Yura {Continent}
Yura is a large continent, though not nearly the largest on Pronis (that distinct honor goes to Abia), and dominates much of southeast Pronis. Yura is hot and humid, and the only continent on Pronis to contain significant amounts of jungle and rainforest. It is a lush continent, though much of it remains wilderness and can be harsh and unforgiving. Yet, this lack of wide-scale development has created huge stenches of Yura that are naught but areas of pure unspoiled nature. Yura is also a wet continent, precipitation is common, and from about the midsummer to early autumn Yura is likely to experience a number of intense monsoons.
Geography
Yura is a island, bordered to the north and west by the Emerald Sea and to the south and east by the Silver Sea. The continent itself is covered with thick dense jungle and rainforest. These areas of vegetation are omnipresent, the only notable exceptions being in the far south, where large grassy plains exist, and the coastlines. Yura is also home to a number of large rivers. The center of Yura is dominated by the Jidar {Ripple} River, the south by the Twin Rivers of Ash and Gold, and the north by the Green River also known as the Crystal Canal. The continent has six main mountain ranges: the Pearl Peaks (northeast), Sunrise Mountains (central northeast), Sunset Peaks (on the Summer Spire), Imperial Fist (central west), The Shining Bluffs (central east), and the Wulan Mountains {The Mountains of Blood}(south).
Approximate Size: 478,973 square miles (1,240,541 kilometers squared)
Arable Land: 23% (112 thousand square miles) is arable land, and 76% (366 thousand square miles) is wilderness.
Fauna & Flora
Yura is home to number a large number of diverse species, many of which only are only present on Yura. The sheer amount of variation and plethora of exotic and unique species makes an exhaustive list impossible but some of the most unique are listed below.
Flora: Blood Bitterweed, Burberry, Ring Poison Poplar, Queen Moss
Fauna: Lapis Scale Snakes, Moon Tigers , Steel Kruthiks, Giant Fire Ants
Natural Resources
Yura boasts a large array of natural resources, any of which in isolation would be lucrative, but when fully accounted for make the island a veritable emporium of exotic goods.
Agricultural: Yura is strongly geared towards the production of cash crops, nearly all destined for export. These crops include coffee, cotton, turmeric, nutmeg, cloves, both black and white pepper, ginger, and cinnamon. Besides these much of the rest of agricultural land is geared towards sorghum or rice, with the exception of Sonui, which grows wheat.
Mineral: Yura possesses great natural mineral wealth. Eastern Lilira is home to some of the largest silver mines on Pronis and is responsible for minting nearly all the currency used in Yura. Arismat contains huge quantities of emeralds, sapphires, and especially diamonds. Narapus , while not containing much mineral wealth underground, harvests vast quantities of pearls from the surrounding shallow waters.
Herbal/Medicinal: Yura, due to its abundance of natural jungle, is home to a number of useful or lucrative alchemical reagents and ingredients. The best known medicinal herb is the Burberry Bush, whose leaves contain a useful compound that, with careful knowledge, can be used to create healing salves and potions. Infamous on Yura, however, are the fire red flowers known as Blood Bitterweed. When consumed these flowers create a temporary intense psychedelic high, and due to their relative scarcity, fetch a high price for recreational use in Yura and abroad. Finally, and notoriously, is the bark of the Ring Poison Poplar whose export, while illegal, is still surprisingly vibrant. The bark of the popular, when brewed correctly, creates one of the most potent poisons on Pronis, resulting in a quick, yet immensely painful death.
Maritime: Yura, as a island, relies heavily on the sea and as such exploits the resources of her waters to the fullest potential. Sealife is plentiful in the shallow waters around Yura, and many Yurans make their living fishing and trapping. The waters around Valpalal, on the southwest tip of Yura, contain large numbers of diamond eels and silver sun crabs, both delicacies in Yuran cuisine when eaten raw. Seaweed, though generally not a lucrative or large industry, plays many roles in Yuran cooking. Most of the seaweed is banal green seaweed, though two more unique varieties, red and yellow, exist.
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