Cooling of Spirit

During Spirit's early history, the gravitational pull acted on large masses of rock that pulled them together. As the atoms became more densely packed, the rocks heated up and became molten. As the planet cooled, heavy elements sank and made up the core of the planet, the lighter elements floated on the surface. On the cool surface, these lighter elements (granite) aggregated, eventually forming a large continent known as Duomo. Over millions of years, this supercontinent cracked from the stress of continual tectonic plate activity. The core of molten iron, still hot, is the cause for the slow break up of the continent.

Spirit Today

Today, Spirit thrives with an abundance of life on land and on water. The geographic isolation of species living in Pesce and Delfino have only added to the variety of coastal and tropical fauna and flora. A number of active volcanoes remain and are located far offshore.

Continents of Spirit

The planet has two continents, Delfino and Pesce. Delfino's major river, Arno, flows eastward to the Nord Ocean. Pesce's river, Firenze, also flows eastward and meets the Bercy Sea. There are a few steep, tall peaks reaching 30,000 ft on Delfino, but most of the land on Delfino and Pesce are at sea level.

Oceans of Spirit

Water, some of of which was brought in by asteroids, covers 90% of Spirit's surface. The large amount of water available provides ample rainfall and support for organisms. The waters of the two major oceans, Nord and Risorgimento, can reach depths of below 30,000 ft. Continental shelves begin 1000 m offshore. Around the continents, however, waters are shallow and warm, reaching only 23F in the coldest parts. The coastal and riperian spots make prime habitats for marine life.

The divergent boundary of a tectonic plate continues to pull Pesce away from Delfino, increasing the size of the Bercy Sea. Along a second divergent boundary, the movement of the tectonic plate increases the distance between a chain of small islands and Delfino.

Landscape Profiles

Pesce has small mountains, reaching only 17,000 ft high. On Delfino, the peaks can reach as high as 30,000 ft. Continental shelves account for the big drop of the coast. Though much of the land is at sea level, the distance between the farthest point inland and the ocean's edge is not great. This subjects almost all life on land to the same perils and conditions in weather, including storms, heavy rains, and high humidity.

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Page by Dorothy Yan