Article Written: 3 April 1453
Spanning the area between the Midland River States and the Provan Shield South of the Chokian Mountains, the Red Desert occupies the majority of Southeast Canticula.
Geography
The Northwest part of the Desert is comprised with rocky ridges that tower up to 1500 feet. The Southeast part of the Desert, meanwhile, is composed of soft sand dunes.
The most significant part of the Desert, however, is the central part, which is flat and consists of sand and rocky plains. The stone and rock making up this region is red in nature, hence the origin of the name. Another significant feature is the Plateau of Bellesh, a flat-topped giant slab of rock towering 3000 feet above the surrounding territories and extending hundreds of miles South from the Chokian Mountain range. This Plateau is home to the nations of Bellesh and Siwili.
The Red Desert is also known for its beautiful coastlines, both along the South Magnumarian Ocean and along Lake Mara. In both places, the land slopes down suddenly and steeply to sandy beaches along these shores, where it is warm year round. The coastlines are attractive places for resorts and trade ports.
Climate
The climate of the Red Desert is mostly hot and dry year-round. However, there is a mild contrast between summer and winter, with summer temperatures blistering hot and winter temperatures mildly warm with occasional cold nights.
Rain is rare with some parts of the Desert going centuries without it. Precipitation does occur, however; and on one occasion, in the year 1404, snow was even reported along the border between the countries of Sapash and Ansohnjon in the Northwest part of the Desert. The coastline along the South part of the Desert gets a little more rain than the other parts. Although not in the direct current of sea storms, this coastline does occasionally get cyclones.
The most prevalent hazard in the Red Desert is the occurrence of dust storms, the most extreme of which can last for up to several days. Although the local inhabitants are well-equipped for these events, modern infrastructure can occasionally be inconvenienced by these. For example, during severe dust storms, gyroplane routes are often delayed; however, some gyroplane companies are working on technology to help gyroplanes withstand these events.
Political
For most of the period since the beginning of the Common Era, the Red Desert was dominated by numerous empires and kingdoms. A few centuries ago, however, the people of the Red Desert united and formed the Red Desert Federation. Democratically governed, this Federation lasted until 1265, when the Provan Republic infiltrated its leadership and brought the Red Desert under its control. In the 1290s, the Provan Republic lost its influence over Canticula from both external and internal conflict; and the Red Desert was no exception. Between the 1290s and the 1310s, the Red Desert was carved into its territories with its current borders. They were initially governed by Canticulan-Union-appointed military administrators, who governed these territories in an authoritarian manner. However, the defeat of General Martineau of the nation of Lesterre in the West sparked a movement to render every member Canticulan nation a Republic. Such a movement spread to the Red Desert; and, by 1312, the Canticulan Union passed a provision granting every nation in the Red Desert to officially become an established Republic.