Stantia Pass
The major pass through the Rair Mountains between Galavnaya and Chereladi.
Geography
The Rair Mountains divide the continent of Westerheim from the southern sea all the way to the Arctic circle with very few easy passes through its rocky, perilous peaks. One of those places is at Stantia Pass. The pass connects Deep Winter in Chereladi with Glorious Peak in Galavnaya. Situated high in the mountains, the only shelter available comes from the mountains themselves, which block the wind coming from North and South but do little for the East-West moving winds. The rough break in the mountains was the result of erosion related to the mountain river Sun's Fire which rips its way down from the North and divides into the Northern Riptide River in Westerheim and Sun's Blood River in Galavnaya. While the falls are awe-inspiring and dangerous, it also provides all the fresh water needed to keep several small trading cities alive.
Ecosystem Cycles
Seasons in the pass vacillate between a few degrees above freezing in the spring and fall to 6-8 feet of snowfall in the winter. Summer is the only time when the pass is truly, reliably passable, but many travelers get by crossing in spring and fall as well.
Natural Resources
Rumors say there are minerals and ores available to be mined in the mountain walls of the pass, but both countries have agreed that maintaining the structure of the pass is more important that mining the resources within the rock. Only the Gorets people are confident enough working in the cold and snow to manage farming or livestock in the mountains surrounding the pass and the speed of the river and the destructive nature of the falls on both sides prohibit the use of the river for logging, even if trees were easy to get to.
Type
Mountain Pass
Location under
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