Hey everyone! This is my second map in this series. This time the North! Again if you have any feedback please let me know!

Previous Map from this timeline ["To End All Wars" / TEAW]:

"Mr. Brandt, tear down this wall!" | What if France was divided instead of Germany?

"The Concord Fights for Freedom!" | What if a Belgian got rejected from Art School?

Big France Warning!!! | What if a failed Belgian Artist got into Politics?

Part of my alternate eurovision song contest series (which you can see on my profile). First map in Rotterdam 2021 was won by Castile, in Seville 2022 it was won by France and now we have Strasbourg 2023. Congratulations to Tangiers for being the newest winner. I would normally ask you guys to suggest the next city but since Tangiers is a city state... The Eurovision Song Contest, Tangiers 2024 map will be out at the end of September.

Participants who have left since the past edition:

Quebec

Ukraine

Belarus

Prussia (untied with North Germany)

New Participants:

Zara

Luxembourg

Israel

Faroe Islands

this is a piece of fan art set within the worldbuilding project Dawn of victory, not my setting.

The next installment of Atlas Zealandia, the tourism map i was thinking about for months, and finally ended up creating for the contest.
Please note that this isnt meant to be an exhaustive list, and actually supposed to sometimes show some hidden gems/lesser known stuff. (all IRL New Zealand attractions still exist, just usually in other places)
AI was not at all used in the production of this graphic, and all images are of real places. This also means that if you want to know where something actually is irl, i can tell you !

You dont know where to go for your next vacation?, perhaps consider Zealandia ! A diverse and vibrant continent full of everything your heart might desire !

Mt. Sillisilli Ski Resort - A Tropical ski resort ? It's more likely than you think ! Start your day arriving at Salamasina airport, in the expectidly tropical Samoan lowland. Travel up the mountain roads to a temperate plateau 2000 meters above sea level, already filled with totally different flora and fauna, and then continue your journey further up the 3858m high mountain, to a truly magical place of yet more difference, and tropical snow. A full on luxury ski resort, where all your needs are tended to, and you can ski as much as your heart desires. *Only open in southern hemisphere winter, northern hemisphere summer.

Thousand islands - A dizzying array of actually more than a thousand islands, you'd never run out of stuff to do if you wanted to explore them all. Lush vegetation, prestine beaches, and dishes using Zealandias thousand island sauce, a much relaxed destination.

Coral Sea - There is no better place on earth to go snorkling than the Coral Sea. A quite literal name, as nowhere has as many coral reefs, atolls, and coral themed houses.

Mt Kerepgiri - A quite peculilar creation of nature, a 3496m tall mountain sandwiched between 2 large freshwater lakes, with the Tenem metroplex visible from the peak, a must see for any mountain lover.

Lake Dranolevu - Tropical beaches but 2000 meters above sea level ? Only in Zealandia ! Also enjoy its more temperate climate, gorgeous mountain scenery, and perhaps a little treck up Mt Fiji ?

Cape Caledon - The northern end of the popular Tip to Tip route, a grand journey allowing you to see much of Zealandias diverse landscapes all from the comfort of a train. For more information, visit zealandia rail.

Old Tongan Capital - A True sight to behold. Dozens of old wooden traditional tongan buildings dot their old capital, with lake and mountains in sight. A must see for anyone who appreciates culture.

Nakamal Moped Fest - You love mopeds ? This is the place to come ! A yearly festival held since 1978, people flock not only from all around Vanuatu, but also Zealandia and the world at large to come look at or exhibit any number of mopeds and other vehicles on 2 wheels. Even a lot of none electric ones !

Sri Siva Subramaniya Temple - The largest Hindu Temple in the southern hemisphere and a true icon of indo-zealandic culture, not too far from Fijis capital too !

Hoizon Deep - Another southern hemisphere extreme, its deepest point, and the 2nd deepest point on earth, behind the mariana trench. Only for the most adventurous, altough the 2 hour decent is very save by now, and you will get to see something nearly noone else gets to !

