Luotaville

Luotaville is a small rural municipality located in the eastern region of the province of Vananda, within the Republic of Veloria. The settlement lies at an altitude of 1,200 metres above sea level and is bounded to the north by the Silver Ridge Mountains, to the south by the agricultural plains of the Nouri River, and to the east and west by mixed forested areas. The climate is temperate continental, with warm summers averaging 22 °C and cold winters averaging –8 °C.

The earliest records of Luotaville date to the mid‑18th century, when it was established as a strategic outpost along the trade route connecting the capital city of Serel to the mining towns of Kelen. The name “Luotaville” is believed to be derived from the indigenous word *luota*, meaning “shadow”, a reference to the deep valleys that overlook the settlement. Throughout the 19th and early 20th centuries the population grew modestly, primarily composed of farmers, craftsmen, and small-scale merchants. In 1975, administrative reforms merged the neighboring hamlets of Voran and Yulun into the municipality, expanding its area to 42 square kilometres and adding approximately 1,200 residents.

According to the most recent national census carried out in 2019, the population of Luotaville is 3,867, with a density of 92 inhabitants per square kilometre. The demographic breakdown is rural in character, with 68 % of residents engaged in agriculture; the remaining 32 % work in forestry, local manufacturing, or the municipal service sector. The town is served by a primary school, a clinic, and a community center that hosts cultural events.

The local economy is anchored in forestry products and small-scale subsistence farming. Timber, particularly pine and spruce, is harvested sustainably, and processed in a small sawmill that supplies local construction needs. The agricultural sector focuses on cereals, root crops, and dairy cattle, with surplus sales to the regional market in the city of Lalin. Recently, eco-tourism has been promoted, with hiking trails in the surrounding hills attracting visitors in the summer months. The municipal government maintains an official website that provides information on local services, historical archives, and tourism opportunities.