---
title: "The Frederikka Islands"
nativeTitle: "Fredriikan Saaret (Routan)"
romaji: "Frederihká Suolut (Saamit)"
type: "subdivision"
nation: "karjania"
infobox: (22 rows)
---
The **Frederikka Islands**[ˈfre̞.de̞.rikːɑ ˈaɪləndz] (*Fredriikan Saaret*) [ˈfredriːkɑn ˈsɑːret] are an island chain in the Himalayan Sea, belonging to the [[united-socialist-states-of-karjania]]. The archipelago consists of 11 islands, of which the largest is Kristianmaa, where the capital city of Shompolahti is located. Other islands with a significant population include Annasaari, where the Annasaarese people live, and Palmusaaret, known for its tourism industry. The islands neighbour the territory of the Andam Islands, which belong to Arlbern, to the south and Cahaya to the north. **The Frederikka Islands** are administered as an overseas territory of [[karjania]], together with Kullanmaan. The island chain is known for its diverse fauna and flora. They were named after Queen Frederikka of Karjania (1521-1603). The archipelago is the only part of Karjania located in [[valtheria]].
## Etymology
The island's Karjanian and international name comes from Queen Frederikka of Karjania. She was the Queen of Karjania between 1578 and 1589, and was of [[skjarnish]] origin. This name was first used during the 1778 Revolution, and was made official in 1867. Before this, the islands were known by other names, including *Pig Islands (Siansaaret)*, *New Kivijärvi*and *Pietarisaaret*. In the period before Karjanian colonization, the islands were usually referred to as *North Andam Islands*. Indigenous languages have a variety of different names they refer to the territory as, including the Shompon *Buvealatakrau*, meaning “Island of the Buveala” and the Frederikkese *Holchu Nyiu*, meaning “Friendly Islands”.
## History
### Before colonization
The Frederikka Islands were first inhabited around 5,500 years ago, by the ancestors of Frederikkese indigenous peoples. Archeological evidence of humans on the island dates back to 1200 BCE. It is believed the native Shompon people’s ancestors were the first to arrive on the islands. The first island to be continuously inhabited was Kristianmaa, the largest of the archipelago. The ancestors of the Frederikkese and Annasaarese people arrived around 400 BCE, and inhabited the islands of Annasaari, Uusi [[pietari]] and Palmusaaret. The Frederikkese people first travelled to Kristianmaa around 300 CE and conquered large parts of the island from Shompon tribes. It's estimated the population of the Shompon people was halved in a hundred years. During this period, several tribes assimilated, and Kristianmaa became largely Frederikkese. Explorers from parts of Valtheria first mapped the island chain around 800 CE. It is believed a large tsunami hit the archipelago around 1100 CE, causing a significant loss of life.
<figure><img src="/assets/old-media/media/frederikka-islands-3.jpg" alt="Traditional Shompon Houses"><figcaption>Traditional Shompon Houses</figcaption></figure>
<figure><img src="/assets/old-media/media/frederikka-islands-4.jpg" alt="Frederikkese village"><figcaption>Frederikkese village</figcaption></figure>
<figure><img src="/assets/old-media/media/frederikka-islands-5.jpg" alt="Annasaarese fishermen"><figcaption>Annasaarese fishermen</figcaption></figure>
### Colonization by Karjania
The first [[evrian]] to visit the island chain was Kasperi Honkala of the Karjanian Royal Shipping Company in 1584. Karjania first claimed ownership of the islands in the 1700s, before establishing the first Karjanian settlement of Uusi Arkankeli in 1713. The arrival of the Karjanians led to an outbreak of new diseases within the indigenous tribes, which led to the Frederikkese people’s aggression and want for revenge, culminating in the battle of Kristianmaa in 1725, which led to the execution of over 2,000 Frederikkese men, women and children, as well as the deaths of over 500 Karjanians. The Karjanians introduced several invasive species, as well as causing the extinction of native fauna. Native Frederikkese people were forced to work for little pay, in harsh conditions all year long. Eventually, after the 1778 Revolution in mainland Karjania, indigenous people were given more rights, and the Karjanian Valtheria Resource Extraction Company was disbanded. The city of Shompolahti, named after the Shompon people, was founded in 1827, as a settlement for native Frederikkese people. On the island of Palmusaaret, the now famous Hotel Palmu was built, causing a rise in tourism. During the [[great-war|Great War]], both Routan and Frederikkese people were drafted into the Frederikka battalion, who fought on several fronts, with over 3,000 confirmed deaths.
