Naucents Atoll

Introduction

Part of the Meloponesian archipelago, Naucents Atoll is the most remote of a thirteen island group, and is the world's most distant landmass. Discovered in 1652 by the Dutch/Basque explorer Emilio "Cabeza de Pollo" Naucents (pronounced "NOH-sints"), the tiny atoll is home to a small group of Meloponesians said to be direct descendents of the illegitimate son of King Waukeataukee, the last emperor of the Guiwatuinui dynasty.

Having claimed Naucents Atoll in the name of the King of Spain, then the Queen of Holland, then the King of Spain once again, Emilio Naucents finally gave the atoll to the Swiss in exchange for a noble title and a second-round draft pick. Algerian whalers lay claim to the area in the mid-18th century, but this claim was disputed by the Persians who said they had won Naucents Atoll in a card game. Following the Prusso-Iberian War, ownership was ceded to Egypt who put the deed in a cabinet and forgot about it.

In 1954, Naucents Atoll became the world's first and only Royal Republic, a monarchy elected by the people. The king--the ruler is always male--is said to be the worldly manisfestation of the Almighty, unless of course, he is voted out of office. The current monarch is King Wayne.

Commerce & Agriculture

The primary exports of Naucents Atoll are jute and silica jell. Over two-thirds of the country's population is engaged in harvesting the naturally abundant silica jell, prized for its properties as a desiccant (moisture absorber). While silica jell is in high demand for high-tech industries, Naucents Atoll's remote location and nearly impenetrable coral reef coastline have put a damper of the area's economic growth. A planned extension to the atoll's single runway has been under debate in Parliament for over a decade.

Climate

Although Naucents Atoll is quite a good distance from the equator, due to a combination of ocean currents and prevailing weather systems, the area receives over 500 centimeters of annual rainfall, mainly from thunderstorms, and has a year-round temperature of 32 degrees Celsius.

Naucents As a DXpedition Site

Because of the atoll's extremely remote nature, Naucents is both prized and forgotten by DXers worldwide. And because of both its climate and its lack of a grey-line path to any other landmass, few DXpeditioners bother to undertake the arduous journey. Due to unusual tidal conditions, the coastline can only be approached at the vernal and autumnal equinoxes. Virtually all large shipments into or out of Naucents occurs during these twice-annual weeklong windows.

Air travel to Naucents is no less complicated; the 2500 foot runway is, for the most part, too short for large aircraft, but the atoll is likewise too distant to be safely reached by small planes. Twice monthly, Air Melopenesia dispatches an otherwise retired DC-3 to Naucents Atoll's Wikki International Field.

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