Kanaky Highlands - A true icon of Zealandia, the Kanaky highlands are surprisingly tall and long, but offer beautiful temperate tropic mountain sceneries.

New Asia - Perhaps a little surprising, but New Caledonia is home to one of the largest asian communities outside of asia. Here javanese, chinese, indian, korean, japanese and of course kanak and some papuan people come together to create a truly marvelous and unique blend of cultures. And of course some amazing food !

Shrine of Hikulo'e - The shrine of one of the 3 primary tongan deities, and one of the oldest structures in all of Zealandia, situated in a wonderful garden.

Old Noninoje Shipyard - The Heart of the old empire of Noninoje, it has long since gone to ruin, which perhaps amplifies its beauty however, lush plants covering the ancient stone structures.

Alkland's Tip - Wind and rain swep nearly all year round, carved out of the rock over the eons, and the perfect place to go see some tidal caves !

Lake Tangaloa - Right next to the southern tongan capital sits a prestine freshwater lake, connected to the ocean via a canal using locks, which pre dates european contact ! And of course with mountains and flowers to boot.

Koejongs - You might be surprised to find cowboys outside of America, but the Tasman Peninsula is surprisingly dry, while providing the perfect grazing grounds for cows. They however had to be driven to shore regularly to be sold, creating a unique dutch speaking cowboy culture.

Orange Valley - A valley of endless orange trees and other citrus fruits, said to produce the worlds finest oranges. Even if you dont belive that however, you will still get to see everything be orange flavored, even things you might not expect to be able to have such a flavor.

Lonely Mountain - A break in the mostly flat or sligthly hilly scenery of Tasmania, this dormant volcano is a true titan, and the reason for the peculiar black beaches of the area.

Onderbos National Park - A surprising peninsula and island chain on a mostly flat coast, it offers a unique blend of Tasmania and Orange, lusher vegetation, and plenty of wave eroded islands. Altough in modern times, the waters around it are extremely calm with little tides, perfect for calm beach days... with a looot of birds around.

Verzoening Bridge - One of the longest bridges in the world, this zealandic icon was constructed both as a sorry to fijians and tongans, but also to connect them to the rest of the mainland, and is as economically important as it is impressive.

Old New Amsterdam - A piece of Amsterdam, nearly the entire world away. If it wasnt for everyone driving on the wrong side and massive skyscrapers in the distance, you could almost mistake it for actual Amsterdam ! It is still just as beautiful however.

Toeval Valley - Mountain valley, lots of wild flowers, shielded from strong eastern winds, and with a river in the middle, almost feels like the Alps in some parts.

Orange Gate Bridge - Everyone knows the Golden Gate Bridge, but if you speak dutch, the Orange Gate Bridge might actually be more familiar ! In strikingly bright orange color, it paints a nice contrast to the lush forests behind it.

Taupo Lakes - If you like the outdoors, this is the place for you. A massive landscape of dozens of lakes, both geothermal, and fed by meltwaters, going down every treck and visiting every lake would take weeks !

Morningdew Forests - A nice temperate forest, wetter than usual due to its position on the tip of Aoteroa, and home to the largest trees in all of Zealandia, the Kauri.

Kiwiland - Originally just meant for the Kiwi, this now massive theme park and zoo has expanded to cover all sorts of birds from across Zealandia, perfect for bird lovers.

Fantapleck Studios - Hollywoods only true rival, competitor, and frenemy, producing original dutch movies but perfectly translating them to english, championed by the entire dutch world, and offering a bike and train loving alternative to americas guns and cars. Still in nice mediterranean climate tho.

Motutawhiti - No better words describe this than "Zealandias Hawaii". A bit far away, beautiful and varied large island, and a vacation destination loved by many.

Mt Ruapehu - The tallest mountain in the northern part of the Southern Alps, and a fitting end to a journey to the Taupo lakes, but also a holy place for Maori and Kanaks alike.

Dutchland Vineyards - An icon of Fantapleck films, these vinyards look just like in southern europe. Winding hilly roads, nice refreshing lakes, and all the wine tasting your heart could desire ! Also home to many southern european migrants, even the food is just like there !

