Shuddermount Island

One of the northernmost and coldest landmasses in the world of Galandria, Shuddermount Island is said in legend to have supposedly been the main point of contact with lands beyond Galandria prior to the Great Severance. Named for the dormant volcano located in its far interior, the mountainous island is now home to two warring Anor states: the Mightian Union and the Republic of Sartia.

Geography

Located in northern Galandria at the southern end of the Severed Sea, Shuddermount Island takes its name from the massive dormant volcano near the center of the island, known only as Shuddermount for its frequent, intense tremors in the millennia prior to its ongoing period of silence. Typically for one of volcanic origin, the island is fairly round save for its western peninsulas and gently slopes upward in elevation from the wetlands and temperate forests of its coast to the high mountains and grasslands of its interior.
Prevailing winds from the Severed Sea mean that the northwestern side of the island, currently occupied by the Mightian Union, receives significantly more rainfall than the southeastern side, currently occupied by the Republic of Sartia. The Sunsireverf, Oxbreak, Osemon, Grasshear, and Dograsp Rivers can be found on the windward side, while the relatively smaller Dirongrame and Coldpass Rivers can be found on the leeward side.

Ecosystem

The ecosystems of the windward and leeward sides of Shuddermount Island vary significantly.
The northwestern side of the island is dominated by temperate rainforests and swampy wetlands, though mild temperatures due to the island's northern location have kept the most troublesome flora and fauna from taking root. The rainforests abound with all manner of monkeys, birds, and insects, though they thankfully lack the horrors that mosquitos are. Other species of birds and insects, along with numerous reptiles such as caimans and crocodiles, can be found within the vast wetlands. All manner of flora dominates this side of the island, some beautiful, some dangerous, some medicinal, and some sacred.
In contrast, the southeastern side holds its fair share of coastal rainforests but largely lacks wetlands and instead abounds with deciduous forests throughout the foothills of the Minhal Mountains, which take up a significant portion of its interior. Within these mountains can be found high taigas and grasslands. Though many of the rainforest flora and fauna found in the northern rainforests can also be found in the rainforests here, many ground-dwelling creatures such as small mammals and lagomorphs, along with sizable herds of deer, fill the forests of the foothills. Hardier creatures such as elk and mountain goats can be found higher in the mountainous taigas, while small rodents subsist on the sparse precipitation of the high grasslands. Delicate alpine flowers dot the highest ranges, many of which are prized across Galandria for their great beauty.

Ecosystem Cycles

Though ecosystems remain fairly constant and stable throughout the year in Sartia due to its mild temperatures and the Minhal Mountains' blocking of the wind, cold, harsh winters on the northwestern side mean that many creatures of the rainforests and wetlands go into hibernations of a sort during this season. As such, Smotian society tends to farm year-round and supplement their diet with some hunting, while much of Mightian's food supply comes from hunting during the summer, as few crops grow quickly enough to avoid the onset of winter.

Localized Phenomena

The perpetual storms of the Severed Sea far to the north of the island are said to still be barely visible on the horizon from the docks of Goldbreak, though few venture toward them in this day and age as all past exploration efforts have ended in failure.
Shuddermount continues to mystify the island's people, as while its heavy millennia-long rumbling is well-recorded in the island's history, no eruptions are ever known to have occurred and the mountain itself fell silent roughly 2300 years ago prior to the Great Upheaval. Many Anorians worship the mountain as the physical embodiment of Winhal, the Unseen Rook, their primary deity.

Climate

The climate on the leeward side of the island, where much of Sartia is located, tends to be fairly mild year-round if a bit chilly. The Minhal Mountains, however, are known for their freezing winters, and temperatures there rarely climb above freezing even during the summer.
The windward side of the island, where Mightia is located, shares Sartia's summer temperatures but tends to be quite cold during winters. Snowfall is not uncommon and harsh winds often blow in from the sea.

Natural Resources

Much of Shuddermount Island's resources come from the Sartians. Nearly all of the island's farming and ranching is done on this side, and much of the island's wood exports come from its deciduous forests. Mining has also traditionally been carried out in the Minhal Mountains, though ore exhaustion and an ongoing war between the two states have caused operations to largely shrink away.
Though Mightia does not hold as many natural resources as its southern neighbor, peat mining is a major industry throughout its extensive wetlands. Fishing is also quite lucrative, as much of the union's population is concentrated near the coast.

History

See the timeline at the bottom of the page.

Tourism

The Minhal Mountains have long been a major draw for winter tourists across Galandria, as they are the highest mountains that can be found outside of the Kerez Empire and its vassals. Sledding and other winter sports were quite popular for many years, though tourism has largely fallen away since the onset of warfare between the two states of Shuddermount.

Type

Island

Included Organizations

• Republic of Sartia

Related Ethnicities

• Mightian Anor
• Sartian Anor