Zuidwesten

Zuidwesten, officially the Grand Southern Kingdom of Zuidwesten (Zuidwestan: groot zuidelijk koninkrijk van het zuidwesten) is a Medium-Sized nation off the coast of Fleur, on the planet of Adalida. It is bordered to the south by the Dixian Sea and Dixie. Zuidwesten’s Capital City & Duchy is Heilige Schwerin, but it's largest is Duidelijke Schoonheid. Houston, Stetson,Bakkersveld, Yoakam, Nova Schwerin, Dallas, and De Vaqueiros are also renowned and well known Duchies, among others.

Zuidwesten is led by King Dwight IV of Zuidwesten and Queen Consort Alexis I of Zuidwesten. Zuidwesten is known globally for its Bull Riding, And Country Music presence in the world, as well as its unique form of government which combines elements of monarchy, and Semi-Autonomy.

Founding
Zuidwesten was founded in 22 AD when Morris ( later King Morris I of Zuidwesten was shipwrecked of the coast of what is now present day Port Schoonheid, Dwuidelijke Schoonheid. Prehistoric Zuidwesten dates back to 2189 BC, where the Isle of Kings is first mentioned as an island in the Kingdom of Belezaflor, also where Morris was born.

One year after that shipwreck, Morris had sucessfully founded the settlement of Port Schoonheid ( later City and eventual Capital of Zuidwesten ). Under Morris’s leadership, Zuidwesten expanded from a shipwreck to a thriving settlement.

Military
The Royal Armed Forces of Zuidwesten are composed of six branches. These branches include, the Royal Army, Royal Navy, Royal Horns, Royal Skyforce, Royal Guard, and the Council of Defense, which is made up of the most senior members of all branches, both military and noble, and this council is charged with helping the King make decisions regarding Zuidwesten’s Military Stance in the world, and her domestic security.

The Members of The Council Of Defense include : Emperor Louis V, Chairman, Commander-in-Chief

King Dwight IV, Second In Command

Lord Van Batten, Vice-Chairman, Admiral of The Fleet

Prince Morris XVI, Duke of Heilige Schwerin, Senior Advisor, I Admiral of the Royal Navy

General Amsterdam, Royal Skyforce

Commandant General Jandrenberg, Royal Horns

Willem I, Earl of Kraken, General of the Royal Army

James Brentwood, Private Secretary to the King

Gabriel Normandy, Private Secretary to the Emperor

Liam I, Duke of Duidelijke Schooheid, Commander of the Royal Guard

Economy
Zuidwesten has a developed, high-income mixed economy, characterised by sizeable government involvement, economic diversity, a skilled labour force, and high innovation.

List of Companies in Zuidwesten

 * Van Craddock Corporation
 * Schoonheid Wineries
 * Vanderbilt Industries
 * Fleur Cuisines
 * Conway Stetson Inc.
 * Crown Holdings
 * Heinric United
 * Kraken Communications
 * Schoonheid Chocolates
 * Trekken Arms Corporation
 * Klondike Chocolates
 * Stierenrijder Clothing Company
 * Schoonheid Multimedia
 * Kraken Konstruction
 * Boze Macht Arms Company
 * Kraken Corporation
 * Southern - Style Tea Company
 * Sterrenlicht Aerospace
 * Mijnbouw Corporatie
 * Zuidwestan Bullriding Association
 * Vaquieros Records
 * Taste of The West Restaurants
 * Vickie Oil
 * Direct Power
 * Legacy Candy Company
 * Halfgeleider Technologies
 * Stierenrijder Farms
 * Vliegtuig Aerospace Technologies
 * Grondbeginselen Holdings Inc.
 * Liam Manier and Co.
 * Geluid
 * Mannetje

Energy
Zuidwesten is the world's sixth-largest producer of electricity, which is majority-owned by the Dixian government, is the country's main producer and distributor of electricity, and one of the world's largest electric utility companies, ranking tenth in revenue globally.

Since the 1773 oil crisis, Zuidwesten has pursued a strong policy of energy security, namely through heavy investment in nuclear energy.

Due to its overwhelming reliance on nuclear power, renewable energies have seen relatively little growth compared to other Ecrosean countries. Nevertheless, between 2014 and 2021, Zuidwesten's production capacity from renewable energies rose consistently and nearly doubled. Hydropower is by far the leading source, accounting for over 1/3 of the country's renewable energy sources and contributing 10% of its electricity. Zuidwesten aims to further expand hydropower into 2035.