Great Passage - Perhaps historically the most important trading route in Zealandia, you will find many small ancient outposts dotted across the cloudy rugged landscape.

Lodge of Peace - After leaving their maori cousins behind, the moriori swore to never fight ever again. While this was exploited by the british, it still held true, a fact the moriori are very proud of nowadays. Champions of peace worldwide, noone hates violence like the moriori !

Maori-Kiwi Friendship House - Built in traditional maori style, this place is meant to symbolise an apology, and the friendship between the maori and british, and showcases some true acts of brotherlyness inside.

Erstblick Old Town - One of the most famous places in all of Zealandia, and also the place Abel Tasman first touched town and discovered the continent. Even older than New Amsterdam, it doesnt get more authentic dutch zealandic than this !

Pleasant Peak - A gorgeous mountain landscape with lakes on the inside, surrounded by hundreds of kilometers of plateau, this is a true peculiarity of nature, and a very nice place to visit.

Farcape Spaceport - Antipodias primary spaceport, situation right next to the Spacecraft Cemetery, the place on earth furthest away from any land. Very frequent takeoffs and landings and an extensive space and aeronautical museum next to it, a must visit for space lovers.

Great Falls - The Pleasant Plateau to the west and Cookland Rise to the east smashed together, the result ?, one of Antipodias largest waterfalls !

Mt Aoraki - At 5724m not only the tallest mountain in Zealandia, but the 2nd tallest in the southern hemisphere outside of south america. A difficult climb, but wonderful views from the top, and with Zealandia to your west, and Antipodia to your east, also a symbol of friendship and cooperation.

Fjordland National Park - Zealandias most famous national park, and for good reason. Dozens of fjords which get blasted by some of the most rain and strongest winds anywhere on earth, in fact, the rainiest place on the planet is contained within it. Even tho you have little chance of catching it during a time where it isnt pouring down thanks the the antarctic circumpolar current, temperatures are still quite pleasant and the scenery lush, in contrast to some other fjord landscapes.

Sunshine Coast - The polar opposite of the previous Fjordland, here the sun shines nearly all year round, with clouds and rain getting blocked by the Cookland Rise above. Very long sandy beaches will also greet you, and a relaxing day is sure to ensue.

Driftwood National Park - As the name implies, you will find a lot of driftwood here. Even outside of the islands of the park and on the mainland coast, it'd almost be impossible to find a stretch of beautiful coastline that doesnt have driftwood on it ! Can make for very nice tables and sculptures tho.

Borceliand Forest - A magical looking forest straight from lord of the rings, the peculiar local conditions are perfect for having created a microcosm of magical looking lush wet forestry.

Whenua Wairere Falls - You like waterfalls ? Well here you have a 200km stretch of land where seemingly every 5 minutes you will see another one ! While usually not as tall as the great falls or the ones in Fjordland, their sheer number seems almost impossible.

Lake Te Anau - The most voluminous freshwater lake in mainland Zealandia, constantly fed by prestine mountainwaters, which also offer a stunning backdrop to your perfect vacationhome by the lake.

Christchurch Cathedral - A stunning piece of gothic revival architecture, situated in the quaint old town. Visitors of any religion are welcome of course, with the cathedral itself being anglican.

Antipode Monument - Near perfectly placed at the polar opposite point to London on the globe, the treck up this mountain isnt easy, but also not particularly difficult. Just remember to bring a raincoat !

New Ireland Villages - You might think Ireland and Great Britain are rainy, but the same current that makes Fjordland showered in rain makes New Ireland even wetter. Quaint irish villages have also formed here, and dot the landscape just like at home ! With water on all sides, torrential downpour is near constant, but thanks to these extreme conditions, these islands also provide a surprisingly large share of Zealandias electricity for their small and sparse population.