<figure><img src="/assets/old-media/media/frederikka-islands-6.jpg" alt="Coast of Annasaari (1889)"><figcaption>Coast of Annasaari (1889)</figcaption></figure>
### Civil war and the USSK
During the Karjanian Civil War, the Frederikka Islands were claimed by both sides, with the locals taking a neutral stance. 6 days before the official surrender of the Republic, they officially joined the USSK, as the Territory of the Frederikka Islands. The Civil War only claimed one casualty, a 21 year old Routan man who upon hearing the news of the island chain joining the USSK, started a protest, for which he was later executed. After the war, the archipelago, for the first time in its history reached a life expectancy above 30. Several schools were opened, as well as the forced closing of local private businesses. Today, the Frederikka Islands are the second lowest populated subdivision of Karjania, as well as the one farthest from the mainland.
<figure><img src="/assets/old-media/media/frederikka-islands-7.jpg" alt="Himalayan Sea and North Siansaari"><figcaption>Himalayan Sea and North Siansaari</figcaption></figure>
## Government
The Frederikka Islands are an overseas territory of Karjania, and are governed by a governor, as well as the Council of the 11 Islands, serving as the legislative center of the archipelago. The Council consists of 10 delegates, from 7 different islands. The governor, as well as the delegates are elected every year, usually between June 10-20th. The islands have 3 distinct parties, *Karjanian Communist Party*, with 9 seats, the *Frederikkese Socialist Party*, with 1 seat and the *Party of Native Frederikka* *Islanders*, with 0 seats. The first election in the island chain was held in 1921, when the KCP won all 10 seats in the Island Council, with 87% of the vote.
<figure><img src="/assets/old-media/media/frederikka-islands-8.jpg" alt="The Council Building, Shompolahti"><figcaption>The Council Building, Shompolahti</figcaption></figure>
## Economy
The economy of the island chain is built upon agriculture, fishing and tourism. Most of the indigenous population work in the agricultural sector, the most common produce being coconuts. The fishing industry is mostly based on the island of Annasaari, as well as the southern shore of Kristianmaa. The tourism industry is most significant in Palmusaaret, with a large Routan population. The archipelago, like Karjania itself, follows a socialist planned economy, with no private ownership. The island's GDP is 969,344,000, meaning its GDP per capita is 21,541, less than half of mainland Karjania's. Hunting is a popular activity within the archipelago.
<figure><img src="/assets/old-media/media/frederikka-islands-9.jpg" alt="Coconut farming in Southern Kristianmaa"><figcaption>Coconut farming in Southern Kristianmaa</figcaption></figure>
The territory is divided into 13 districts, each island except Kristianmaa is its own district, while Kristianmaa is divided into 3 districts, with the capital of Shompolahti serving as its own district. 4 of the 13 districts have no permanent population, but still receive occasional visits by researchers and wealthy tourists.
<figure><img src="/assets/old-media/media/frederikka-islands-10.png" alt="Map of the 13 districts of the Frederikka Islands"><figcaption>Map of the 13 districts of the Frederikka Islands</figcaption></figure>
## Geography
The Frederikka Islands are located in the Himalayan Sea, and have no land borders. They neighbour the Andam Islands and Cahaya. They have a total land area of 1,841 Km², making them the smallest subdivision of Karjania. The archipelago contains 11 islands. The easternmost point of Karjania is on North Siansaari Island, the northernmost of the island chain. The islands were formed approximately 100,000,000 years ago through tectonic plate collisions.