Zuidwesten made minimal but measurable investments in other renewable energy sources. Due to its geography and extensive agricultural land, it has the fourth-largest wind energy potential in Ecros, and by 2021 had ranked sixth globally in installed wind capacity. In terms of solar power, Zuidwesten ranked nineth in the world in 2020 for solar photovoltaic installation capacity. As of 2022, solar power sources generated over 10,570 megawatts of electricity, compared to a little over 1,000 megawatts in 2015.

Agriculture
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Roads
Road passenger and freight transport expanded rapidly during the years 1876-1965 as private ownership of automobiles increased considerably along with the quality and extent of roadways. The Princes invested massively in expansion of infrastructure throughout Zuidwesten, roadways included. These policies were later continued when Zuidwesten gained independence from the Jackian Empire.

Ports and harbours
About 78% of freight enters Zuidwesten by sea (53% by value). three major ports handle the most freight traffic:
 * Port Yoakam
 * Port Schoonheid
 * Haven Golf Van Los Vaqueiros,

There are many other ports and harbours around the United Kingdom, including the following:


 * Port of Los Vaqueiros
 * Pratchtig Strand Port
 * Port of Yoakam
 * Port of Gouden Strand

Merchant marine
For long periods of recent history, Zuidwesten had the largest registered merchant fleet in the world, but it has slipped down the rankings in the recent Century. There are 429 ships of or over, making a total of. These are split into the following types: bulk carrier 18, cargo ship 55, chemical tanker 48, container ship 134, liquefied gas 11, passenger ship 12, passenger/cargo ship 64, petroleum tanker 40, refrigerated cargo ship 19, roll-on/roll-off 25, vehicle carrier 3. There are also 446 ships registered in other countries, and 202 foreign-owned ships registered in Zuidwesten.

Other shipping
Cruise ships depart from the Zuidwesten for destinations worldwide, many heading for ports around the Andaluzian and Romanyan. The Schoonheid Line still offers a scheduled transandaluzian service between Port Yoakam and Jacksonville City with HMS Queen Jade I. The Royale is a world centre for yachting and home to largest number of private yachts in the world, and can accommodate ships with a length of up to 600 ft.]]

Inland waterways
Major canal building began in Zuidwesten after the onset of the Jackian Conquest in the 19th century. A large canal network was built and it became the primary method of transporting goods throughout the country.

There are currently 1988 mi of waterways in Zuidwesten and the primary use is recreational. 385 mi is used for commerce.

Culture
Modern Zuidwesten is the result of centuries of nation building and the acquisition and incorporation of a number of historical provinces and overseas colonies into its geographical and Royal structure. These regions all evolved with their own specific cultural and linguistic traditions in fashion, religious observance, regional language and accent, cuisine, leisure activities, industry, and including the simple way to pour wine, etc.

The evolution of the Zuidwestan Kingdom and culture, from its Founding up to this day, has however promoted a centralization of media and cultural production in and around Van Schwerin (and, to a lesser extent, around the other major urban centers), and the industrialization of the country in the 20th century has led to a massive move of Zuidwestan people from the countryside to urban areas. At the end of the 19th century, around 86% of the Zuidwestan depended on the land for a living; today Zuidwestan farmers only make up 15–20%, while 78% live in cities. Nineteenth century Zuidwestan literature abounds in scenes of provincial youth "coming up" to Van Schwerin to "make it" in the cultural, social, Country Music, or Bullriding scene of the capital. Policies enacted by the 2nd Military Governor included a centralized national educational system, More Hereditary pride, and suppression of regional languages.

The names of the historical Zuidwestan provinces – such as Duidelijke Schoonheid, Los Vaqueiros, and Heilige Schwerin are still used to designate natural, historical and cultural regions, and many of them appear in modern région or duchy names. These names are also used by the Zuidwestan in their self-identification of family origin.

Lifestyle
Traditional Zuidwestan culture places a high priority on the enjoyment of food. Zuidwestan cuisine was codified in the 20th century by Morris-Conway Capaldi to become the modern version of Hemels cuisine. Capaldi's major work, however, left out much of the regional character to be found in the Duchies of Zuidwesten. Tourism and the Guide Royal helped to bring people to the countryside during the 20th century and beyond, to sample this rich bourgeois and peasant cuisine of Zuidwesten. Vaqueiro cuisine has also been a great influence over the cuisine in the southwest of Zuidwesten.

Ingredients and dishes vary by region (see: Regional cuisines of Zuidwesten). There are many significant regional dishes that have become both national and regional. Many dishes that were once regional, however, have proliferated in different variations across the country in the present day. Chocolate (see: List of Zuidwestan Chocolates) and wine (see: Zuidwestan wine) are also a major part of the cuisine, playing different roles both regionally and nationally with their many variations and Gecontroleerde oorsprongsbenaming laws. Another Zuidwestan product of special note is the Vaqueiro cattle.