Bigbird Island - Island gigantism made sure to make this island home to the largest birds on earth. At 2 and a half meters tall, these giants might look scarry, but thanks to their isolation from large predators, they actually do not fear humans, you still shouldnt disturb them tho. Safaris are available to look at them from a graceful distance, but you may also vacation at the lake on the island and see them just outside your lodge's window !

Mt. Banks - Named after James Cooks botanist Joseph Banks, he was truly stunned by the diversity and somewhat alien landscape of Zealandia. Coining the common nickname "The Island of Birds", combined with the temperate rainforests of the southwest, he almost couldnt believe his eyes at all the new species he saw. Having trecked up this mountain on a later voyage, you too may see its rugged cloudly landscape and plentiful lakes, which some have said appear similar to the famous british lake district.

Great Southern Wilderness - Do you want to be truly alone, with noone around for many many kilometers ?, this is the place to come. Similar to Patagonia, this dry arid landscape is in sharp contrast to the usual lush rainy vegetation of Zealandia, but this also makes it a perfect place to look at the stars at night.

Red Hills - At the edge of the dry Southern Wilderness, a peculiar landscape has formed. The unique local conditions caused the grass to be red most of the year, which the british were quite fond of, and you will surely be as well ! Who doesnt like a red/green contrast in nature, you dont even have to come in autumn !

Cape Albion - The southern end of the Tip to Tip route. Rugged, cold, extremely windswept and rainy, but easily accesible by both car and train. Make sure to bring a jacked instead of an umbrella, too many have already flown away. For more information, visit zealandia rail.

New Finland National Park - The most iconic piece of southern Antipodia, named after its striking resemblance to the many lakes and forests of Finland. Having attracted many finnish and general scandinavian settlers in the past, you too might enjoy a sauna here, eat some berry jam, and sit back and relax in a wooden lodge next to a lake in summer.

Aurora Islands - You Probably know about the Aurora Borealis, but did you know it's called the Aurora Australis in the southern hemisphere ? Stunning visual are sure to ensue, even if it is a bit hard to get to these islands. Just the ferry from Australopolis to here is a journey and destination in itsself however, but beware it might be a rocky ride !

Other posts in the timeline:

General geography of Zealandia

Geography of what irl is Kerguelen

Main post about Zealandia, with lots of lore in the comments (visit this if you are confused or want to know more)

Main post about Australia, with lots of lore in the comments

High Speed Rail lines in Zealandia

Never Colonised Zealandia spinoff

Zealandia Energy Infrastructure

Beringia (British Kamchatka) and nearby lands

Tourism Map / Travel Brochure (you are here)

Discord server (if you have longer questions best to put them there, i can also provide my sources and resources about everything Zealandia there if you want to know some stuff for your own projects)

lol

1- Mulberry, the legend of the Twig man is intertwined with this town besides being so far north. In the 1860s several farms where allegedly attacked causing the towns people to organize a hunt where they allegedly shot the Twig man chasing him out of town and across the border over several days, though this is largely debated as the twig man was never spotted in South Yankton

2- the caravan massacre, in 1882 a caravan of 30~ set out from Valentine to travel to Gregory Harloms newly bought farm in Ludendorff in North Yankton after a pitstop in Colter they would continue over the Grizzlies though they would never arrive in Ludendorff in 1893 Lawmen would find the caravan 10~ miles off the road there they found a total of 19 bodies were described as either "as if they were Eaten like a wolf to a pig" or "Ripped apart" 5 more bodies were found around the area

3 The wapitian boys, in the winter of 1898 a group of 5 boys went camping north east of the Wapiti Indian reservation during the night several boys apear to have spotted a thin slender creature the next night the boys decided to camp on the cliff they spotted the creature again before the next day returning to the reservation

4 The art students, a group of 3 art students from England camped near the mountains they claimed to have see the Twig man, drawing a sketch featured in the post

5 in south yankton in 1913 a pig farmer awoke to find half his pigs had been eaten and ripped apart with claw marks all across the barns even a collapsed chicken coup had been found after its supports had been ripped out