### Climate
The islands have a tropical climate, and are one of the warmest regions of Karjania. The average temperature ranges between 25-30 Celsius and in summer it can get as high as 40 degrees. The humidity is quite high, at around 70% on average. The archipelago experiences large amounts of rainfall all year round, and is also at an above average risk for tsunamis.
<figure><img src="/assets/old-media/media/frederikka-islands-11.jpg" alt="Kokkomaa and the Coconut Strait"><figcaption>Kokkomaa and the Coconut Strait</figcaption></figure>
### Ecology
The islands have large rainforests, with significant diversity in animal and plant species. The coast of the islands have vast mangrove forests, while some of the smaller isles are considered grasslands. The archipelago has over 1,500 native animal species, almost all of which are not found anywhere else in Karjania. They include the Annasaari Wild Pig, the official animal of the region, the Frederikka pigeon, one of the most unique bird species in [[avium]], as well as macaques and sea cows. The islands are also home to over 2,000 plant species, which are studied extensively. They include ferns, trees, orchids and several species of wildflowers, which are an important symbol in the region.
<figure><img src="/assets/old-media/media/frederikka-islands-12.jpg" alt="Frederikka Pigeon"><figcaption>Frederikka Pigeon</figcaption></figure>
## Demographics
The Frederikka Islands are a diverse archipelago, both in religion and ethnicity. The largest ethnic group in the island chain are the native Frederikkese people, who are a majority of the population. The second largest group are Routans, with a population of about 13,000, they settled on the island in the 1700s. Other significant ethnic groups include the Shompon, who were the first to arrive on the islands, and are not related to Frederikkese or Annasaarese people. They live in Kristianmaa, and have a population of roughly 2,000. The Annasaarese people are native to Annasaari and number around 400 individuals. The large Saamit population of over 4,000 are the descendants of 237 Saamit people who were taken from Murmánska to Palmusaaret by force, and built several tourist attractions. Most people in the islands are not religious, while the most followed religions are Frederikkese folk religions, believers in [Animism](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Animism). There are around 730 Nazarist people on the island, most of whom go to churches in the Shompolahti District. There are also Nazarist churches in Siansaari, Palmusaaret and Annasaari. Kokkomaa has a significant Shahadist population, numbering around 50. The median age is 17.9, and around 52% of the archipelago are women.
<figure><img src="/assets/old-media/media/frederikka-islands-13.jpg" alt="Nazarist Church, Northern Siansaari"><figcaption>Nazarist Church, Northern Siansaari</figcaption></figure>
## Culture
The archipelago has a varied culture, with many people living the same way as their ancestors thousands of years ago. The Routan and Frederikkese cultures mixing creates a unique cuisine and architectural style. The main symbols of the island chain are the colours green, yellow and white, which feature on the territory’s emblem, as well as its two official flags. The Frederikkese people view the Green-Yellow-White tricolour as their own flag, it was made co-official along with the yellow and green cross in 1921. The Shompon and Annasaarese people have their own ethnic flags. Other symbols include the coconut palm, wild pigs, canoes and wildflowers. In Frederikkese mythology, snakes are regarded as sacred animals. The Frederikka Islands have a national football team, separate from Karjania. It is widely regarded as one of the worst in the world. Their first game was a 18-0 loss to Karjania in 1889. There are two clubs, both on the island of Kristianmaa, Frederikka Islands Wildflowers and Shompolahti PS. They play the Frederikka Cup each year, with the Wildflowers being the dominant side.
<figure><img src="/assets/old-media/media/frederikka-islands-14.jpg" alt="Frederikkese flag flying in the wind"><figcaption>Frederikkese flag flying in the wind</figcaption></figure>
