South Western Insland Region (SWIR)
Most densely populated basin area of southern western Kuha,the homeland of major civilisational centres.
The South Western Inland Region (SWIR) is a large and vertically long region between the Western Mountain Range Chain and Southern Ranges, with the southern portion of the Dau River forming the spinal core of the region. Sitting between the approximate latitudes of 33°N and 41.7°N, the region is a non-Tundra ecoregion consisting of various woodlands. Due to its north-south vertical shape and inclusion of plateau and high elevation mountain ranges, the SWIR exhibits a diversity of biomes and climate types.
Running the length of the region is the southern portion of the Dau River. The Dau’s headlands lie northward of the SWIR in the North Western Tundra Belt (NWTB) region at a mountain range approximately 49.3°N. The Dau in its totality is approximately 3200km long, while the southern portion within the SWIR is approximately 1720km with five distinct ecological zones. The Dau terminates with an outflow to the southern sea forming the Dau Delta.
The SWIR has three subregions defined primarily by elevation and climate. These are the intermontane basin subregion, the escarpment subregion, and the flatlands delta. Further details on the subregions can be found at their respective entries.
| Attribute | Value |
|---|---|
| Latitude | 31° - 41°N |
| Köppen Climate Classification | Cfb: Subtropical highland climate uniform rainfall |
| Ecoregion | Subtropical coniferous forests Mediterranean woodlands. Taiga |
| Precipitation | No dry season - dry summer |
| Summer average | 23 -15°C |
| Winter average | 9.5 - 8.5°C |
| Tree line | 2300m |
| Area | Approx. 1,008,000km2 |
Intermontane Basin
The first is the intermontane basin sitting at an average altitude of 1500m. The basin is flanked by the West Coast Ranges to the west, and the ABC Ranges to the south-east. This subregion is the largest portion of the SWIR, making up about 95% of the region with an area of approximately 1,008,000km2. It has a mediterranean climate with dry summers and wet winters. The average temperatures are 1-3°C cooler than the southern escarpment and flatlands-delta subregions. The average temperatures of summer range from 20°C around the southern basin, through to a cool 14°C at the northern extent. Winters range from 14.5° to 7° north.
The northern extreme of the intermontane basin transitions into steppe woodland, and sees snowfall at the coldest times of the year. Immediately north of the steppe woodland lies the 02 North Western Tundra Belt (NWTB); to the north east, the Western Kuha Steppe; to the east, the South Western Cool Desert Region.
The soils of the basin area are mostly basaltic. There are some areas of andosol soil from volcanic activity, With it’s high porosity, it is a nutrient rich soil which has sustained agricultural activity throughout the ages.
Due to year-round precipitation, the basin area has many minor water run offs that feed into the Dau River. Landslides and flash-flooding are common around the foot hills of the West Coast and ABC Ranges. The river banks of the Dau are prone to flooding in the basin area.
The Escarpment
The second subregion is the escarpment where the basin terrain slopes towards sea level across a distance of around 50km. The inclination is a gentle 1° or so. This small area is defined apart from the intermontane basin by its slope, and difference in precipitation. While the basin subregion annual precipitation between 600 to 350mm depending on latitude, the escarpment will see a range of 750-620mm per annum.
The final subregion is the flatlands and delta area. The flatlands, as the name suggests, is a flat area of land with an elevation range between 500-0m above sea levels. The Dau Delta fans out a modest 40km at the coast.
Historically the southern SWIR has been covered in subtropical coniferous forest trees, however with the development of human societies this forest cover has severely diminished. The lack of vegetation has increased the severity of flooding along the Dau River, as well as being responsible for the sedimentary deposit at the delta.
Flatlands and Dau Delta
The final subregion is the flatlands and Dau Delta subregion.