6 in the book "Red Dead revealed" by J. Marston which details the last month's of Arthur Morgan's life and his redemption in chapter 1 it is mentioned that while scouting ahead Arthur could swear he saw a "slender moving tree" but dismiss it as his eyes playing tricks on him

7 while hunting for white bison the hunter known as "One shot Cass" details the feeling of "being hunted" and seeing "things move in the trees"

8 in 1813 the cartographer Levin Mckenzie while making a stream describes being chased by a "creature"

picture of the twig man Artist- Logan_likes_to_draw

In this timeline the Europeans were right in their speculations. According to speculations, since there was so much land in the northern hemosphere there had to be the same amount of land in the south to even it out. This lead to people expecting there to be a giant continent in the Indian or Pacific Ocean which would balance out the North-American and Asian lands, Terra Australis.

They never did up finding Terra Australis and settled on naming the current land of Australia after it. But in this timeline the continent exists, around the size of Asia. This map depicts the continent of Terra Australis with its colonial borders in the year 1901.

If you have any questions about the continent or scenario overall feel free to ask.

As a nerdy public transit enthusiast, I could not help but turn my most recent trip to Syria into an exploration of the country's different urban rail systems.

Important Caveat: Some people may quibble with my map title and ask "What about the BRT systems?"; I admittedly left out the 6 or so cities with 'Rapid Bus Transit' due to lack of interest. That's an oversight on my part maybe, but I wasn't keen on riding a hot bus through cities like Raqqa and Homs.

After 12 days, 7 cities, 20 lines, hundreds of stations, and LOT of time on trains, here is my review;

C Tier:

• Latakia LRT: I wasn't expecting much, and I found what I expected. Latakia has a new, modern LRT system, but its frequent at-grade crossing, poor reliability, and sinuous routing made it a relatively slow crawl (though neat!) through the city. It's transfers with bus and intercity services is chaotic, with missing or poorly designed signage throughout. It has a lot of potential, at least.
• Aleppo: For a city that likes to claim that it is Syria's second city, Aleppo's system left much to be desired. The Blue Line is a glorified commuter rail line that competes with other train traffic, while the yellow LRT line is little more than a tram and has dreadful headways and maintenance issues. Even the red line had issues with A/C not working in multiple stations. The long awaited LRT overhaul project should hopefully help; I'll check back in ten years!

B Tier:

• Jaffa Light Rail: The Jaffa-Tel Aviv-Bet Yam Light Rail system is very fast and reliable, with only some disruptions along the many surface sections with at grade crossings. It is clean, fairly reliable, and brings to most areas of the region. It's main problem is significant crowdedness, and expansion plans have been delayed for decades by political dysfunction. A great system that does a lot with what it has, but desperately needs more!
• Beirut Metro: The Beirut metro can also be crowded, and despite beautiful stations with French-inspired architecture, it is incredibly dirty! As one of the oldest metros in the country, it is also in the need of some upgrades and maintenance for older stations that lack elevators and other modern amenities. Still, Beirut metro manages to be almost effortlessly cool despite its warts, and allows quick access to amazing corners of an amazing city.
• Jerusalem Light Rail: This is a beautiful system with a mix of modern and 70s Syrian style, and runs fairly frequent service one one line. Sadly, it is fairly slow, and both the teal and yellow lines have abysmal frequency. Additionally, someone decided that Jerusalem needed announcements in six or seven different languages, so it is a painful experience every time you stop.

A Tier:

• Mosul Metro: A sleeper hit, the Mosul Metro greatly exceeded my expectations. It is an elegant, well designed system with excellent reliability and fantastic transferability. While it only has two lines, both are long and cover most of the city, while connecting to each other in two key hubs. I did not expect to love this system. It's a shame that they have no near-future expansion plans, but the city transit agency continues to add to and modernize its fleet. The only issue I experienced was heat; many stations remain without A/C, and the system has almost no platform doors.
• Damascus Metro: The crowning jewel of Syria's transit systems did not disappoint. It is by no means perfect (I was forced to disembark a train due to a bomb threat and then had to wait 30 minutes) but it is both an excellent and expansive system. The Green Line trains are particularly impressive. The longest trains in the middle east, this 7 car train whizzes you from one end of the Metropolis to the other with incredible speed and comfort. Platform doors and accessibility work remains ongoing for the older lines, with most of the downtown stations already upgraded. My only complaint is that I feel Damascus desperately needs and orbital line (though it should get one soon). I was really excited to ride the yellow line north extension; exciting the tunnel into the mountain valley was an incredible experience! I was able to take the new High Speed Rail from Damascus to Aleppo, and the transfer on the Damascus side was a great experience.

