Welcome to Gaia! ::

Running from ocean to ocean, from East to West is the great mountain range: Kuroimine (Black Peak). The range is named this for the rich deposits of onyx and black iron veins near the snow-capped peaks. The mountains range from a mere 948 ft to 30,782ft, breeching the heavens themselves it seems at times. Nestled within this immense and awe-inspiring place is a moderately large valley that is the point of vertical depth in the range and is called the ‘Tall Valley’ by many merchants who travel the path and routes through the twisted peaks. Within the valley is what one would call a backwater existence, for most of the people who live here are either hard working peasants or are Buddhist or Shinto monks. However near the Northern end of the valley lays a vast city sitting upon a plateau nestled within the bosoms of three mountains and in the sundial like shadow of another at its center. This is in fact Dangaigakure, the Village Hidden in the Cliffs, one of the great ninja villages in the land. The village can clearly be seen from looking up at it from the valley below it, giving the defenders an advantage in a battle and the peaks are far too high to climb and sneaking upon the village without being detected is almost impossible.

The Southern district is the main trading, shopping and housing district of non-ninja residents of the village. Separating this area from the wind whipped plateau is a giant one hundred foot wall make up of a rare rock type known as ‘gouinishi’ or drinking stone. The stone was mined from the center of a mountain in which a Shinto shrine was planned to occupy, however when the first Dangaikage learned of this stone’s unique powers she ordered the defensive wall of this stone erected on the outer perimeter of the southern end of the village. The power the stone posses if the ability to ‘drink’ one’s chakra up when it is applied, which makes scaling this wall impossible with the basic chakra enhanced feet, making the only safe way to enter is to smash through it or fly over it. The main street is dotted with various food shops, ranging from the mundane to exotic due to the village’s status as a trading hub. Also along the main street are offices offering tours of the small country and offers more in-depth discoveries, all based upon payment and individual likings. The smaller streets play host to many taverns, pubs and inns along with most food shops and for the average shinobi weapon stores and utility markets. This is also the same district that the main underground entrance emerges into.

To the west of the South District lies the Western District, which is marked by the still active volcano at the furthers point of the district. The volcano is known as Berugu Tatsu, Mount Dragon, which was named for the smoking, twisted peak, which spews lava almost monthly. The lava presents no danger to the village due to deep grooves carved into the stone, diverting the lava flows off the backside of the volcano. The Western District is mainly the entertainment district, where many bathhouses are located along with a few movie theaters and a flat patch of earth used for carnivals. Oddly enough this is one of the more busy districts despite the temperatures exceeding 90 degrees at times and is the only district that is walled off from the rest of the village, due to a notion at the volcano will erupt violently soon.

The Northern District is a combination of fertile rice fields and fruit plantations to the west while to the east lays an immense forest. This area also plays host to the living quarters to most of the living quarters of the shinobi, along with the three ANBU barracks. Most of the villages that don’t own a shop in the Southern District are ordinary farmers who moved here from the low laying valley for better protection. The forest is in no means sectioned off nor is there any real reason to do so, for the fiercest animals are packs of wolves, bear and the occasional cougar. Along the western slope of Berugu Barike-do (Mount Barricade) it is particularly dry, resulting in a prime area for growing healing herbs while the eastern half is covered in lush temperate forest of pines and oak. The lower portion of the area is in fact the fields, while the barracks and homes of the shinobi are against the base of Berugu Taiko (Mount Drum).

The last district is the East District, which is mainly taken up by a large lake that is filled by the glacier perched upon Berugu Hari (Mount Crystal), which earned it’s name from the way the sun hits the ice to cast a rainbow effect over the entire village during the early mornings. The lake takes up about forty percent of the district has a chilling temperature of 60 degrees due to the glacier that feeds it, while to the northern end of the district the lake turns into canals that are used to feed and grow the rice patties. The shore line is dotted by large rocks that range from the size of a human fist to as large as an SUV that all lay among the black sands. Not too many fish species live in the lake due to the cold temperatures beside cod, trout and various bass although the lake seems to be a heaven for a new creature: the lobster. No one knows how they first got here but all that is known is that they are thriving in the waters near the village. The lake empties over a gorge down into the rest of the valley where it somehow it snakes out of the mountains to other lands.

Lastly is the center of the village which lies Berugu Taiko (Mount Drum), a towering mountain that contains a large source of copper, iron and silver veins which have made this point the epee-center of all magnetic fields within the village and has given birth to a constant storm cloud which covers the peak, hence the name. The mountain is dotted with many mine entrances which supplies the village with it’s main income from other lands. Perched on the southern face of this mountain is the Dangaikage office, offering an impressive view of the entire valley. Leading up to offices are the statues of eight other Dangaikage of times past.

Main Exports:
-Iron/Steel
-Silver
-Copper
-Gems

Main Imports:
-Livestock
-Technology
-Workers (i.e. Miners)