Saturn Valley

Saturn Valley is a steep-sided canyon carved by the Connoor River in the city of Oranjestad. Shire historian and activist Theodore Gavin was a major proponent of preservation of the Saturn Valley area, and visited it on numerous occasions to hunt and enjoy the scenery.

Nearly two billion years of Shire’s geological history have been exposed as the Connoor River and its tributaries cut their channels through layer after layer of rock. While the specific geologic processes and timing that formed the Saturn Valley are the subject of debate by geologists, recent evidence suggests that the Connoor River established its course through the canyon at least 17 million years ago. Since that time, the Connoor River continued to erode and form the canyon to its present-day configuration.

History

Native Shirelings

The Ancient Mr. Saturn were a native Shai culture that once existed in the Transfagarasan/Shai-Ling region some 3000 years ago. The Mr. Saturn were the first people known to live in the Saturn Valley area.

Archaeologists still debate when this distinct culture emerged. The current consensus suggests their emergence around 1200 BCE during the Wood-Punching era. Rumors persist of a small clan of Mr. Saturn still living on the northern rim of the valley...

Arrival and settlement by modern Shirelings

In 1840, Theodore Gavin built the now famous cabins that overlook Saturn Valley from the north. His book, “The Echoes of the Ancients”, written about the valley, is credited with saving the valley from the rapid development that was currently being experienced in nearby Oranjestad.

In 1908, Saturn Valley became an official part of Oranjestad, and in 1911 was declared a protected zone, restricting development to civic-approved projects only.

Buildings & Infrastructure

Though the area is protected, some structures do exist, including the following:

• The Gavin Cabins were built during the 1840s by Theodore Gavin. He built the cabins for the abundance of natural beauty that could be seen clearly from them. These cabins are the longest continually standing structures in the area. It is currently used as a guest house; booking is required well in advance.

• Saturn Plaza Hotel is a recently completed hotel on the west side of the valley. It was originally constructed in 1922 but was never finished due to a lack of funding. It was finally finished in 2015 after a new round of private funding.

• Watermelon In Easter Hay Bridge, Conference of the Birds Rd, and Saturn Valley Roads criss-cross the valley, linking the area to the surrounding neighborhoods.

• Saturn Valley Arcology Complex, while legally a part of the Lusus neighborhood, has its main tower jutting up through valley.

• The Connoor Canal runs along the western edge of the canyon. The Connoor River was diverted from the canyon down the canals in 1887. An erosion barrier was completed the same year, keeping the canal from flooding the valley below.

List of Structures

Saturn Valley Plaza Hotel

• This hotel sits sunk down in the valley itself, offering guests a front row seat to the scenic landscape.

Oranjestad Docks

• These docks are on the northern edge of Oranjestad, just beyond Saturn Valley. They are a major source of inbound and outbound goods from Oranje County.

Gavin Cabins

• These cabins pre-date the city of Oranjestad. They are a popular tourist destination, and are often booked years in advance.

The Hemp Collective

• This business is among the oldest in the metropolitan area. It specializes in a wide variety of cannabis and cannabis products.

Camp Nazareth

• This small campsite between Saturn Valley and Shai-Ling is popular among tourists.

Behind the Scenes

The area is named for Saturn Valley from the SNES game EarthBound.

It was largely vacant flatland prior to its creation. Nebbers sculpted the canyon and archway with Voxel and Worldedit.