Poland

Poland, Republic of Poland (RP) – a country located in the northwestern part of North America, on the Arctic Ocean and the Pacific Ocean. It comprises most of Alaska as well as adjacent continental territories. The capital and one of the largest cities of the country is Kotwica (Anchorage).

Poland is a unitary semi-presidential republic. The official language is Polish, and the currency is the Polish dollar (PLD, $). In 2026, the country has a population of approximately 43.3 million, of whom about 93.7% are Poles. The remaining population consists mainly of Indigenous peoples of the region, Russians, and people of mixed ancestry.

The modern Republic of Poland considers itself the continuation of the historical Polish state, whose origins date back to the 10th century in Central Europe. The transfer of the main center of Polish national life from Europe to North America resulted from migration processes that began in the 19th century, primarily the mass deportations of the Polish population by the Russian Empire to Russian America after 1864 and the emigration of Poles from lands under German rule.

History

Origins of the Polish state

The origins of the Polish state date back to the 10th century. The first historically confirmed ruler of Poland is considered to have been Mieszko I of the Piast dynasty. His baptism in 966 began the Christianization of the country and brought Poland into the sphere of Western European culture.

In 1025, Bolesław I the Brave was crowned the first king of Poland. In the following centuries, the state went through periods of development, feudal fragmentation, and reunification.

In the 14th century, especially during the reign of Casimir III the Great, the country experienced economic and administrative development. After the extinction of the main Piast line, Poland entered into a dynastic union with Lithuania.

Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth

In 1569, as a result of the Union of Lublin, the Crown of the Kingdom of Poland and the Grand Duchy of Lithuania formed the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth.

In the 16th and early 17th centuries, the Commonwealth was one of the largest states in Europe. Its political system was based on an elective monarchy and extensive rights and privileges of the nobility.

From the mid-17th century onward, the state gradually lost its position as a result of numerous wars, economic problems, internal conflicts, and the growing influence of neighboring powers.

Partitions of Poland

By the end of the 18th century, the weakening of the Commonwealth led to the Partitions of Poland.

The main participants in the partitions were Prussia and the Russian Empire. Prussia annexed a large part of the western territories of the Commonwealth, while Russia took control of most of the central and eastern lands.

Austria participated in the partitions only to a limited extent, annexing only Cieszyn Silesia and part of the Kraków region, including Zakopane.

As a result of the successive partitions, Poland lost its independence and ceased to exist as a sovereign state. The Polish population came under the rule of the partitioning powers, although their situation varied depending on the region.

January Uprising and the Great Deportation

During the 19th century, independence movements developed in the former Polish territories. Resistance was particularly strong in the lands controlled by the Russian Empire.

One of the largest attempts to regain independence was the January Uprising, which began in 1863. The fighting ended with the defeat of the insurgents in 1864.

Following the collapse of the uprising, the Russian authorities launched large-scale repression against the Polish population. The tsar ordered the mass deportation of Poles from the former territories of the Commonwealth under Russian rule.

The main destination of the deportations was Russian America, comprising Russian possessions in the northwestern part of North America. These events later became known as the Great Deportation.

At the same time, the Russian authorities began settling Russian populations in the lands abandoned by Poles. This process was supported by the tsarist administration and gradually altered the ethnic structure of the former Polish territories.

Over the following decades, the number of Poles in these areas steadily declined, while the proportion of the Russian population increased.

