Plenas

 is a and the  of Ventora. Located on the shores of the Abayadi Sea, the city covers 104.6 km2 and is the third most populous municipality with a population of 1,358,580 in 2020. The metropolitan area has a population of 4,946,218.

Settlements at present-day Plenas date from at least the second century BCE era, with the city's formal founding dated in 848 BCE. One of several trading s in its early history, Plenas rose to prominence in the region after Nauigio's decline following the Flax Tax Revolt in 226 BCE. Plenas' prestige was solidified when it was designated as the capital of the Coastal Confederation in 274 CE.

Ventora's capital since 959, as well as capital of the of Plenas  and the  of Arava, Plenas is the political center of both the country and its region. It is also the economic hub and cultural heart of its section of the country. As a result, Plenas has become a prominent center of higher education in Ventora as well, hosting several universities.

Etymology
Scholars generally agree the name Plenas derives from Plen Rusor, a historical figure believed to have founded an early settlement in the area sometime in the 2nd century BCE. The name was established on early maps dating from the mid-800s BCE to identify a fort there. It was formally codified in the city charter adopted in 213 CE.

History
The first known settlements in the area of present-day Plenas date from before the second century BCE. Plen Rusor, a legendary military leader, establishing a fort in the area around 860 BCE to protect the surrounding area from marauders. Over the following years, the region transitioned into a city-state. The city's official founding year is recognized as 848 BCE based on the earliest known map referring to it as Plenas.

With its coastal location, Plenas became involved in maritime trade around the Abayadi Sea. The city-state expanded to include agricultural lands, forests, and fields for sail- and rope-making. Plenas became more prestigious in the region after Nauigio lost its role as the leading city-state in 226 BCE following the Flax Tax Revolt that year. By 45 BCE, Plenas became a tributary to Haksarad, the first city-state to do so. This secured Plenas' trade advantage and increased its renown beyond the region, making it prepotent in southwest Alutra.

Following the Haksar introduction of the nobility to southwest Alutra, the city-state became a county. The earliest recorded charter for Plenas as a city was adopted in 213 CE when the urban area was established as its own polity. The city's stature grew even more when it was named the capital of the Coastal Confederation in 274 CE.

Plenas prospered as a result of its successful trade all along Altura's southern coast, reaching as far east as Salia during the first century CE. In 955, the Montañan Confederation sought to expand its holdings by seizing lands in Esharat, which strained the confederation's military forces. When the Haksar emperor offered to unite the confederations into a single kingdom, Clemente Carres Abarca, Duke of Plenas, used Montaña's weakened position to ensure Plenas became the capital of the new Kingdom of Ventora in 959. The duke became Clemente I, the first king, while also retaining his position as reigning duke of Plenas.

Following Clemente's death in 972, the treaty that ended the War of Ventoran Succession saw elder son Florencio I retain the throne but established younger son Teo Carres Olguín granted the duchy, which was renamed Arava, a traditional name for the region. As a result, Plenas was now the capital of the duchy and the kingdom.

By the 1500s, the city was considered one of Ventora's largest, along with Ascara in Montaña. The city at the time was well fortified to safeguard its standing as a political and trade center. As piracy grew on the Abayadi Sea, Plenas became an important center for the raising and fitting of privateers to counter the lawlessness of the seas.

Following the Release from the Charter, which released Ventora from tributary status to Haksarad in 1740, Plenas was granted a new charter as a municipality. It was also recognized as the capital of the County of Plenas, the Duchy of Arava, and as the capital of Ventora, a status it has enjoyed ever since.

Plenas has kept pace with modernization. With the, it benefited from the rise of manufacturing and related activities. This led to the municipality's growth in both area and population, some of which occurred through the annexation of neighboring municipalities. The population growth led to Plenas having the highest population density of Ventora's municipalities at 12,998.34/km2 (33,665.5/sq mi).

