The Levant
The Levant is the land bridge between south eastern Europe and northwest Africa, as well as the most most westerly region of the Near East plus bordering eastern region of the Mediterranean.
Geography
The Levant covers the southern tip of Byzantia, the Turkic region at the south of the Black sea, the eastern part of the Mediterranean / western most part of the Near east, right down to Egypt.
This region primarily sits on coastlines, with mountainous areas, desert, grassland and copses of trees. Some oasis sits here and there in these regions and some major rivers runs through parts. The Nile in Egypt and the middle of the Euphrates can be found in the north east according to some estimates. Many towns & cities sit on the banks of the rivers and on the coastline, with smaller settlements here & there within reach of potable water sources & along trade routes. Smaller forests, and more arable land is found in the northern regions especially to the mouth & southern coast of the Black Sea.
Ecosystem
The regional areas have a number of plants & animals. Many are suited to desert life and arid conditions. Also a few are based in & along rivers & water sources. The sea if filled with fish and other animals that can be harvested. The northern regions have more mixed animal & plant life being cooler with less desert.
Ecosystem Cycles
Most of the conditions here have exceptionally warm to hot, and long, spring & summer conditions, with shorter autumn to winter conditions. The more northern parts have longer autumn & winter periods
Localized Phenomena
Desert storms are commonplace, especially from late Autumn to early spring, when the cooler weather blows in from the north across the Mediterranean towards the hotter lands.
Many mystical & religions have came out of and close by this region. Judaism, Christianity and Islam have had major impacts here, especially in Jerusalem at the coast. Many remnants of older religions still can be found, and sometimes strange creatures & would-be prophets, as well as localised holy wars are found here. Creatures such as Djinn, Celestials & Angel, Demons & Devil are found regularly too, at least stories & accounts of interactions with them have been reported.
Vampires and some of the world spanning cults have some roots in the region too, particularly in the former where some of the first documented aspects of the Star Gods are rumoured to have been wrote down here. Also, of the coast of Egypt north of Alexandria, the dreaded Black Pyramid is meant to exist buried by the Mediterranean, the ocean floor and time.
Climate
Ranging from quite warm compared to northerly peoples, to roasting hot at times, the whole Levant is known to have dry conditions for a good portion of the year. Places of water is still common enough to support life.
Fauna & Flora
Desert animals, and animal adapted to living in or around bodies of either fresh water or salt water are common. Many plants are the same. Many plants exhibit deep roots for getting to underground water sources, and waxy leaves to stop water loss through their leaves. Most of these are tough, and one adaption is being able to survive long periods of drought. Many animals are the same having adapted to surviving long periods without a source of water. Many animals are also adapted to long periods without food and / or surviving on the tough plant material they find.
Natural Resources
Many parts of the Silk Road terminates in and around cities in the Levant. With these goods, they are usually sold on in places like Europe for a marked up prices. Metals are regularly traded with gemstones, and religious goods & services. Much of the region borders powerful empires that allows for travel overland into these.
History
The Levant has been occupied by humanity for millennia and one of the first regions inhabited by early hominids. Before then other creatures inhabited such as the Djinn, Jackelweres, and Yuan-Ti.
Many ancient empires were here such as the Phoenicians, and ancient Egypt, the Akkadians and so forth. These peoples built their own empires on the ground once trod by older empires and took in some elements of it. Because the latter was extinct or withdrew from the wider world centuries or millennia ago, little survives except for small hidden pockets in out of the way places.
Over time many religions (especially the Zoastrians, Judaism, Christianity, and Islam) has grown or developed in parts of the region with Jerusalem becoming a major religious centre. Many underground religions are found throughout, some as off-shoots of major religions, and quite a few based on or corrupted forms of ancient religions.
Tourism
Major tourism takes place as many pilgrims to well-known religious sites are common, and explorers & adventurers regularly ply their trade or are passing through here.
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