Royal Zealandian Navy (RZN)
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I have been very interested in the discovery of
a continent sized area of land off the eastern coast of Australia being referred
to as Zealandia. This is a real discovery, not something made up for AU
purposes. The only problem with the discovery, is that a lot of it is 500 feet
underwater. Back in year dot, Australia was almost half as big again as it is
now. Then a large portion of Australia broke away and started drifting to the
east. At some stage (I wont even try and guess at the timeline - literally
millions of years ago) when this new continent had swirled away from Australia,
the Australis and Pacific Plates interacted in such a way that the continent was
forced below the surface of the sea with only the highest peaks of land
remaining above the surface. New Zealand, Chatham Islands, New Caledonia,
Norfolk Island and various other islands mark the extents of the land.
Hydrographic mapping has outlined the potential area and placement of Zealandia.
The land mass may have been completely submerged about 23 Ma ago,
and most of it (93%) remains submerged beneath the Pacific Ocean. With
a total area of approximately 4,920,000 km2 (1,900,000 sq mi), it is
the world's largest current microcontinent, more than twice the size of the
next-largest microcontinent and more than half the size of the Australian
continent. As such, and due to other geological considerations, such as crustal
thickness and density, it is arguably a continent in its own right.
This was the argument which made news in 2017, when geologists from
New Zealand, New Caledonia and Australia concluded that Zealandia fulfills all
the necessary requirements to be considered a continent, rather than a
microcontinent or continental fragment. To put this into perspective, the 48
contiguous states of the US and Washington, D.C. occupy a combined area of
3,119,884.69 square miles (8,080,464.3 km2).
According to reports and searches carried out, there are large deposits of oil
and gas in and on the Challenger Plateau off the Taranaki coast line which has
already exhibited quantities of gas and oil discoveries (Maui gas and oil
field). Iron sands, manganese, gold and other precious metals are scattered
around in fields around the coasts and offshore of the current New Zealand
coastlines. If Zealandia had the boundaries above water, then the land would be
rich in both arable lands and strategic resources.
So we have now raised the dead continent of Zealandia and brought it into the
world and scenario of Solarium. Next is what sort of timeline alterations are
required. What indigenous people are on the land. Which explorers find Zealandia
(probably Dutch with that name). Which European powers fight over the colonising
of Zealandia. What type of colonists are used. convicts, political prisoners,
general colonists.
The timeline for events is going to be important to the industrialisation of
Zealandia. Will it remain a part of Australis as I show in the original timeline
with only New Zealand being the above water section of Zealandia. Though I would
think that a land the size of Zealandia would be ruled as a separate nation.
Which nation comes out with the ruling government will make the difference for
the ship types and classes that are built or sourced for Zealandia. What mix of
people will Zealandia end up with. Place names, ship names: https://www.glossary.bobmoco.me.uk/lgeog.htm#A
