Laurana
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| Flag of Laurana | |
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| Population - Metro |
17,643,894 49,564,951 |
| County | Home County |
| Country | Cravan |
| Area Code | 705 |
| Postal Code | 22462 |
| Sister cities | Izistan City, Izistan |
Contents
Background
The Imperial City of Laurana is the capital of Cravan, and Cravan's second largest mainland city with a population of over 49,000,000. (including Metro areas) It is a city of great economic and cultural significance to Cravan, and is home to the seat of power of the Imperial Crown.
Laurana itself developed into an organized city state around the year AD 1000 (known as Laragan at the time), however it did not reach its peak in the medieval age until the AD 1200's when the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of mainland Cravan united under the banner of the Kingdom of Maticha. This was a time of great economic prosperity, with riches flooding the Imperial City and gold literally flowing through the streets. The people of the city were the richest in the nation at this time, and it was considered a privelige to live in the central city of the Kingdom.
However these old times of feudalism began to fade, and with it came great changes in the city and nation at large. As modern Cravan formed and changed, so too did the Imperial City. Laurana was the site of the first major uprising of the Cravanian Revolution, when over 600 citizens stormed the old Senate building and set it ablaze. When power was usurped from the Old Imperial Family in 1706, Laurana was chosen as the location of the new Empire's capital due to its historical significance, and as such the city has a long and rich history.
Geography
Laurana is located on the Northeastern Grasslands, just north of the Cravanian Mountain Chain, and is located roughly 200 miles from the eastern coastline. Running through it is the Alzgarn River, a major river used mostly for shipping and transportation. Three bridges stretch over the river: the Craven Bridge, the Dawson Bridge, and the Alzgarn Bridge.
For the most part the city is located on flat grasslands, however some areas of the city are slighty elevated in the southwestern sections, mostly near the beginning of the Cravno-Dividing Mountain Chain.
Districts
Laurana is broken up into five seperate districts, as listed below.
Commerce District
The Commerce District is the heart of the city, where all business takes place. It is marked by the tall skyscrapers and office buildings which house the various corporations and offices of Cravan. Stores and shops line the streets, and this section of the city rarely sleeps sleeps at night. Traffic is a major problem, with streets hitting massive amounts of volume during the day even with mass transit systems in use. It is by far the busiest section of the city, with millions of commuters moving to and from their places of work each day. The Commerce District of Laurana is quite possibly the most important piece of Cravan's economy, and as such is protected with care.
Harson Street
Harson Street is the heart of the shopping part of the Commerce District, with stores and boutiques of all types running up and down the street. The shops and boutiques on Harson Street mostly cater to the wealthy of Cravan, and is mostly frequented by the upper echelons of Cravanian society.
Imperial District
The Imperial District is the center of Cravan's power, and as such is among the most secure parts of the city, and a high security presence keeps the peace and preserves the many historic buildings of this area. This District is filled mostly with buildings dating back to pre-revolution times, where Cravanian history was made, as well as all foreign embassies. The Imperial District is known as a rich cultural center and a center of political power, and is the home of all government buildings and offices. From the Imperial Palace to the Imperilal Military High Command, this is the nerve center of the Imperial government.
The Imperial District is also known as the Old City at times, since it is the oldest part of Laurana. Its historical significance is crucial to Cravan, although some buildings located here are more modern than most think, such as the recently built Imperial High Courts building.
Residential District
The Residential District is mostly populated by urban-middle class families, and mostly covered by high-rise apartment buildings and condominiums. As a result, most citizens in this area use mass transport to go about their daily lives. Traffic from the Residential Areas into the other areas of the city gets particularly congested when workers from the suburbs make their way through on their commute.
Industrial/Airport District
The Industrial and Airport areas of the city are the center of the manufacturing centers of the Imperial City, and are the most polluted sections of the city. New environmental programs have been enacted to keep the pollution to this section, and these methods have been relatively successful, keeping the rest of the city clean. Although dirty and somewhat undesirable, the Industrial District is crucial to the more extravagant Commerce District's survival.
Suburban District
Not so much a district in itself as it is more a section, the suburban areas of Laurana are filled with mostly middle and upper class homes, and are much quieter areas to live. However living in this section of the city extends the commute to almost unbearable levels.
Culture
Laurana is home to numerous museums, mostly national heritage museums. Notable museums include the National History Museum of Cravan, the Cravanian Military History Institute, the Cravanian Museum of Fine Art, and the Cravanian Museum of Natural History. In addition, there are numerous opera houses and venues located around the city, the most notable being the Laurana Opera House. A more recent cultural venue in Laurana is the Lendassa Arena, a convention center owned by the Lendassa Corporation which hosts sports games (namely hockey and soccer/football), concerts, conventions, and many more types of events.
Government
In addition to the national government hosted in the city, the city possesses its own municipal government to manage the city. The current mayor of Laurana is Sir Carl Agathson, with his term set to end in mid 2009. The city is also managed by a council of twelve officials elected by the citizens of the city. Sitting on city council is not a full time paying job, and most members of the council usually have prominent jobs in Cravanian society. Most recently, Gerald Sully, owner of Sully & Co. Law Offices, was elected to the head of the council.
Tourism
Laurana thrives on tourism, bringing in much of its revenue from tourists from both around Cravan and throughout the world. The city often puts millions of dollars into promoting tourism alone, broadcasting commercials and advertisements on foreign and domestic television networks. There are also numerous web ads promoting the city for tourists, and an entire section of the official Laurana website is devoted to tourism in Laurana.
Education
Laurana is home to numerous prestigious universities, namely the Cravanian Military Educational Institute, the Imperial Cravanian Army's university and training center. One prestigious school in particular is the Cravanian University of the Arts and Sciences, a government subsidised private institution which provides education for the lowest fees in the nation. A much more famous example of a private school in Laurana, however, is the Telson Institute, a private law school which is the most expensive law school in all of Cravan. Average undergraduate tuition for Telson annually exceeds $30,000 USD, however its reputation sometimes even exceeds its tutition rates.
Television
Currently, Laurana is serviced mostly by the Golden Triangle Broadcasting Corporation,
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The Eastern Havenic Empire of Cravan |
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|---|---|---|
| Main article: Cravan | ||
| Military and Intelligence: Imperial Cravanian Air Force, Imperial Cravanian Army, Cravanian Imperial Navy, Imperial Department of Intelligence | ||
| Locations: Laurana, Cravanian Overseas Territories | ||
| Miscellaneous: Crave, National Anthem, Aequatian Separatist Conflict, Invasion of British Londinium, Operation Hallowed Sabre | ||
