Habacoa Republic

Habacoa is part of the Commonwealth Lucaya

Habacoa Republic
Constituent Republic of Vekllei
Part of the Lucayan Commonwealth
Capital	Kipri
Population	204,038
Area	5,957 km²
Languages	English, Lucayan Creole
Vekllei Accession	1836, as part of the British Atlantic Territories

The Habacoan Republic is a constituent republic of Vekllei on the northeast periphery of the Lucayan archipelago, west of Nema and south of Lucayoneque. It is the largest island of the Lucayan Commonwealth, and is fragmented by many inlets and cays.

Comprising flat, wooded limestone islands linked by mangroves, Habacoa is sparsely populated for an island of its size. It has a fifth of the population of neighbouring Nema, and so its modest settlements are mostly spread up and down the east coast. The Habacoan Barrier Reef to its east is the third largest reef in the world, and is recognised internationally for its significance and diversity.

The Habacoan economy is municipal and agricultural, and its major employers are all institutions of Commonwealth government. The LSRE operates the National Marine Establishment in the town of Mars, and the Armed Forces maintains the National Ocean Test Facility at the capital of Kipri. The republic is known for its seafood, and fishing is still the most common registered occupation on the island. This diet is supplemented by local crops of vegetables and tropical fruit.

A rail line runs from north to south on the east coast. The west and interior of the island is mostly protected by the Habacoa National Park, which has boardwalks and paths for visitors. Increasingly, the island is a popular place to dive among Vekllei people, who travel from all over the country to visit its reefs. An airstrip with basic facilities is found outside the town of Mars and within the military facility in Kipri, but realistically most Habacoans transit to Nema for air journeys.