Velyka Osivka
| Велика Осівка | |
|---|---|
 Imperial Maritime Museum on Admiralty Isle | |
| Location | |
| Country |  Livaria
|
| Foundation | c.5790 |
| Government | |
| Body | Velyka Osivka Regional Council |
| Mayor | Yelyzaveta Zhytomyrska |
| Physical | |
| Total area | 139.5 km2 |
| Time zone | UTC-3 |
| Population | |
| Total | 393,580 |
| Density | 2,821.36/km2 |
| Demonym | Osivkan |
Velyka Osivka (Livarian: Велика Осівка), meaning Great Osivka, is a large port city in eastern Vorshchyna in Livaria. Situated at the north-eastern entrance to the Bay of Syvke to the north-east of Rubizhne, the port has served as one of the most important trade hubs of Livaria for centuries, controlling the shipping lanes and routes onwards to the other industrial and urban centres dotted around the Bay. Despite being considered a distinct city and port for most of its history, urban growth over the last century means Velyka Osivka today forms part of the Greater Rubizhne Metropolitan Area (the 'Rubokruh').
Unlike its rivals on the southern coast of Voshchyna, Velyka Osivka was not a Dragar colony, though archeological evidence indicates that commercial activity had taken place at the site of the modern port as early as the 55th century. The oldest parts of the port lie in Old Osivka (Стара Осівка; Stara Osivka), occupying the southern coast of the Kam'yanka Peninsula, and house the Old Port and the Palace of Dolyns'ka, a large palatial site overlooking the bay that remains a popular tourist attraction today. The most unique feature of the port sits on Admiralty Isle (Адміралтейський Острів), the historic Osivkan Grand Shipyard (велика-верфь; Velyka-Verf'). For much of the 72nd and 73rd centuries the shipyard was the largest naval base and dockyard in the world. Today, the Velyka-Verf' is the site of a large naval history museum, including the Imperial Maritime Museum and the historic shipyard itself, which preserves ships from many ages of Anarian and world naval history. While the site of Velyka Osivka features numerous parallel natural harbours, the largest portion of the city's seafront is today taken up by the extensive modern commercial port and naval base, which still remains one of the largest in the world.
Velyka Osivka is the operational headquarters of the Livarian Navy and is the largest naval station in Anaria, housing the largest proportion of the Livarian fleet. The port has played a central role in Livarian military and naval history, and was the central embarkation point for numerous naval fleets and task forces during the Tandem Wars, the Pan-Anarian War (during which it was heavily bombed), the Wolgos Scourge and the Coalition Wars. It has also served as a key node in the defences of Livaria's eastern flank, with the port being one of the most heavily fortified cities on Gotha for much of its recent history. Today it still remains heavily fortified as the site of key air defence batteries, a key node in the Integrated Home Air Defence Network.
The city's population stood at over 393,000 according to the 7690 census, though the city today directly adjoins other areas of the Rubokruh. Nevertheless, within the administrative boundaries of modern Velyka Osivka, it still remains a densely populated city, with the largest proportion of the city's population living to the south of the mouth of the Chornovod River, which run's to the city's north-west. Given the city's extensive maritime history, its strong affiliation with the Livarian Navy and its central role in building the Livarian Empire, Velyka Osivka has long hosted emigree populations and has been a central destination for immigration. In particular, the city has hosted one of the oldest Davain populations in Anaria, dating back to at least the 6250s.
The city has several mainline railway stations that connect to Rubizhne's central terminal stations, which alongside other lines mean it is well-connected to the rest of northern Voshchyna. The city remains an important intersection between seabound trade at its commercial port, riverine trade that travels through the mouth of the Chornovod River to the north-west and transport via canal. The city has numerous canals that connects downtown Osivka to the extensive Great Voshchyna Canal Network. Velyka Osivka International Port is a commercial cruise ship and ferry port for international destinations, and remains the busiest passenger port in Livaria, servicing around five million passengers per year.
Sites
Admiralty Isle
At the heart of Osivka's natural harbour sits Admiralty Isle (Livarian: Адміралтейський Острів), which houses the most famous and well-known historic sites in the city. For much of its history, the island was sparsely populated and was primarily home to a fishing community and lighthouses aimed at servicing the much more important Old Osikva port to the north on the Kam'yanka peninsula. However, through the late 7th and early 8th millenium, growing maritime activity and Livaria's growing naval aspirations meant that the Old Port's harbour became too small and crowded. In the early 72nd century the decision to build a brand new, purpose built shipyard on the island led to the construction of the Osivkan Grand Shipyard (велика-верфь; Velyka-Verf'), then the largest shipyard and naval base in the world. The Grand Shipyard and harbour itself consists of two main but interconnected harbours: a rectangular harbour to the south, directly connecting to the outer bay, and an inner, circular harbour. The inner harbour was originally the main naval shipyard, but over the decades the entire site was eventually turned over to naval operations, including the stationing of warships, repairs and construction. At the centre of the inner harbour sits an artificial island (known by tradition as the Shpylʹ (шпиль), or 'Spire') where the original admiralty building was situated (from which the whole island gets its name), which sported a tall spire that could be seen from the harbour.
Today, Admiralty Isle is the home of the Livarian Imperial Maritime Museum, the largest dedicated museum to maritime and naval history in the world, and is one of the most visited tourist attractions in the Rubokruh. The museum itself occupies almost the entirety of the island, including the Grand Shipyard and the museum building itself. The main museum building itself was constructed in the 7420s as the new and grandiose headquarters of the Livarian Admiratly, designed overawe visitors and reflect the naval ambitions and power of the Livarian Navy. The Livarian Navy and Admiralty still use portions of the palace complex for official receptions and operate some administrative offices, though the building was officially converted into the Imperial Maritime Museum in 7592 - in part as a cost-saving exercise for the Livarian Navy and due to the overdue need to relocate naval administrative offices closer to the new naval installations to the south on the mainland.