The Pounaka mountains range from just north of Lath all the way to the north east corner of the country near Ramsleap, where they curve into themselves and form Mild Lake, literally cutting the country in half. Varying heights and climates made them difficult to pass historically, though now they attract more tourism than trade. Popular hiking trails and camping experiences make them big attractions, and every year thousands attempt to hike the range.
Geography
The Pounaka Mountains range from just north of Lath all the way to the northeast corner of the country near Ramsleap, where they curve into themselves and form Mild Lake, literally cutting the country in half. The Pounakas vary in width from 39 to 543 kilometers (24 to 373 mi). The Pounaka Mountains contain the highest peaks in Asiri Asa. Mount Vôích on the Erah-Todao border, at 5,061 meters (16,604 ft), is the highest peak in the Pounakas.
‘Crede population is not very dense in the Pounaka Mountains, with an average of four people per square kilometer and few cities with over 30,000 people.
Ecology and Climate
Precipitation ranges from 250 millimeters (10 in) per year in the southern valleys to 1,500 millimeters (60 in) per year locally in the northern peaks. Average mid-winter temperatures can range from −7 °C (20 °F) to 6 °C (43 °F). Therefore, there is not a single monolithic ecosystem for the entire Pounaka Mountain Range.
The Pounaka Mountains are an important habitat for a great deal of well-known wildlife, such as Thplme (commonly Wild Poyali), kaha, amanu hawk, tarakona, pronghorn, mountain goats, bighorn sheep, baýboo owl, black bears, coyotes, and lynxes.
The status of most species in the Pounaka Mountains is unknown due to incomplete information. It is suspected that most populations of apex predators have significantly dwindled due to 'crede settlement in the area. Species such as mud wasps, kiri kiri, and ailourya have all been introduced and thrive in the Pounakas, creating a possible threat to endemic species.
History
Since the last great ice age, the Pounaka Mountains were home first to indigenous peoples. Humans hunted the now-extinct megafauna in the foothills and valleys of the mountains. In southern Erah rock walls that these human populations built for driving game date back nearly 6,000 years. A growing body of scientific evidence indicates that indigenous people had significant effects on mammal populations by hunting and on vegetation patterns through deliberate burning.
Recent human history of the Pounaka Mountains is one of more rapid change. Explorers from Troe and Todao marched in to claim land and trade routes, introducing the horse, rifles, new diseases, and different cultures that would profoundly changed the native Erah and Redgrah cultures. Native populations were extirpated from most of their historical ranges by disease, warfare, and continued assaults on their culture.
From xx to xx, gold was discovered in Redgrah, sparking several gold rushes bringing thousands of prospectors and miners to explore every mountain and canyon and to create the Pounaka Mountains' first major industry. Meanwhile, the Redline Railway was finally reaching the western end of the continent. Railway officials convinced surrounding governments to set aside vast areas of the Pounakas as National Parks, laying the foundation for a tourism industry which thrives to this day. While settlers filled the valleys and mining towns, conservation and preservation ethics began to take hold. Economic development began to center on mining, forestry, agriculture, and recreation, as well as on the service industries that support them. Tents and camps became ranches and farms, forts and train stations became towns, and some towns became cities.
Economy
Economic resources of the Pounaka Mountains are varied and abundant. Minerals found in the Pounaka Mountains include significant deposits of copper, gold, lead, molybdenum, silver, tungsten, and zinc. The Wyoming Basin and several smaller areas contain significant reserves of coal, natural gas, oil shale, and petroleum. Abandoned mines with their wakes of mine tailings and toxic wastes dot the Pounaka Mountain landscape.
Agriculture and forestry are major industries. Agriculture includes dryland and irrigated farming and livestock grazing. Livestock are frequently moved between high-elevation summer pastures and low-elevation winter pastures, a practice known as transhumance.
People from all over the world visit the sites to hike, camp, or engage in mountain sports. In the summer season, examples of tourist attractions are:
In Erah: 1National Park 2National Park 3 National Park Pounaka Mountain National Park 5National Park and Preserve 6National Recreation Area Mild Lake
In Todao, the mountain range contains these national parks:
1l Park 2Park 3National Park 4Lakes National Park 5National Park
In the winter, skiing is the main attraction, with dozens of Pounaka Mountain ski areas and resorts.