Dominion of Patagonia
Patagonia, officially the Dominion of Patagonia, (Welsh: Arglwyddiaeth Patagonia) is a sovereign state situated primarily on the Southern Cone of South America, in addition to some outlying islands. It is bordered to the north by the Argentine Republic of La Plata and the Socialist Republic of Chile. Its capital city is Porthmadryn, and its most populous city is nearby Trelew. Other significant towns and cities are Aberdare, Llanelly and Sandy Point.
Human habitation of the region dates back thousands of years, with some early archaeological findings in the area dated to at least the 13th millennium BC, although later dates of around the 10th millennium BC are better recognized. The region seems to have been inhabited continuously since 10,000 BC, by various cultures and alternating waves of migration, the details of which are as yet poorly understood. European interest in the region dates back to 1520, primarily Spanish and English, and there were a number of competing claims on the region, however no serious efforts at colonisation were undertaken until the 1860s, when Welsh settlers initially moved to the region, establishing a settlement known as Y Wladfa in an effort to establish “a little Wales beyond Wales”. Seeking an expansion of their empire and control of the strategic Cape Horn, Great Britain reasserted their claim on the region in 1871, establishing the Colony of Patagonia. Argentina and Chile both maintained claims over the region until the early 1900s. The colony grew rapidly over the following decades, being granted self-government in 1881 and eventually Dominion status with the Patagonia Acts of 1910 that functioned as the country’s de facto constitution until 1962.
Today, Patagonia ranks highly in many metrics, such as quality of life, health, education, protection of civil liberties, and economic freedom. Patagonia underwent major economic changes during the late 1980s, during which it transformed from a protectionist to a free-trade economy as part of the Commonwealth Common Economic Area. The agricultural and service sectors dominate the national economy, with Patagonia having the highest ratio of sheep to people on the planet; international tourism also makes up a significant source of revenue. Patagonia is officially bilingual; all government business is conducted in English and Welsh, and both languages are commonly spoken.
Nationally, legislative authority is vested in an elected, bicameral Parliament, while executive political power is exercised by the Cabinet, led by the Prime Minister, currently Suzy Davies. Queen Elizabeth II is the country's head of state and is represented by a governor-general, currently David Melding. Patagonia also maintains a claim on significant parts of Antarctica, although this is widely unrecognised. Patagonia is a member of the Union of Nations, the OECD, and the South American Forum, among others. It is a member of the Commonwealth, including its sister organisations the Common Defence Pact, the Commonwealth Common Economic Area, and the Commonwealth Free Travel Area.
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