Overview
Our focus starts in the middle of the SimPacific Ocean, to the most isolated islands in the SimWorld: the Paradisian Archipelago. The islands and atolls stretch 1500 miles across the ocean, and are the peaks of an underwater mountain range. At the southeast end of the archipelago, there are 8 major islands. The City & County of Capitalis is located on Community Island, and this is where our story will be told.
Although the great Administrator perpetuates a myth that he created Community Island with his own hands, scientists have their own theories and evidence. The Paradisian Archipelago is believed to be the result of 80 million years of a stationary geological hot-spot and a moving tectonic plate.
Community Island is estimated to be between 2.8 and 3.5 million years old. The remains of two ancient volcanoes, Vai'anae and Ko'orau, form the twin rugged mountain ranges of the island. Erosion has caused massive landslides, resulting in a much smaller and irregularly-shaped island.
About 2 million years ago, secondary volcanic activity occured, which resulted in numerous small craters. The majority of these craters are clustered within the Capitalis stretch of the Community Island southern shore. These craters and the original volcanoes are considered extinct, so there is almost no chance of Capitalis being destroyed by lava, excluding mischief by the great Administrator.
Capitalis Region General Information*:
2007 Population Estimate: 905,034 Sims
Total Area: 119 large city tiles/744 sq. mi/1904 sq. km
Land Area: 596 sq. mi/1527 sq. km
Density: 1518 Sims per sq. mi/592 Sims per sq.km
Note: Due to bad gameplay manipulation and unrealistic game mechanics, standard numbers used by independent entities, such as the Census Repository, are flawed. The City & County of Capitalis uses statistics compiled by the great Administrator for use in official information, which includes this story.
Climate:
Paradise arguably has the best weather in the SimWorld, with balmy, sunny days almost year round. Here is also one of the least variations in average temperatures. Its location in the tropics is one reason, but because it's surrounded by ocean, temperatures relatively near sea level do not change rapidly. The recorded temperature range has been between 53 and 95 degrees Farenheit in Capitalis. To the local Sim, anything outside the 70 degree range is uncomfortable.
[sunrise over Tareakara on Valley Island]
For most of the year, trade winds come in from the northeast, which bring in cool breezes and rainfall. Naturally, the windward sides of the islands are in the north and east, while the leeward sides are in the south and west. When trade winds are not blowing, light and arid Kona [south] winds bring in vog [volcanic fog] from the Large Island, and possible stormy weather.
[Coastal valley on the Large Island]
[inside Pearl Head Crater on Community Island]
There are only two seasons, the wet season [October through April] and the dry season [May through September]. Trade winds are prevalent in the wet season and Kona winds in the dry season. Hurricane season is June to December, although hurricanes hitting the islands are rare. Weaker tropical disturbances are more common.
Due to geography and topography, there are microclimates on all the major islands. Areas several miles apart, and in some cases, adjacent valleys, can have completely different weather at the same time. The only climate types not found in Paradise are artic and tundra. Deserts, temperate, tropical and sub-artic do occur in one or more areas on various islands. Though, the mountains of Community Island do not have the elevation to produce sub-artic microclimates.
[Above the clouds on Tareakara]
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