From Above

Spring 2009

Quarterly Publication "FROM ABOVE"
Photography: DAVID CAMERON
​Cover Photo: Sand Island (Osean Territory)

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Sand Island

A solitary island floating near the border. Osean territory. A detachment sent by the Osean military provides surveillance of its territorial airspace and waters. This island is designated as a national wildlife conservation area by the Osean Ministry of the Interior. [1]

Karaska Region [2]

Within the sprawling verdant and magnificent scenery lies a town formed around an engineering college that  has stood since ancient times. This region is well known as a tourist spot due to its mineral-rich wells and many health resorts.

November City

Called "Mile City" due to being located on highlands 1 mile above sea level. Prospering following the discovery of gold and silver mines, it became a city centered on commerce, industry, and tourism. In the center of the city is a giant stadium that can hold 70,000 people.

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Yuke Mountain Range [3]

A mountain range that cuts across the eastern side of Yuktobania. The summit, surpassing 8000 meters, is subject to harsh weather conditions above wind force 10. As such, there still exists many untouched areas. 

Bastok Peninsula

Located in the southeastern region of Yuktobania and jutting out towards the Pacific Ocean, Bastok Peninsula is in close proximity to the equatorial high temperature and humidity zone. Being as such, there are many trees growing rampant near the coastline. Due to being located closest to Osean territory, this has also become one of Yuktobania's defense positions.

Jilachi Desert

The green circles that can been seen in the central Yuktobanian desert are central pivot irrigation systems that uses underground water veins. The radius of the arm reaches 2 kilometers. Utilizing their abundant energy as an oil producing country, this is perhaps a symbol of large scale collective agriculture.

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Payavlenie Ravine

Covering northern Yuktobania, the Payavlenie Ravine is complexly formed by steep cliffs. As this is a metamorphic rock zone where continental collision took place, there exists a mining operation for many types of ores here.

Bana City

The college town of Bana City, located in the southeastern regions of the continent is well known for its history of being the capital from which Osea originated, as well as being the host to many research institutions and cultural facilities. The river flowing through the center of the city is spanned by a number of bridges, connecting the old town and new city.

Glubina Region

While this region is subject to Mediterranean, humid subtropical, and west coast oceanic climates, it also holds traits of inland climate at the same time due to many mountainous areas. Winter average temperature is around 0 degrees, at night it is a frozen land where the temperature cools down to as much as minus 20 degrees, inhibiting human settlement. [4]

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Translation Notes

[1] 内務省 is Japan's Meiji-era Home Ministry, however the same kanji is used for America's Department of the Interior (アメリカ合衆国内務省​).  The more modern rendering of Japan's Ministry of Home Affairs is 自治省.  Interior/Home Affair Ministries generally handle a broad range of functions similar to the US Departments of Homeland Security and Justice, however the US Department of the Interior largely regulates the use of federally-owned land, similar to the Osean agency described here.

[2] カラスカ can be translated as either "Kalaska" or "Karaska".  Kalaska could refer to the Italian town of Calasca, but Karaska is a small village in Poland.

[3] It is unclear whether the text is using Yuke in a possessive form or as a proper name for the mountains.  The latter is supported by the labeling on the ancient map wallpaper, but contradicted by the in-game name of the Vladimir Mountains.

[4] It is not specified whether this is Celsius or Fahrenheit.

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Original Text

季刊誌「ＦＲＯＭ ＡＢＯＶＥ 」
撮影：ＤＡＶＩＤ ＣＡＭＥＲＯＮ
表紙写真：サンド島（オーシア領）

サンド島

大海に浮かぶ辺境の孤島。オーシア領。オーシア軍が分遣隊を派遣し、領空・領海の警戒にあたっている。この島は、オーシア内務省により国立野生動物保護区に指定されている。

カラスカ地方

緑豊かな雄大な風景が広がる中、古くからある工科大学を中心に街が形成されている。この地はミネラルを豊富に含む鉱泉が多数あり湯治場、観光の名所としても知られている。

ノヴェンバー市

海抜1マイルの高地にあるため「マイル・シティ」と呼ばれ、金鉱、銀鉱発見とともに栄え、商工業、観光の中心となった都市。街の中央には収容人数7万人の巨大スタジアムを有している。

ユーク山脈

ユーク国東側を南北に縦断する山脈。8000メートルを超える山頂を10以上持ち厳しい気象条件の為、未踏の地が数多く存在している。

バストーク半島

ユーク国南東部、太平洋に張り出すバストーク半島は赤道に近く高温多湿地帯のため海岸線付近まで多数の樹々が生い茂っている。オーシア領に最も近く位置する事からユーク国の防衛拠点の一つになっている。

ジラーチ砂漠

ユーク国中央部の砂漠地帯に見られる緑円は地下水脈を利用したセンターピボット灌漑である。そのアーム半径は最大２キロメートルにも及び、産油国の豊富なエネルギーを使った大規模集約農業の象徴といえるであろう。

パイヴリェーニヤ渓谷

ユーク国北部を覆うパイヴリェーニヤ渓谷は切り立った崖が複雑に入り組んでおり、かつて大陸同士が衝突してできた変成岩地帯である事から多様な鉱石の採掘が行われている。

バーナ学園都市

大陸南東部に位置するバーナ学園都市は、オーシア発祥の土地という歴史ある都（みやこ）であり、多くの研究機関や文化施設を有する事で知られている。街の中央を流れる河にはいくつもの橋が架かり、旧都市と新都市を結んでいる。

​グルビナ地方

地中海性気候、温暖湿潤気候、西岸海洋性気候に属する地域だが、山岳地帯が多く内陸性気候の特徴も併せ持っている。冬の平均気温は0度前後、夜間にはマイナス20度まで冷え込む凍てついた土地であり、人々の定住を阻んでいる。