Eldorado
The largest equatorial region settlement on Gelefog I is officially named on the Lanthanex Corpation ledgers as Lanthanex Gelefog Extraction/Refinement Outpost 2, or LGER-2. But its inhabitants, and in fact most of the Borderspace region, know it as Eldorado. Situated near a mountain ridge that marks one of the planets many tectonic boundaries, this city is the center of activity for the largest gold-producing operation in the Borderlands.
The corporation and early settler employees on Gelefog I were aware of the eccentric orbit of the planet and anticipated the extreme climate effects this eccentricity would produce, but they were not fully prepared for the seismic activity caused by gravitational tidal effects as the planet swung through its orbital perihelion. Massive earthquakes rocked the equatorial region; LGER-1 sustained some damage, but LGER-2 was completely devastated.
The gold deposits where too lucrative to abandon, however, so after the worst of the seismic action subsided, the outpost was rebuilt. Construction the second time around attempted to pay more heed to mitigating planetquake damage. When the next orbit completed about three standard years later, LGER-2 fared better than it had the first time around, but still sustained significant damage.
In the 30 standard years since the first outposts were established, Gelefog I has completed about 10 orbital cycles. Lanthanex, and those living and working in the equatorial mining and processing centers, have learned in this time to essentially evacuate equatorial outposts during the peak summer/perihelion time, moving to polar settlements that are far more seismically stable, and climatically somewhat more bearable. Upon returning to their equatorial homes and work zones, some rebuilding is inevitable.
There are more taverns per capita in Eldorado than in any other settlement in the Borderspace. No fewer than 4000 exist - almost 1 for every 30 residents. Many of these contain gambling parlors for the entertainment of the miners and factory workers.
Despite best efforts, each orbital cycle brings sees a mass exodus to the polar regions as perihelion nears. Residents eventually return to some degree of destruction and the need to rebuild. It is said that not a single original building exists from the initial founding of the settlement, and most doubt that any structure doesn't represent at least two reconstructions.
History
Lanthanex Corporation first took interest in Gelefog I when prospector scouts discovered large deposits of rare earth minerals in rich veins near the surface scattered around in mountain ranges around the planet. Shortly after establishing its first mining outpost, though, a vast deposit of gold was discovered along a mountain ridge about 200km away. Lanthanex officials quickly established LGER-2 to take advantage of this.The corporation and early settler employees on Gelefog I were aware of the eccentric orbit of the planet and anticipated the extreme climate effects this eccentricity would produce, but they were not fully prepared for the seismic activity caused by gravitational tidal effects as the planet swung through its orbital perihelion. Massive earthquakes rocked the equatorial region; LGER-1 sustained some damage, but LGER-2 was completely devastated.
The gold deposits where too lucrative to abandon, however, so after the worst of the seismic action subsided, the outpost was rebuilt. Construction the second time around attempted to pay more heed to mitigating planetquake damage. When the next orbit completed about three standard years later, LGER-2 fared better than it had the first time around, but still sustained significant damage.
In the 30 standard years since the first outposts were established, Gelefog I has completed about 10 orbital cycles. Lanthanex, and those living and working in the equatorial mining and processing centers, have learned in this time to essentially evacuate equatorial outposts during the peak summer/perihelion time, moving to polar settlements that are far more seismically stable, and climatically somewhat more bearable. Upon returning to their equatorial homes and work zones, some rebuilding is inevitable.
Eldorado Today
Eldorado houses approximately 130,000 residents. Workers of most families are employed by Lanthanex, involved with the mining and initial refining of gold. The rest provide the support services that any settlement would required: markets, shops, restaurants, recreation services, and others. Because of the possibility of seismic destruction every three standard years, most structures, whether residential or commercial, tend to be small, standalone, and simply but strongly built. Viewed from altitude, Eldorado resembles a child's playroom with blocks scattered everywhere. The only large structures are the gold ore processing and refining facilities - and even these are built in as modular a fashion as processing and throughput volumes will permit.There are more taverns per capita in Eldorado than in any other settlement in the Borderspace. No fewer than 4000 exist - almost 1 for every 30 residents. Many of these contain gambling parlors for the entertainment of the miners and factory workers.
Despite best efforts, each orbital cycle brings sees a mass exodus to the polar regions as perihelion nears. Residents eventually return to some degree of destruction and the need to rebuild. It is said that not a single original building exists from the initial founding of the settlement, and most doubt that any structure doesn't represent at least two reconstructions.
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