and of Earth
土國

The Land of Earth is the largest of the worlds land masses. A massive continent taking up most of the planet’s eastern hemisphere, the Land of Earth is roughly analogous to Eurasia in our world.
The people of Earth are proud and strong. Earthbenders use their abilities for defense and industry and have fiercely defended their cities against attacks by would be invaders.

The Land of Earth is the largest continent in the world in both population figures and land area. Thus, it is an ethnically diverse land, with wide variance in customs between different cultures and nations. It also has a large economy based on agriculture and limited industry.

Current Cultures:

• Ba Sing Se
• White Mantel
• Omashu
• Order of the Eastern Scorpion

Past Cultures

• Exalted Emporium

Appearance
Citizens tend to have black or brown hair, green, brown, or gray eyes, and are often tanned, though the complexions of the nobility are often much lighter.

Fashions in the Land of Earth vary greatly; in the West and South, men typically wear their hair in a topknot, ornamented with various holders and pins, and often have beards and/or mustaches. Women wear their hair down or piled on top of their head. In Ba Sing Se, women usually wear their long hair wrapped around a support, ornamented with tassels or flowers; men usually don a queue. Omashu citizens typically wear tunics over a long robe or pants, with their hair hidden by a small turban or hat. Farmers and other laborers typically wear conical straw hats secured to the head by string.

Members of the Ba Sing Se and Omashu armies wear green and beige uniforms that may have yellow touches to them. Traditional colors worn throughout the kingdom range from vibrant greens and yellows to more muted beiges and browns, though outfits of other colors can be seen, especially in Ba Sing Se. Their clothing and architecture seem to reflect Chinese and Korean influences.

Earth currency consists of gold, silver, and bronze pieces of varying sizes used by citizens to purchase goods and services; they are fashioned in the shape of the national emblem, though gold pieces have four notches on the edge, giving them a flower-like shape.

Geography
The geography tremendously due to its immense size. The northwestern areas are covered in dense coniferous forests, while the western coast is home to a warmer climate and many deciduous forests. The inland west is also home to several swamps and the arid Great Divide, while the center of the continent is comprised of the enormous Si Wong Desert. The southwestern coast is covered with lush forests – however, a rain shadow leaves the areas southwest of the Kolau Mountain Range arid mountain ranges with sparse grasslands – the only major settlement in the area being Omashu. The southern coast is a lush area filled with rivers and forested areas, populated by wealthy towns like Gaoling City; north, over the mountains, the land turns to sparsely populated plains which once again meld into the Si Wong Desert. The northeast is mostly uninhabited beyond Ba Sing Se, and consists primarily of arid mountains and coniferous forests.

Natural Resources
Though at first glance they would appear to be the most simple of substances, rock and stone turn out to be the greatest natural resources, and as such are widely used and manipulated to many ends, from tools to entire metropolis. The timber of their forests also serve as fuel along with being lumbered for building.

Architecture, farming, carpentry, hunting, and mining are among many significant industries. Its citizens have managed to develop an advanced trade and commerce system so that almost all may benefit. From the complex sewage and postal system of Omashu, to the Ba Sing Se metro transit stations, to the massive multi leveled metropolis of Endris City, all serve as demonstration of the Land of Earth’s surprisingly sophisticated society.

An abundance of fresh vegetables grows in the rich fertile soil, and fruit and nut tress are plentiful. Animals thrive in the lush forest and farmlands, providing beef and poultry to addd to the fruits and vegetables.

Architecture varies by culture. Like the other lands, it is based on its elemental color, in this case, green. The majority of the buildings are made of stone, wood, and plaster; these may be used in conjunction with one another or separately, depending on the available resources. Most buildings have sloping roofs covered with dark gray or green tiles; yellow tiles denote wealth, and are used by aristocrats in Ba Sing Se. The Earth insignia is often put on important buildings and fortresses as a symbol of the government. Roads vary considerably – in the country, they are usually made of well-worn dirt, while cities have well-made flagstone streets.

The population is among small villages, larger towns, and the capital cities , which contains a significant portion of the citizens. Tiny villages of ten or so inhabitants dot the landscape; larger towns, such as Chin and Gaoling, are found more infrequently.

Foods
As a result of the various minerals the country’s soil contains, farmers are able to grow a wide variety of foods to support their dishes, including vegetables, fruit and nut orchards, and rice, the staple crop. The wild game which thrives within its many dense forests and domesticated animals found on many farms add meat and poultry to the citizens’ dishes. Tea is the most common drink, and is made from many plants, including Ginseng, Lychee, Jasmine, and the rare White Dragon bush.

Season
The dominant season of the land of Earth is spring, the time when several living things on Earth are reborn. To an effect, more Earthbenders are born during the spring than any other season and their powers are at their strongest during the springtime.