310,969,020.00

Import - Commodities: Petroleum and petroleum products, natural gas, and durable consumer goods

Import - Partners: Amigosa 68% Lythora 19.2% Centonal 10.6% Darmoch 2.2%

Trade Deficit: -$23,523,573,087.73

National Currency: Gold Piece

Currency Code: GP

Exchange Rate: 2.6678 GPs = $1 NSD

Military

Military Branches: Bahkan Forces: Royal Infantry, Royal Navy, Royal Sky Fleet, Internal Security Force (homeland security)

Military Service and Age of Obligation: 16 years of age for voluntary military service; women comprise approximately 41% of Bahkan's military forces

Military Personnel: 2,243,500 total (2006 est.)

Military Expenditures - Dollar Figure: $259,788,120,345.60

Military Expenditures - Percent of GDP: 16%

Vehicles and Weapons: Tanks: 7,820 Armored Fighting Vehicles: 12,975 Self-Propelled Artillery: 2,705 Towed Artillery: 5,065 Artillery Rockets: 1,606 Anti-Tank Guns: 5623 Anti-Aircraft Guns: 6,000 Air Defense Missiles: 1,670 Helicopters: 933 Jet Aircraft: 1,265

Transnational Issues

Disputes - International: The loss of Royal Navy Destroyer RMS Indomitable and the death of well known naval hero Rear Admiral Nikolai Isenhart at the hands of the Borman Empire and its unscrupulous allies during an attempt to deliver medial and other relief supplies to Socal8 has caused great public outrage. This incident has also caused a rift in the Region of Cephiron. The people of Bahk have felt abandoned by their allies who refused to aid them in a military campaign against the nations responsible for the unprovoked attack.