Geography

The country of Nordheim has a variety of different geographic zones present in itself. This page will detail the different areas, both in a strictly geographical sense and in a political sense.

Geographic
The country of Nordheim is an island nation, with a central island surrounded by an island chain, which stretches around the main island, and largely straddles it from the west to the north, until it breaks north-east. The exception is a sole island more north than the the others, as part of the north-eastern chain.

Nordheim-Insel
The main island of Nordheim is also named Nordheim (Nordheim-insel), and is referred to as such colloquially by its inhabitants. However, Nordheimers living on any of the island chains, especially in Ostdan, refer to the island simply as "das Festland", or the mainland. More rarely, it may also be referred to as "das Nordheimer Festland." (The Nordheimer Mainland). The northern and northeastern parts of the island are very flat, and located in the Großtal, (Great Valley). These areas have the majority of the rivers and lakes on the mainland. The northern coasts are very rocky, but lack any cliffs or rocky walls. This area sees greater than normal precipitation throughout the year, and also sees the greatest risk for floods. The eastern coasts are dominated by peninsulas and bays. The peninsulas located in the east, the Talismann and the Tränen peninsulas, are largely rocky and have cliffs on the ocean-facing side, while the bays on the inside are relatively flat and smoother than their northern rocky counterparts. To the south, the trend of cliff-dominated coasts continues, with much of the southern coast being dominated by them. This trend ends in the west, where most of the coast is flat and sandy.

While the north of the island is dominated by rocky beaches, marshes, and valleys, the south of the island is dominated by plains and forests, with some more hills the farther north you go. The eastern and western ends of the island, although different on the coasts, are similar in their interior, with smaller waterways breaking up much of the flatter plains. This island contains the southernmost tip in the country. The islands is bordered by the Nordsee (North Sea) to the north and west, the Golf von Nordheim (Gulf of Nordheim) to the east, and the Nordheimer Kanal (Nordheimer Channel) to the south.

Mountains
The island contains a small mountain range throughout the center running along it from the east and west. It also forks slightly to go north at its start in the west. The mountain range is colloquially referred to as "Die Berge" (The Mountains), although the officially name of the range is "Die Eisenberge" (The Iron Mountains.) The range is sometimes referred to that locally. The range is rich in primarily iron-ore, which gave it its name. However, the Eisenberge range is abnormally rich in minerals, including ones that are typically rare. In the lead up to the mountains, especially in the south, there are some hilly areas.

Waterways
The island has multiple lakes and rivers, although only the major ones are located on the map to the right. The Volksfluss, originally the Königfluss, is the longest river located on the island, which originates in the southwestern corner of the Eisenberge mountain range, and descends further to the southwest, feeding into the Volks-bucht (Formerly the König-bucht.). There are other rivers located in largely the northeastern areas of the island. The Weizenfluss originates at the eastern most point of the Eisenberge, flowing largely southwards into the Talismann-bucht. This river forks into the smaller Saatfluss, which flows into the Tränen-bucht. In the northeastern corner of the island lay two lakes, the Sumpfsee and the Bohnesee. in the valleys north of the Eisenberge lay the Senkesee, which is created by the Heißfluss, which flows north from roughly the center of the Eisenberge, depositing itself into the Inseln-bucht. An additional river, the Geistfluss, flows northeast from the Senkesee. The Senkesee is the largest lake on the island. Directly south of the Senkesee, across the Eisenberge, is the Einheitsee, which used to be called the Kronesee, and some older Nordheimers still refer to it as such, along with the Königfluss.

Toteküste-Inseln
The Toteküste-inseln are an array of islands that stretch along the west and northwestern coast of Nordheim-insel. They are made up of the islands of Brüderland, Üppigland, Weißland, Gräteland, and Buchtland. These islands are the most populated out of any of the other chains. On their northwestern coasts, they contain cliffs and rocky beaches, the southeastern sides facing Nordheim-insel have flatter beaches. These islands have very amounts of streams, if any at all. These islands contain the western most tip of the country. (Specifically Brüderland).

Doppel-Inseln
The Doppel-inseln are two islands located off the northern shores of Nordheim-insel, which are different from the rest of the islands to the east or west. They contain rocky beaches throughout themselves, and also are less populated. Because of their uniqueness amongst the other island chains, and their similarity only to each other, these islands are referred to also as the "Die Zwillinge" (The Twins). The names of these islands also come from two brothers, which further bolsters this nickname. These islands, similar to their western neighbors, lack any significant bodies of water in their interiors.

Ostdan-Inseln
The Ostdan-inseln are the farthest flung islands from the mainland, located northeast of the rest of the country. With the exception of Einsamland, these islands are relatively close together. They contain the easternmost (Rotland) and northernmost (Einsamland) points of the country. Like the other island chains, they contain no significant bodies of water. These islands, in contrast to others in the country, are largely flat and have sandier beaches. They are between the Toteküste-inseln and the Doppel-inseln in terms of population.

Political
The nation of Nordheim is broken up into four different administrative divisions. This section will detail each of them. Only notable cities will be listed here, with major cities constituting areas of 500,000 population or more, and minor cities constituting cities of 100,000 population or more.

Hauptland
Hauptland is the capital region of the nation of Nordheim. Here, the capital city of Volksstadt can be found. The territory of Hauptland includes the entirety of the Toteküste-Inseln, and the western most portions of Nordheim-insel. The borders of the area are roughly based on a north-south split along the northern portion of the Eisenberge. The additional major cities in this region include the coastal cities of Schamerich and Nordgrat. Minor cities in the region include Hakendorf, Eisenbruck, Gelderhafen, Unterhagen, Westspitze, Geldufer, and Inselburg. This region is generally one of the most developed, and the most diverse in terms of ethnic and linguistic populations.