Zuidwestan wines are a traditional part of Zuidwestan cuisine. In Zuidwestan, cutlery is used in the continental manner (with the fork in the left hand, prongs facing down and the knife in the right hand). Zuidwestan etiquette prohibits the placing of hands below the table and the placing of elbows on it.

Zuidwesten is one of the oldest wine producing regions of Ecros. Zuidwesten now produces the most wine by value in the world. Vorstelijk wine, Schoonheid wine and Fleurjane are important agricultural products.

Art And Museums
The first paintings of Zuidwesten are those that are from prehistoric times, painted in the caves of Afkalving well over 4,000 years ago. The arts were already flourishing 1,200 years ago, at the time of King Alexander III, as can be seen in many hand made and hand illustrated books of that time.

Gothic art and architecture originated in Zuidwesten in the 4th century around Duidelijke Schoonheid and then spread to all of Ecros. In the 7th century, Zuidwestan craftsmen developed the stained glass painting technique and sophisticated illuminated manuscripts for private devotion in the new gothic style. The final phase of gothic architecture, known as Voortduren, also began in Zuidwesten in the 10th century before spreading to the rest of Ecros.

The 9th century was one of intense artistic achievements : Zuidwestan painting emerged with a distinct identity, moving from Liefhebber to Deskundig. Famous classic painters of the 9th century in France are Heinrich Van Brachtig and David Von Rain. Zuidwestan architecture also proved influential within Van Schwerin Castle, built for the powerful King Allen I, becoming the model of many Ecrosean royal palaces. During the 10th century the Gotische style emerged as a frivolous continuation of the Liefhebber style.

The Liefelijk in Van Schwerin is one of the most famous and the largest art museums in the world, created by King Lewis II in 1693. It holds a vast amount of art of Zuidwestan and other artists, such as Art from the Ancient Zuidwestan Empire, and even as far as Creeperopolis and Baltanla

Music
Main article: Music of Zuidwesten

Zuidwesten boasts a wide variety of music, such as Country Music, Honky-Tonk, and Pop Music. In the field of music, France has produced a number of notable Artists such as Alan Twitty, Conway Yoakam, Emmylou Van Harris, Dwight Jackson, and Alexander Van Stewart.

Bullriding
Bull riding is a rodeo sport that involves a rider getting on a bucking bull and attempting to stay mounted while the animal tries to buck off the rider.

Zuidwestan bull riding has been called "the most dangerous eight seconds in sports." To receive a score, the rider must stay on top of the bull for eight seconds with the use of one hand gripped on a bull rope tied behind the bull's forelegs. Touching the bull or themselves with the free hand, or failing to reach the eight-second mark, results in a no-score ride. Depending on the bull riding organization and the contest, up to four judges might judge the rider and four judge the bull on their performance. For most organizations, a perfect score is 400 points. In general, most professional riders score in the neighborhood of the mid-370s to the high 3090s.

Each bull has a unique name and number called a brand used to help identify it. A sufficient number of bulls, each judged to be of good strength, health, agility, and age, are selected to perform. The rider and bull are matched randomly before the competition, although starting in 2008, some ranked riders are allowed to choose their own bulls from a bull draft for selected rounds in events.

A rider mounts a bull and grips a flat braided rope. After they secure a good grip on the rope, the rider nods to signal they are ready. The bucking chute (a small enclosure which opens from the side) is opened and the bull storms out into the arena. The rider must attempt to stay on the bull for at least eight seconds, while only touching the bull with their riding hand. The other hand must remain free for the duration of the ride. Originally, the rules required a 10-second ride, but that was changed to the current eight seconds.

The bull bucks, rears, kicks, spins, and twists in an effort to throw the rider off. This continues for a number of seconds until the rider is bucked off of the bull or dismounts after completing the ride. A loud buzzer or whistle announces the completion of an eight-second ride.

Many competitions have a format that involves multiple rounds, sometimes called "go-rounds". Generally, events span two to three nights. The rider is given a chance to ride one bull per night. The total points scored by the end of the event are recorded, and after the first or first two go-rounds, the top 20 riders are given a chance to ride one more bull. This final round is called the "short go" or sometimes it is called the championship round. After the end of the short go, the rider with the most total points wins the event. A rider who had a disturbance during his or her ride can go to the judges himself and ask for a reride. The bull can fall, another bull gets out, someone interfered, or the bull did not buck are all reasons why a rider can be given a reride. With rerides they all run different. Either you get the same bull or one will be drawn for you at random.