Geography
Plenas is located on the Alutran southern coast, facing the Abayadi Sea. The Celinel and Dévenue rivers flow through the municipality in the west and east, respectively.

The municipalities of Cobamaba, Awanate, Makouno, Apoeny, Totsamutu, Guatibor, and Cararizal form a ring around Plenas from west to east. The Abayadi Sea borders the city to the south.

Government
Since 1979, both the count and baron of Plenas are only ceremonial positions with no role in governance of the county or municipality, respectively.

Local governance
Plenas is governed by an elected city council () consisting of 46 members elected by delegates to an electoral conclave. The delegates are selected under the same three-tier franchise as used for national elections. The mayor (alcade/esa), also elected under the three-tier system, is the chief executive of the city and presides over the council.

The municipality consists of nine boroughs:
 * Pueblo – central district; also known as Old Plenas (Viejo Plenas)
 * Anapu – upper class residential; large concentration of foreign embassies
 * Cartagadu – considered the cultural quarter (Cuarto Cultural) due to the number of museums, theaters, and other venues
 * Corre – port district, including the Old Port (Puerto Viejo), New Port (Puerto Neuvo), and the modern commercial port (Puerto de Plenas)
 * Guacapita – residential, sometimes known as the Workers' Quarter (Cuarto de los Trabajadores)
 * Heton – predominantly industrial and commercial
 * Macaquillas – beaches, hotels, commercial, upper class residential, and Plenas Global Aerodrome
 * Otata – location of many Ventoran government buildings; often referred to as Government Quarter (Cuarto Gobierno)
 * Porlaracas – predominantly residential

Regional capital
The county of consists of five municipalities: Awanate, Apoeny, Guatibor, Cararizal, and Plenas as the capital. Because the reigning count no longer has any governing authority, the county is, functionally, a coordinating body for its municipalities. It has a director and board of stewards elected under the three-tier system and several departments with civil servants to facilitate regional matters among the municipalities. The coordinated transport scheme administered by the Plenas Transport Council (Consejo de Transportes de Plenas, CTP) is an example of success in this regard.

Capital of Ventora
The of Ventora is Plenas. The regent, who is, has his official residence in the Regent's Palace (Palacio del Regente). Plenas is also home to the official residence of the governor general, who is. The headquarters of the ministerial departments, called commissions, and seats of both houses of &mdash;the Grand Council of State and People's Assembly.

Economy
Considered Ventora's second largest economic region, after Ascara, the Plenas metropolitan area has expanded beyond its mercantile and trading traditions. Plenas grew to prominence following the Flax Tax Revolt in Nauigio in 226 BCE. Plenas used, a more resilient crop than , for making canvas for. As a result, Plenas was well positioned to provide sails to traders in the northwest Abayadi Sea region, which led to the small city-state supplanting Nauigio as the dominant port in the region. While the port is no longer as important as it once was, it is still a significant economic activity for the city.

When Plenas became the capital of the Kingdom of Ventora in 959, consumption grew with increasing populations over the centuries. Although agriculture remained important in the region, commercial activities became a large sector of the local economy. Since the industrial revolution, the regional economy expanded beyond agriculture, the port, and trade to include manufacturing. The manufacturing sector had risen to over 18% in the mid-1950s but had fallen to 3.2% of the regional economy by 2017. The has grown substantially over the last quarter century to make up 93.6% of the economy in 2017.

Employment in the region is higher than the national average at 77.1%. With unemployment reported at 3.5%, the region is close to full employment. As the national capital, government employees make up a large portion of the workforce in the metropolitan area. Many others work in the service sector, including tourism, food and lodging, and other services.

Education
Education in Ventora is compulsory from age 5 through age 16 and offered at no charge by public schools. Beyond this level, aptitude may warrant attendance at vocational or higher educational institutions, of which there are several in the Plenas metropolitan area.