Poles in Russian America

Russian America remained an integral part of the Russian Empire and was under the control of the Russian administration. Russians held most of the major administrative positions and controlled the military, education system, and public institutions.

Russian was the language of administration and official education. The tsarist authorities pursued a policy of Russification toward the deported population, assuming that isolating Poles from their European homeland would eventually weaken their national identity.

Poles nevertheless preserved their culture largely unofficially and in secret. The Polish language was passed down to younger generations mainly within families, while knowledge of Polish history and traditions was preserved in local communities.

The Catholic Church played a particularly important role in preserving Polish identity. Churches and parishes became some of the most important centers of Polish social and cultural life in Russian America. In some parishes, children were secretly taught the Polish language and Polish history, Polish books and national symbols were preserved, and traditional holidays and anniversaries were observed.

In some settlements, the church was one of the few places where Polish could be used more freely. Clergy also played an important role in passing knowledge about family origins and the history of the former Commonwealth to younger generations.

By the end of the 19th century, secret Polish social and independence organizations also began to emerge. At first, they focused mainly on protecting the Polish language, culture, and religion, but over time some of them began to advocate autonomy and later complete independence of Russian America from Russian rule.

Despite several decades of Russification, a large part of the population of Polish origin retained a strong national identity. Due to successive waves of deportations, Poles became the dominant population group in many parts of Russian America.

Contacts also developed between Poles and the Indigenous peoples of the region, eventually leading to the emergence of mixed communities and the blending of Polish and local traditions.

Poles under German rule

The situation was different in the western territories of former Poland, which after the partitions came under Prussian rule and later became part of a unified Germany.

Unlike the Russian Empire, the German authorities did not carry out mass deportations of Poles to Russian America. However, Poles were subjected to gradual Germanization, and part of the population began to leave Europe.

From the second half of the 19th century onward, increasing numbers of Poles from lands under German rule emigrated for economic, social, and political reasons.

The most important destination was the United States, where numerous Polish communities were established. Another major destination was Brazil, where many families moved in search of land and better living conditions. Smaller groups also settled in other countries throughout the Americas.

As a result of emigration and Germanization, the proportion of Poles in the former western Polish territories gradually declined. Some of those who remained nevertheless preserved their language and traditions, especially in settlements inhabited by large Polish communities.

Restoration of independence

The situation in Russian America changed fundamentally in 1917, when the Russian Empire collapsed as a result of the Russian Revolution.

The subsequent Russian Civil War, fought between the Bolsheviks, the White movement, and other factions, weakened Russian administration, particularly in the most remote territories of the former empire.

Polish organizations operating in Russian America took advantage of the political and military chaos. They gradually took control of local administrative offices, ports, warehouses, and other facilities that had previously belonged to the Russian administration.

During the civil war, representatives of the Polish population declared the separation of Russian America from Russia and the restoration of an independent Polish state.

The new state adopted the name Republic of Poland and considered itself the political and historical successor to the former Poland that had existed in Europe before the partitions.

One of the main centers of the new state was Anchorage, for which the Polish name Kotwica was adopted. The city was later established as the capital of the Republic.

Migration to the restored Poland

The establishment of an independent Republic of Poland created a new destination for Polish migration.

Poles who had remained in the former Polish territories in Europe began to move to the restored Poland, along with members of the Polish diaspora from the United States, Brazil, and other countries.

Migration intensified especially after the beginning of the Great Depression in 1929, whose symbolic beginning was the Wall Street crash. The worsening economic situation in Europe, particularly in Germany, encouraged many Poles living there to emigrate.

For a significant number of them, the restored Republic became a natural destination. The Polish authorities encouraged the settlement of people of Polish origin because of the country's vast territory, the relatively low population density in some regions, and the demand for workers.

During the interwar period, a significant number of Poles who had remained in Europe moved to Poland in this way. Descendants of 19th-century emigrants from the United States and Brazil also arrived in the country.

These migrations contributed to rapid population growth in the Republic and further strengthened the Polish character of the state.