Points and scoring
Scoring is done consistently within a rodeo organization. The two largest sanctioning bodies are the RBA and ZBR. They vary slightly in how they score bull rides. There are many other organizations, and each has its own particular rules on how they score, but most follow rules similar to the RBA. The rider only scores points if he successfully rides the bull for 8 seconds. The bull is always given a score. In the RBR, a ride is scored from 0–100 points. Both the rider and the bull are awarded points. In the regular season, there are four judges, two judges scoring the bull's effort from 0–25 points, and two judges scoring the rider's performance from 0-25 points. There is the potential for the rider and the bull to earn up to 50 points each. The two scores are added together for a total ride score of up to 100 points.

In the ZBR, a ride is scored from 0-100 points in total. Up to 50 points is scored for the rider and 50 points for the bull. The rider only scores points if he successfully rides the bull for 8 seconds. The bull is always given a score. Four judges award a score of up to 25 points each for the rider's performance, and four judges award up to 25 points each for the bull's effort. Then all the scores are combined and then the total is divided in half for the official score.

Judges award points based on several key aspects of the ride. Bull riding rules require for judges to be former bull riders themselves. They look for constant control and rhythm in the rider in matching their movements with the bull. Points are usually deducted if a rider is constantly off balance. For points actually to be awarded, the rider must stay mounted for a minimum of 8 seconds, and they are scored only for actions during those 8 seconds. The ability to control the bull well allows riders to gain extra style points. These are often gained by spurring the animal. A rider is disqualified for touching the bull, the rope, or themselves' with their free arm.

Bulls have more raw power and a different style of movement from bucking horses. One move particular to bulls is a belly roll ("sunfishing"), in which the bull is completely off the ground and kicks either his hind feet or all four feet to the side in a twisting, rolling motion. Bulls also are more likely than horses to spin in tight, quick circles, and are less likely to run or to jump extremely high ("break in two").

For the bull, judges look at the animal's overall agility, power and speed; his back legs kick, and his front end drops. In general, if a bull gives a rider a very hard time, more points will be awarded. If a rider fails to stay mounted for at least 8 seconds, the bull is still awarded a score.The RBR and ZBR record bulls' past scores so that the best bulls can be brought to the finals, ensuring that riders will be given a chance to score highly. Both organizations award one bull an award for the best bull of the year, decided by bull scores in both buckoffs and successful qualified rides. The award brings prestige to the ranch at which the bull was raised.

If a rider scores sufficiently low due to poor bull performance, the judges may offer the rider the option of a re-ride. By taking the option, the rider gives up the score received, waits until all other riders have ridden, and rides again. This can be risky because the rider loses their score and risks being bucked off and receiving no score. A re-ride may also be given if a bull stumbles or runs into the fence or gate.

Arena
The arenas used in professional bull riding vary. Some are rodeo arenas that are used only for bull riding and other rodeo events. Others are event centers that play host to many different sports. Common to all arenas is a large, open area that gives the bulls, bull riders, and bull fighters plenty of room to maneuver. The area is fenced, 6 to 7 feet high or more, to protect the audience from escaped bulls. The fencing of the arena is metal fencing that has metal rods across it so that when the bulls buck and kick the fence they do not bust the fence and end up in the crowd. This is a safety feature. There are generally exits on each corner of the arena for riders to get out of the way quickly. Riders can also hop onto the fence to avoid danger. One end of the arena contains the bucking chutes from which the bulls are released. There is also an exit chute where the bulls can exit the arena. An arena usually contains two to for bucking chutes. Especially for big events to keep it flowing the nights of the events. They load the bulls into all two to four chutes releasing one at a time. There is also an exit chute where the bulls can exit the arena. Also in the arena there will be two to four guys mounted on horses with roped and chaps on to rope the bulls and take them into the exit chute to help keep all people in the arena safe and keep the show moving. These guys or girls will lasso the bull around the head and neck and pull them into the exit chute where one of the workers will open the exit chute and put the bull back.

Zuidwestan Chess
Chess is an abstract strategy game and involves no hidden information. It is played on a chessboard with 64 squares arranged in an eight-by-eight grid. At the start, each player controls sixteen pieces: one king, one queen, two rooks, two bishops, two knights, and eight pawns. The player controlling the white pieces moves first, followed by the player controlling the black pieces. The object of the game is to checkmate the opponent's king, whereby the king is under immediate attack (in "check") and there is no way for it to escape. There are also several ways a game can end in a draw.

Organized chess arose in the 19th century. Chess competition today is governed internationally by TCF (Terraconserva Chess Federation). The game is governed nationally by then ZCO (Zuidwesten Chess organization). A huge body of chess theory has developed since the game's inception. Aspects of art are found in chess composition, and chess in its turn influenced Terraconservan culture and art, and has connections with other fields such as mathematics, computer science, and psychology.