Template:Großgermania/Selected article/4

The Commonwealth of Maiden's Isle is a nation in off the coast of the Republic of Jerna. It was created on 15 May 2009 with the purchase of the island, formerly known as, by the King of Germany. In a treaty with the Rottnest Island Authority (now the Isle Authority), which administered the island, Maiden's Isle was granted independence by way of a with Germany. The King of Germany, currently Michael von Preußen, has absolute control within the island, assuming the title of Lord Protector of Maiden's Isle. When the Lord Protector is not on the island, or when he so prescribes, local governmental functions are vested in the Isle Authority, which acts as a.

The local economy is firmly rooted in tourism, with ninety-five percent of the coming directly or indirectly from tourism-related industry. Despite its economic importance, tourism is strictly limited due to the unique of the island, which is home to several species of  and  not found elsewhere. Under control, the island was protected as a Class A Natural Reserve, but as the island had fallen largely into disuse since the breakup of that country, such designation was deemed unnecessary by the Republic of Jerna. Since independence, the government has worked to preserve the wilderness areas on the island.

First discovered by Europeans in 1610, the island remained unnamed until 1681 when English captain and cartographer labelled it Maiden's Isle on a map of the Western  Seaboard. The name was subsequently abandoned by Dutch settlers in exchange for Rottnest Island, a derivative of the Dutch Rattenest, after the, a native marsupial which was believed to be a form of large rat. Subsequently claimed jointly by the, , and , it was incorporated into the  in 1830. Lakes on the island provided an invaluable source of salt for the mainland colony.

More about Maiden's Isle...