Major Cities
This region includes three major cities. These are Volksstadt, Schamerich, and Nordgrat. Volksstadt is the largest city in the nation, and also serves as the capital. It is located on the southern coast of the island, where the Volksfluss meets the Volks-bucht. Due to the government being situated there, Volksstadt has a high number of administrative and governmental jobs. Schamerich is located on the westernmost tip of the island of Nordheim, and Nordgrat is located on the northernmost tip, both of which are located in Hauptland. These three cities serve as major ports for the nation, taking in most of the commercial trade coming from the Atlantic and the Arctic. Schamerich serves as one of the most diverse cities in the nation. Nordgrat is known for it's shipbuilding, as well as being an oil refinery due to the nearby off-shore drilling rigs.

Minor Cities
Hauptland contains seven minor cities. They are Hakendorf, Eisenbruck, Gelderhafen, Unterhagen, Westspitze, Geldufer, and Inselburg. Hakendorf is known for its fishing industry, located on the western coast. Eisenbruck is a mining down, situated at the base of the Eisenberge. Gelderhafen is another port city on the west coast, primarily known for its artisanal goods, and later its industry. Unterhagen is located on the southern coast, another industrial town. Westspitze is the westernmost town in the nation, located on the island of Brüderland. It serves as a university town. Geldufer is a resort town located on Üppigland. Inselburg is another fishing port town, located on Weißland.

Oberland
Oberland is the northern and eastern region of Nordheim-insel. It is situated largely in the Großtal. It contains the largest lake in the nation, the Senkesee. It also contains the most rivers and lakes, and has the most water area. Oberland also includes the Doppel-inseln. The borders of Oberland largely follow the Eisenberge, then the Weizenfluss. Major cities in the region include Amsee, Oberbach, and Nordwerde. Minor cities include Niederhof, Sprödeberg, Ludwighaven, and Buchtrode. This region is generally known for its industrial prowess.

Major Cities
This region has three major cities, Amsee, Oberbach, and Nordwerde. Amsee is the capital city of the region located on the Senkesee, and the Geistfluss, and was formerly a manufacturing hub, that has been revitalized into a technology hub, also serving as a university center and resort town. Oberbach is located on the Tränen-bucht, and the Saatfluss flows through it. Nordwerde is located on the Talismann-bucht, and the Weizenfluss flows through it. Nordwerde is a twin-city with Niederfurt in Alterland, and both of their metropolitan areas have largely become unrecognizable from one another. Oberbach and Nordwerde are both known for taking in large amounts of trade from the Baltic (through the Kiel canal and other means) and also taking in trade originating from the center and east of the continent. Both cities are also large manufacturing hubs. Nordwerde is the largest ship port in the nation, and is the largest city in Oberland.

Minor Cities
Oberland has four minor cities. These are Niederhof, Sprödeberg, Ludwighaven, and Buchtrode. Sprödeberg is a mining town, surrounded by the Eisenberge. Niederhof is similar to Amsee, in that it is a revitalized manufacturing hub, turning to technology development and tourism, along with being a center of healthcare. Ludwighaven is a fishing port town located on the northern coast. It is relatively isolated, located near undeveloped marshlands, and is located on the Sumpfsee. Buchtrode is located at the entrance of the Talismann-bucht. The town is known for the mining related to the rocky cliffs in the area, as well as being a fishing port town. It also produces ships, and is the eastern most notable city on Nordheim-insel.

Alterland
Alterland is the southern province of the country. It is located in the plains and forests south of the Eisenberge, and its borders are based on the Weizenfluss, the Eisenberge, and a near direct southern split from the northern range in the Eisenberge. Alterland is generally the least densest populated of the three Nordheim-insel regions. It contains two major cities, Einheitsstadt, and Niederfurt, and five minor cities, Hohenhalde, Unterstein, Mittewald, Altenkirch, and Inselshut.

Major Cities
Alterland has two major cities of Einheisstadt and Niederfurt. Niederfurt forms a twin city system with the nearby Nordwerde, on the Talismann-bucht. Niederfurt is the second largest ship port in the nation, serving as a major manufacturing hub with nearby Nordwerde. However, Niederfurt tends to be on the less developed side compared to its neighbor. Einheitsstadt, once known as Kronstadt, is the largest city and capital of the region. It is located on the Einheitsee. Einheitsstadt is the center of industry for the entire province, and is really the center of much of the province's activity.

Minor Cities
Alterland has five minor cities of Hohenhalde, Unterstein, Mittewald, Alternkirch, and Inselshut. Hohenhalde is a mining town located at the southern base of the Eisenberge. Unterstein is also a mining town, and also serves as a rail hub for the surrounding area. Mittewald is a farming and forestry town. Altenkirch is one of the oldest settlements in the nation, and as such has very old architecture, which serves as a tourist pull. Inselshut is a fishing town located on the southern coast, and is the southernmost notable settlement on Nordheim-insel.

Ostdan
Ostdan is the only administrative region that has no land on Nordheim-insel, and is made up entirely of the Ostdan-inseln. It is the easternmost and northernmost division in the nation. It contains no major cities, and only two minor cities of Gelbwangen and Weitweg. It is the least populated region in the nation, and one could argue one of the least influential.

Minor Cities
Ostdan contains only two minor cities, Gelbwangen and Weitweg. Weitweg is the biggest town in the region, and serves as the capital, located on Ebenland. Its economy is based almost entirely off of tourism, and fishing. Gelbwangen is similarly heavily reliant on tourism, and fishing. However, Weitweg has small amounts of manufacturing located in it, while Gelbwangen lacks much heavy industry. Gelbwangen is located on Gelbland.