Pierson Lake
"So let me get this straight, out of all the planets we could have landed on, we pick one with a lake which is boiling."
"It's not actually boiling, it's more like a constant mist smelling faintly of sulfur and-"
"Boiling. Lake. God this place is crazy."
In the middle of the only green area on the Orenn continent, along the equatorial band of the planet, lies Pierson Lake. It's a famous landmark since it is visible from orbit, and stands out in stark difference to the forests around it. While the oceans are the usual deep blue, the lake tends towards a more teal or aquamarine. More than a few resort settlements have been put in place around the safe zone, taking advantage of the view to offer mostly lake-side windows.
Geography
Around the equatorial band of Orenn is the only forest which has managed to avoid being tainted or clear-cut by the residents of White Reach, and the area called "Pierson's Lake". It is a protected sanctuary by order of the High Senate in the 29th century, named after the senator who pushed the legislation through a remarkably indifferent offering of senators. The elevation rises at a slow slope for roughly a hundred kilometers before becoming a sharper rise for fifty kilometers into the ancient caldera which holds the lake itself. The measurement across the lake's roughly-circular form depends on where you begin and where you end up, ranging from four to four and a half kilometers.
Not that anyone actually goes into the lake, since it remains somewhat active enough to shed a fine mist of volcanic fumes early and late in the day. The water manages to filter a good deal of the toxic elements (which renders it incredibly unsafe to drink or immerse oneself in the water, even if it weren't on average of 80°C) so it's not technically unsafe to be near the lake edge. Nevertheless, fifty meters back from the water is considered "safe" and is where most of the getaway resorts have been built.
Not that anyone actually goes into the lake, since it remains somewhat active enough to shed a fine mist of volcanic fumes early and late in the day. The water manages to filter a good deal of the toxic elements (which renders it incredibly unsafe to drink or immerse oneself in the water, even if it weren't on average of 80°C) so it's not technically unsafe to be near the lake edge. Nevertheless, fifty meters back from the water is considered "safe" and is where most of the getaway resorts have been built.
Fauna & Flora
Trees in the area tend to have a slightly metallic and ivory sheen to the leaves and wood, drawing many to think there may be ore deposits nearby; this was one of the theories which drove Senator Pierson to crusade against mining developments, to preserve the wildlife. Such as it is, most of the plants have the local tendency to blanched appearances, even if they are adapted terran species. Ground cover is almost completely a thick clinging vine with broad leaves called "argent kudzu" officially and "Pierson's Weed" derisively; it is known to leech nutrients out of the soil and prevent anything smaller than trees from growing where it does. Animals cannot eat it, due to the buildup of known compounds toxic to terran-derived life in native flora.
There are no fish in the lake, and local fauna do not venture close to it. Ursine, cervine, and lupine derived mammals have been seen in areas which were not settled, and smaller mammals have been theorized to exist in the region as part of the food chain. Despite this, most of the fauna remain on the slopes and do not come near the settlements due to security perimeters being designed specifically to keep tourists from feeding the animals and inviting misfortune on themselves.
There are no fish in the lake, and local fauna do not venture close to it. Ursine, cervine, and lupine derived mammals have been seen in areas which were not settled, and smaller mammals have been theorized to exist in the region as part of the food chain. Despite this, most of the fauna remain on the slopes and do not come near the settlements due to security perimeters being designed specifically to keep tourists from feeding the animals and inviting misfortune on themselves.
Natural Resources
As the area is a sanctuary preserve, a few investigations on the sly have discovered there are heavy minerals and volcanic rock in the area. Due to the legislation currently in place, however, trying to exploit it would invite hefty penalties and incarceration. What can be removed, with proper licensing and permits, is lumber from the trees. A small amount of this lumber is harvested yearly, replaced by mandated reforestation projects to keep the place looking attractive to visitors. This does work, as Pierson Waterfronts enjoy a good amount of off-world visitors during peaceful times.
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