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Location and Local Terrain
 The region surrounding Longshore |
Longshore is located at 2º 56' 37" S, 2º 24' 18" E, on the northern shore of the island of Mandalay. The town is on the seafront on the western shore of the Irrawaddy river estuary. The town is named for the 4 km long sandy beach that runs along the coast here. This gently shelving beach provided the original Native community with an easy slope on which to beach their boats.
Behind the beach, the land rises gently for around 2.5 km before rising steeply into the hills of northern Mandalay. The land is covered in lush tropical rainforest.
The Irrawaddy estuary is dominated by tidal mudflats, which form a rich feeding ground for wading birds. Depending on the tide, the navigable portion of river varies in width from 200m to 3.2 km.
On the eastern side of the estuary, the seafront is rocky and there is no good ancorage. This side of the river is undeveloped.
The town's proximity to the equator ensures that it is very rarely threatened by large cyclonic storms, but smaller storms are common.
History
Longshore was originally explored in 2091 (CY 04) by an expedition of Athena colonists seeking to colonize New Hawaii. They stopped off at numerous places en route from Haven and founded Atlantis later that year. Following the eruption of Mt Odysseus in 2124 (CY 33) and the subsequent descruction of Atlantis, 150 people decided to move to and settle in Longshore. These people survived by fishing, aquaculture, and farming, and also served as waystation for the occasional travellers moving between New Hawaii and the Haven Cluster.
After Recontact, the story of Longshore is typical of many settlements across Poseidon. A GEO sruvey team visited Longshore in 2166 (CY 70) and noted its potential for development. Nine years later, a GEO science mission set up in Longshore, to catalogue the island of Mandalay and the surrounding area; it became a HIST mission in 2188 (CY 89). This mission prompted a small colonisation effort, with the colonists mostly integrating well with the Native community.
The discovery of Long John in 2187 (CY 89) changed Poseidon, though it took a few years for the changes to become apparent in Longshore. As news of the discovery spread, prospectors and more coloinists arrived in Longshore. In 2191 (CY 92), the first small deposits were found in the Squall Alley region and the floodgates opened. As the nearest GEO settlement to the Squall Alley fields, Longshore became a regional centre for the northern part of the Haven Cluster.
Around Longshore, two incorporate states set up large colonisation efforts. The Hanover Industries incorporate state founded Lebensraum in 2193 (CY 94) and the Nippon Industrial State founded Simushir in 2195 (CY 95). Both of these city-states are centres of massive development, each currently having a population of over 25,000; as their development continues, it is sure to have a larger and larger impact on Longshore and the region.
Physical Layout
Longshore is sited in a broad, shallow bay at the mouth of the Irrawaddy river. It is built on the edge of the long, sandy beach. There is a shallow-water anchorage at the eastern end of the beach; a deep-water anchorage and harbour is being built to the west. There are large aquaculture fields in the nutrient-rich outflow of the Irrawaddy and along the beach.
The town is focused around two streets that run parallel to the shore. Right on the beach is the Promenade. Native huts lie along this road on the seaward side; the beach also acts as an open-air workshop for boatwrights and netmakers. On the shoreward side of the Promenade, the Native huts have been replaced by colonial buildings, mostly shops catering to the prospector and sailor markets, with a few bars and restaurants offering a sea view. In the evenings, a number of small food stalls appear to cater for relaxing locals.
Behind the Promenade is Rangoon Street. The main centre of the town is at the eastern end of this road, and here are the main offices of the various organisations in Longshore. It is also the main business area.
Most residences are in the area behind Rangoon Street, with some along its western half. The residential area also extends along the banks of the Irrawaddy, with most houses along Irrawaddy Way.
Demographics
Longshore is, in Poseidon terms, a fairly large town with around 5200 residents, including 600 Natives and 25 cetaceans. It also serves as a centre for another 5000 roving prospectors and other people in the surrounding islands. There is a number of UK colonists working in Longshore, under the aegis of a UN colonial effort.
Government
The town is formally run by the GEO, though a locally elected council handles the day-to-day running of the town. The Natives generally shun the council and run their own affairs. There are also offices of Hanover Industries, Biogene, Lavender Organics, and the UN.
The town is also the administrative headquarters for Sector 1, District 2 of the GEO Patrol (Mandalay and southern New Hawaii) and Marshal Hector Stack is based here.
Economic Base
The town is supported, to a large extent, by the roving Long John prospectors. Many colonists and Natives alike work at fishing and aquaculture to provide food for the town and prospectors. Most of the rest of the inhabitants work in various industries that provide services to prospectors, such as vehicle maintenance, guiding and local knowledge, entertainment, Long John brokering, and equipment sales.
While there is a vibrant industry in the repair, maintenance, and modification of goods, there is little manufacturing or similar industry in Longshore. This sector is filled by Lebensraum and, to a lesser extent, by Simushir. These settlements have large-scale manufacturing plants, and their output is easily transported to Longshore. Indeed, a Hanover emporium ship visits Longshore at least every two weeks. In adition, shopping trips and visits to Haven and Lebensraum are commonly made by Longshore residents.
Infrastructure
Infrastructure in Longshore is generally good. Power is provided by a fusion plant, operated by the GEO. This provides all the local electrical needs, as well as powering a desalination plant, sewerage works, and a large satellite communications hub. The majority of roads are metalled (with a concrete based on local coral); houses are of bioplastic construction. Transport within the town is generally on foot, though there are numerous small fuel-cell powered carts. Transport and delivery drones follow dedicated lanes in the centres of the major streets.
There is a small airport to the west of the town, and work has started nearby on dredging out a deep-water inshore anchorage and harbour. There are daily scheduled flights to Haven and less frequent flights to Second Try, Cliffside, and other destinations.
At the eastern end of town is the town hall and mayor's office, the GEO district headquarters, and a small cottage hospital. (The hospital deals with minor injuries and illnesses itself, and acts to stabilise more serious conditions before sending them on to Haven.) The hospital building also provides lab space and facilities to a HIST survey team based in Longshore. Finally, a boarding school provides education to the children of local colonists and prospectors.