Strait of Uketya: Spine of Empire
Geography
The Strait of Uketya spans the width of Tuhra's northern border and Unterritory's southern border. At one end is the island-continent of Wlitowa; on the other are the shores of southern Yukur. The strait is roughly the same width across, but it bends upward. From mountains on the northern side, it is possible to see across the strait into Tuhra. The Tuhran coastline is swamplands in the west and cliffs in the east, with only a few points of entry (Welkwu greatest among them) along the way. It is commonplace for traders to bypass the cities on Tuhra's northern coastline, head through the strait, and dock in Yattau on Tuhra's western shores. The strait is shallower in the east than it is in the west, but it's all passable by any manner of seaworthy vessel.
Localized Phenomena
Depending on the time of day and the time of year, the currents flow at different speeds and different directions. However, the strait always flows either east to west or west to east. This is used by local wayfarers to schedule their voyages of trade. This has also thrown foreign navies into confusion, as Wlitowai ships might take days or even weeks longer to cross it than their expected and allocated time. Welkwu's navy was certain to punish their rivals for this mistake whenever applicable.
Fauna & Flora
The floor of the Strait of Uketya is lined with algae. Migrating fish arrive from the nearby rivers to graze in the warm season and leave for their breeding grounds in the cold season. While these fish are caught by the locals, there are tastier fish that dwell exclusively in the tributary rivers. As a result, the Uketya fish maintain sustainable levels.
Natural Resources
Fish from the Strait of Uketya have higher concentrations of zinc than most other fish in Wouraiya; this has led researchers to believe that the algae and thus the riverbed of the strait is filled with zinc ore. Be that as it may, there are several other places in Wouraiya with access to zinc ore that are significantly easier to harvest.
History
In the time of the ancient civilizations (Irewa, the werai empires, the Retrougan settlements), Tuhra was practically uninhabited. The ancient peoples regarded Tuhra to be quite dreary. Their odysseys through the Strait of Uketya confirmed their beliefs. The other southern continents were sparsely populated, so there was no reason to travel through the southern waterways.
When the Yukuric tribes settled in Tuhra, they too had no reason to use the Strait of Uketya. They spent their lives traversing the Yukuric deserts, and Tuhra was a paradise to them. Why stray from the continent? The werai empires in Unterritory were crumbling if not already gone, so there was no need to communicate with them.
The Strait of Uketya, though, was the Spine of Empire. When Tuhra became more than a collection of squabbling tribes, its citizens were sent to establish new colonies abroad. They crossed the Strait of Uketya to found new colonies, like Telkessan and Sossatet. Across Uketya came all the natural resources that Tuhra could not produce itself: furs, lumber, ore, and fruits. Tuhra became a prosperous land, perhaps too prosperous for its own good.
When Tuhra declared war on Wlitowa and Keyrit, Keyrit used the Strait of Uketya to project power onto the Tuhran colonies, seizing the entirety of Unterritory's southern coast. Unlike Tuhra, Keyrit was a nation that came from the west and operated largely from the west. Keyrit's newfound control provided easy access to trade in the east, for example the ports of Yukur. Even though Wlitowa received control of Tuhra at the end of the Tuhran Wars, Keyrit was the one to become a regional power due to its control over the means of transportation and trade. Keyrit would exert its dominance over the waterways in the Eastern Uprising, creating a quick end to the war.
The dawn of the city-state of Welkwu caused much concern for the Wlitowan governors of Tuhra. They had very strict regulations over goods and services in the region, but they could not adequately police the Strait of Uketya. As a port town on the strait, Welkwu's expert smuggling and surprisingly impactful navy gave the businesses of Welkwu free access to nearly all of Wlitowa, rendering the regulations nearly useless. Wlitowa sent fleet after fleet to try and neutralize Welkwu's threat, to practically no avail.
When the Yukuric tribes settled in Tuhra, they too had no reason to use the Strait of Uketya. They spent their lives traversing the Yukuric deserts, and Tuhra was a paradise to them. Why stray from the continent? The werai empires in Unterritory were crumbling if not already gone, so there was no need to communicate with them.
The Strait of Uketya, though, was the Spine of Empire. When Tuhra became more than a collection of squabbling tribes, its citizens were sent to establish new colonies abroad. They crossed the Strait of Uketya to found new colonies, like Telkessan and Sossatet. Across Uketya came all the natural resources that Tuhra could not produce itself: furs, lumber, ore, and fruits. Tuhra became a prosperous land, perhaps too prosperous for its own good.
When Tuhra declared war on Wlitowa and Keyrit, Keyrit used the Strait of Uketya to project power onto the Tuhran colonies, seizing the entirety of Unterritory's southern coast. Unlike Tuhra, Keyrit was a nation that came from the west and operated largely from the west. Keyrit's newfound control provided easy access to trade in the east, for example the ports of Yukur. Even though Wlitowa received control of Tuhra at the end of the Tuhran Wars, Keyrit was the one to become a regional power due to its control over the means of transportation and trade. Keyrit would exert its dominance over the waterways in the Eastern Uprising, creating a quick end to the war.
The dawn of the city-state of Welkwu caused much concern for the Wlitowan governors of Tuhra. They had very strict regulations over goods and services in the region, but they could not adequately police the Strait of Uketya. As a port town on the strait, Welkwu's expert smuggling and surprisingly impactful navy gave the businesses of Welkwu free access to nearly all of Wlitowa, rendering the regulations nearly useless. Wlitowa sent fleet after fleet to try and neutralize Welkwu's threat, to practically no avail.
Alternative Name(s)
The Spine of Empire, "Egkagroiyi," North Riches, "Ipaberats," "Uketya Vogang"
Type
Strait
Location under
Ruling/Owning Rank
Owning Organization
Contested By
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Great picture you took for the header! This strait is really interesting too -- having a varied direction (and rate!) of flow is cool, and it's interesting to think about what sort of effects that'd have. I love all the history regarding it too, learning about historical vs modern uses is lovely. Great work!
Much appreciated! With all the stuff on my plate, I was on the fence on whether I should participate. If it brings you pleasure, I'm glad I did!