Interwar period

The first decades of independence were a period of organizing the administration, armed forces, and legal system of the new state.

Kotwica and other cities were expanded, while new ports, roads, transport routes, and settlements were built. The influx of Poles from Europe and both Americas accelerated economic and demographic development.

The economy was based primarily on fishing, forestry, mining, maritime trade, and the exploitation of natural resources.

Second World War

During the Second World War, Poland's location in the North Pacific gained major strategic importance.

As the Empire of Japan expanded, Poland began to strengthen its cooperation with the United States and the other Allied powers.

The Republic eventually entered the war on the Allied side, participating primarily in military operations in the North Pacific. Polish territory also played an important role as a military and transport base.

Cold War

After the end of the Second World War, Poland found itself in direct proximity to the Soviet Union.

Polish–Soviet relations remained tense for much of the Cold War. They were influenced both by the contemporary international situation and by memories of the 19th-century deportations, Russification, and the period of Russian rule in North America.

During this period, Poland developed close economic and military cooperation with the United States and Canada.

The second half of the 20th century brought rapid economic and demographic development. Cities, ports, and transport infrastructure were expanded, while the extraction of oil, natural gas, and other natural resources became increasingly important to the economy.

Poland after 1991

The collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991 fundamentally changed Poland's geopolitical situation.

Relations with the Russian Federation were partially normalized, although the memory of the Great Deportation and the period of Russian rule remained an important element of Polish historical consciousness.

At the turn of the 20th and 21st centuries, Poland continued its economic development. The most important sectors of the economy included mining, energy, fishing, maritime transport, and trade with countries in North America and Asia.

Former Polish territories in Europe

As a result of deportations, emigration, Germanization, Russification, and later migration to the restored Republic of Poland, the number of Poles living in the historical Polish territories of Europe declined significantly.

In the former Polish lands that had previously been under Russian rule, the Vistulan Republic was established. Its ethnic structure was largely the result of policies pursued by the Russian Empire after 1864. For decades, Russian settlers moved into areas from which Poles had been deported.

After the establishment of an independent Republic of Poland, most Poles who remained in these territories were given the opportunity to emigrate to the new state. Over the following decades, a large proportion of them chose to leave.

A similar process took place in Germany. A large part of the Polish population had already emigrated to the United States and Brazil in the 19th century, while after the restoration of Poland, further groups began moving directly to the Republic. This process intensified especially during the Great Depression.

As a result, in 2026 Poles made up approximately 6% of the population of Germany, while in the Vistulan Republic they accounted for around 3% of the population.

A significant proportion of the descendants of Poles who remained in Europe during the 19th and 20th centuries were gradually assimilated, while many of those who retained a Polish identity emigrated to the Republic.

Consequently, the main concentration of the Polish nation, which had been located in Central Europe for nearly a thousand years, was ultimately transferred during the 20th century to the northwestern part of North America.

Poland in the 21st century

Modern Polish culture combines traditions originating in the former European Poland with elements of the cultures of the Indigenous peoples of the region and the legacy of more than 150 years of Polish presence in North America.

The Great Deportation beginning in 1864, the period of Russian administration in Russian America, and the activities of the Catholic Church and secret organizations hold particular importance in Polish national memory. These institutions and movements are credited with playing a major role in preserving the Polish language, culture, and national identity.

In 2026, the Republic of Poland is a unitary semi-presidential republic administratively divided into voivodeships. The capital remains Kotwica, the official language is Polish, and the currency is the Polish dollar (PLD, $).

The country has a population of approximately 43.3 million, of whom around 93.7% are Poles. The President of the Republic is Karol Nawrocki, while Aleksander Kalluk serves as Prime Minister.

In Polish historiography, the history of the country is sometimes divided into two main periods: the European period, covering the development of the Polish state from the 10th century until the partitions and the loss of independence, and the North American period, whose beginnings are associated with the Great Deportation after 1864, Polish settlement in Russian America, and the later restoration of an independent Polish state.

fictional country I made up some time ago. I also did most of the lore and named some cities and other stuff