The Socialist Republic of Sieran, typically abbreviated to Sieran, is a large, socially progressive nation and is the most northeasterly region of Eurasia. In history it is often known by its historical provincial name as Chukotka. It is bordered to the north by the East Siberian Sea and the Chikchi Sea, whilst to the east it is bordered by the Bering Sea. Sieran also shares land borders with the Sakha Republic, Magadan Oblast and Kamchatka Krai. The country consists of Chukchi Peninsula and some of the small islands that can be found in the Bering and Arctic seas. Due to its proximity to the Bering Strait, Sieran has long controlled this passage into the Arctic Ocean from the Pacific Ocean.
The national population as of 1938 is 1,668,000.
Sieran covers an area of 737,700 square kilometers (284,800 sq mi) with the state capital being Ulyanov, though the largest city is Anadyr. The nation crosses the 180th Meridian thus it spans both East and Western Hemispheres.
Geography
Sieran is bordered in the north by the Chukchi Sea and the East Siberian Sea, which are part of the Arctic Ocean; in the east by the Bering Strait and the Bering Sea, part of the Pacific Ocean; in the south by Kamchatka Krai and Magadan Oblast; and in the west by the Sakha Republic. The Chukchi Peninsula projects eastward forming the Bering Strait between Sieran and Alaska, and encloses the north side of the Gulf of Anadyr. The peninsula’s easternmost point, Cape Dezhnev, is also the easternmost point of Sieran.
Ecologically, Sieran can be divided into three distinct areas: the northern Arctic desert, the central tundra, and the taiga in the south. About half of its area is above the Arctic Circle. This area is very mountainous, containing the Chukotsky Mountains and the Anadyr Range.
Sieran’s rivers spring from its northern and central mountains. The major rivers are:
- Anadyr River, with tributaries Belaya, Tanyurer, and Velikaya Rivers, flowing east to the Gulf of Anadyr.
- Omolon and the Great and Little Anyuy Rivers that flow west into the Kolyma River in Yakutia (Sakha).
- Rauchua, Chaun, Palyavaam, Pegtymel, Chegitun and Amguyema Rivers that flow north into the arctic seas.
The largest lakes are Lake Krasnoye, west of Anadyr, and Lake Elgygytgyn in central Sieran.
Large parts of Sieran are covered with moss, lichen, and arctic plants, similar to western Alaska. Surrounding the Gulf of Anadyr and in the river valleys grow small larch, pine, birch, poplar, and willow trees. More than 900 species of plants grow in Sieran, including 400 species of moss and lichen. It is home to 220 bird species and 30 fresh water fish species.
Climate
Sieran’s climate is influenced by its location on the three neighboring seas: the Bering Sea, the East Siberian Sea, and the Chukchi Sea. The weather is characterized by cold northerly winds that can quickly change to wet southern winds. Cape Navarin has the highest number of hurricanes and storms in Eurasia. The coastal areas are windy with little precipitation, between 200 and 400 mm per year. Temperature varies from −15 °C (5 °F) to −35 °C (−31 °F) in January and from +5 °C (41 °F) to +14 °C (57 °F) in July. Growing season is short, only 80 to 100 days per year.
Economy
Sieran has large reserves of oil, natural gas, coal, gold, and tungsten and tin, which are slowly being exploited, but much of the rural population survives on subsistence reindeer herding, whale hunting, and fishing. The urban population is employed in mining, administration, construction, cultural work, education, medicine, and other occupations.
As a constructor for it’s Defence Forces, a growing percentage of the urban population has shifted over in the various related industries including Steel forging, casting and other related occupations.
Transportation
Sieran is mostly roadless and air travel is the main mode of passenger transport. There are local permanent roads between some settlements, for example Egvekinot-Iultin (200 km). When cold enough, winter roads are constructed on the frozen rivers to connect region settlements in a uniform network.
The main Airport is located in Anadyr. Coastal Shipping also takes place but given the severity of ice conditions for at least half the year, most smaller settlements along the coast have to make do with unreliable sea transportation.