Founded in 1293 as the Royal Study of Plenas, the Royal University of Plenas is the oldest university in Ventora and second only to the University of Ascara in student population. The Royal University is a leading research university with several dozens of degree offerings at the undergraduate, graduate, and post-graduate levels. The university's medical faculty operates a number of polyclinics and two teaching and research hospitals serving the metropolitan area. The computer sciences faculty manages the Plenas Supercomputing Center on behalf of its operating consortium comprised of the university (10%), Commonweal Commission (55%), and Governance Commission (35%). The supercomputer is part of the Supercomputing System of Ventora (SSV) which has its head offices at the Royal University.

Culture
Plenas is home to a number of museums. The former Customs House at the New Harbor (Puerto Neuvo) is now a highly rated maritime museum. The National Museum of Art is also renowned for its collection and well-curated exhibits. Other museums include the National Science Museum, the Royal Museum of History, and the Ventoran Society of Natural History. The cultural quarter includes a variety of venues for performing arts.

El Patria (lit. "The Homeland"), the largest in the country, is published in Plenas. It is considered the and enjoys a nationwide circulation. Although officially headquartered in Ascara, the news magazine Crónicas has its chief editorial offices in Plenas. The city also has several television and radio broadcast outlets offering news, entertainment, sporting events, and music.

Infrastructure
Like other modern cities, Plenas enjoys a well-developed infrastructure. Several companies offer electrical, telephone, water, and sewer services, with nearly 79% of the city having a choice between more than two providers of each service. At least two companies compete for customers throughout the city and its region.

Regional transit
In addition to highways and roads, Plenas includes a variety of public transport options coordinated by the Plenas Transport Council (Consejo de Transportes de Plenas, CTP). CTP oversees and coordinates the rapid transit system, commuter rail lines, trams, and bus routes, with representatives and staff from each of the companies involved, along with city and regional government representatives as well.

Metropolitan Rapid (Rápido Metropolitano) offers, predominantly sub-surface, with three lines. The Red Line, provided by Districts Metro Transport (Tránsito Metropolitano de Barrios, TMB), runs from the southwest to the northeast. It is the longest of the lines at 52.3 km and has 28 stations, including at both Plenas Global Aerodrome terminals. Transit North of Plenas (TNP) owns and operates the Blue Line which runs northerly from central Plenas. There are 21 stations on its 34.7 km length. The third line, the Green Line, running east-west for 39.5 km with 16 stations, with Plenas Transport Company (Empressa de Transporte Plenas, ETP) as the owner-operator. Fares on Metropolitan Rapid vary based on distance traveled. CTP has developed a magnetic-stripe stored value farecard scheme, which all three Rapid lines honor, enabling riders to transfer from one line to another, paying the total fare upon completion of their journey.

Commuter railway services, under the moniker Cercanías Plenas, provide regional rail travel. The four railroad companies with routes to the city run their commuter rail operations. They coordinate schedules with CTP to facilitate transfers to different modes of transport. The companies have not adopted a uniform fare system like the Rapid farecard. Riders must, therefore, pay their fares, which vary based on trip length, on each line or mode of transport independently.

The city government operates an extensive network of tram services on several routes. The services are rather popular for their efficiency and single fare paid on boarding. A half dozen bus companies provide schedule routes, some in competition with the trams. Most routes have at least two companies providing bus service along at least portions of their distance, the major differences involving service frequency, equipment quality, pricing, and route. Some bus companies have agreed to low-cost transfer tickets which allow a rider to pay the fare on one company's bus and then buy a reduced-price transfer ticket to ride another company's bus without paying that company's full fare if boarding within the hour. While the tram and bus companies work with CTP to synchronize schedules, they have not participated in coordination of fares between providers.

Long distance travel
Tren Rápido, Ventora's, serves Plenas with connections to several other major metropolitan areas in the country. Conventional railways provide both freight and passenger services. Plenas Global Aerodrome offers domestic and international travel through any of several air transport companies. The companies own and operate the aerodrome as a consortium through the infrastructure efficiencies exception in the law that prevents monopolistic activities.