Nataliya

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Nataliya
32°26′N 1°0′E
Metropolis
Skyline of the city center
Skyline of the city center
Nickname(s): 
City of Sight and Sound
CountryLugida
RegionHeartland
Area
 • Metro
1,534 km2 (592 sq mi)
Population
 (2016)
 • Metropolis11,642,706
 • Density7,590/km2 (19,700/sq mi)
Demonym(s)Natalian, Nataliya
Time zoneSahar Coordinated Time (SCT+0)

Nataliya (Lithian: [natalija]), officially the Nataliya Metropolis or sometimes Nataliya Prefecture, is the capital city of Lugida. Additionally as the country's capital prefecture, the core urban area is home to 11.6 million people (2016), the largest in Lugida and 3rd largest in Soltenna. It is located on the eastern foothills of Mount Ramiel, facing towards Nataliya Bay and the Sharkunen Gulf. Nataliya comprises the southern edge of the Heartland region and is a part of the Heartland metropolitan area whose urban agglomeration of 40 million people is one of the largest in the world.

Initially founded as a small Altha dynasty-era settlement, Nataliya was expanded into a city under Letsatian rule in Lugida when extensive deposits of silver was found in the foothills west of the city. Avite Empire ruler Gathid, being of Natalian origin, proposed the city as the empire's new capital in 348 CE. The proposal, though implemented through development of infrastructure in Nataliya, fell out of favor of Avite clerics. Nataliya's surrounding geography kept the city untouched by war during the Warring States period in the 5th century. By the 10th century the city had become a powerful naval city-state who maintain trade routes in and out of the Amiyant Sea and along the Gulf.

Combination of several factors such as the then recent Tori invasions of Lugida led to the founding of the Forian Confederation in the 10th century, initially consisting of four city-states across the Amiyant Sea. When the confederation merges to form the Forian Kingdom the royal families of constituent city-states chose Nataliya as their capital. During this time economic activity grew up to its historic highest in the 17th century, before declining after the Kingdom's dissolution on 1750. Nataliya is designated capital city of Lugida upon the formation of the Republic in 1868. Nataliya suffered from extensive damages during the Pangyeoun War due to Allied-led bombings and offensives. As the war ended the capital city later grew significantly throughout the Lugid post-war economic miracle.

Today, Nataliya is a global city with the largest metropolitan economy in Soltenna; its estimated metropolitan GDP reaches upwards of $800 billion. The city has one of the highest standards of living in the world, as well as one of the most expensive city for expatriates, stemming from the city's high population density and real estate value. Nataliya boasts a vibrant culture extending from Forian-era buildings at the Mite district to popular culture such as miko and L-pop – which gave the city's nickname, "City of Sight and Sound". Nataliya hosts many large, global Lugid-based companies including entertainment agency Nasha Entertainment, mass media company Deliat Media, and conglomerate company Hanareth, in addition to supranational institutions such as the Central Bank of Fordas.

Etymology

History

Geography

Cityscape

Architecture

Traditional architecture of Nataliya is heavily influenced by Ekuosian architecture, propagated through sermets and later during the Forian period. At the time, buildings outside the walls of the Royal District (now Mite, Nataliya) are generally wood-based, occasionally using concrete or brick as foundation. Conversely, the district has most – if not all – buildings brick-faced. Industrialization in the 19th century and the later bombings of Nataliya led to a decline of wood-based buildings in Nataliya particularly over concerns regarding its vulnerability to catch fire.

Culture

Economy

Nataliya is the business and financial hub of Lugida. Despite having less than one percent of Lugida's land area, Nataliya and its greater metropolitan area contributes to almost half of Lugida's nominal GDP. Service sector accounts for half of Natalian economy.

Nataliya experienced a rapid rebuilding and economic growth from the 1960s, after sustaining severe damages from the Pangyeoun War. Centralization of economic growth to Nataliya caused large Lugid companies to move to the city in order to take advantage of the city's better access to the government. Through centralization and Lugida's export-oriented economy, Nataliya later went on to become Soltenna's international financial center since the late 1960s amidst competition with other Soltennan cities such as Bosato and Cuáma.

The city's economic growth is challenged by increasing living costs, population density, and high real estate prices, thus inviting economic competition by other Lugid cities like Eldin, Rotzim, and Hariyav.

Government

Demographics

International relations

See also