HAKOLO ISLAND WORLDBUILDING, episode number Who Knows. this time, focusing in much more on Hakolo as a region, and it's intriguing geological diversity!
Hakolo is part of a larger volcanic island chain that lies directly on top of a fault region, meaning that it has it's fair share of very odd and somewhat irregular geographic features. First up, sand banks! This is more of an "umbrella term" for some odd geography on the shore regions, as these areas are founded on built up silt deposits and pyroclastic material from surrounding volcanic regions. Though the outer regions of these areas tend to fit the more typical definition of a sand bank (being visible only during certain time periods due to the shifting of the tide), the inner portions are longstanding, and are home to many types of unique fauna. Lots of mountainous geography here is built upon large pyroclastic ejecta from Hakolo's (now dormant) resident volcano. Subtropical plateau regions are the most abundant regions on Hakolo, and also where 99% of in-game MHS2 events on Hakolo take place. These are large, flat plateau regions, uprooted by tectonic activity to create large swathes of raised land. Generally, these areas are more steppe-like, with slightly more sparse vegetation. These areas house Hakolo's most iconic wildlife, and are a key hunting ground for the majority of monsters endemic to Hakolo's ecosystem. The tropical rainforest is perhaps one of the most diverse regions on the island. These areas are routinely very wet, and receive lots of rainfall. Whilst the plateau region is more well-known, the rainforest regions actually house the majority of Hakolo's endemic species. The rainforests are huge swathes of land and feature dense treecover. The deeper regions of the rainforests tend to be in lower elevation, resulting in a pooling of water - this eventual erosion of the ground layer leads to a unique type of karst-like swamp region, covered by incredibly dense vegetation at all times. The volcanic regions of Hakolo, tend to be in higher elevations. The rock here is darker, and oftentimes porous, with many odd landforms created by ancient volcanic activity. Despite the lack of recent eruptions from Hakolo's largest volcano, the surrounding area is not dormant in the slightest, resulting in very sparse plant growth. Many geothermal springs line Hakolo's higher reaches, creating an arid, dry swathe of mountainous terrain inhabited by many unique monsters. The runoff from these areas tends to collect on Hakolo's western coast in the form of large geyser fields. These large "sulfur fields" are low-lying areas of heightened geothermal activity. Lots of heat-based microorganisms inhabit the geyser waters here, and change the colors of it to some rather vivid hues in response to various temperature outputs. This area is a primary region in which sulfur is gathered and processed, and it has a very distinct smell to accompany it.
