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The '''Iryagi''' {{IPA|['irjagi]}} is the second longest mountain range of [[Ilethes]], running for over 5,000km down [[Marcasia]], first southwestwards from [[Misia]] then turning southeast at [[Erdia]], dividing the continent two-thirds northwest and one-third southeast. The range is as narrow as 18km at its northern end, but as wide as 420km towards the continental interior. The range's northern continuation on [[Istheusia]] is known as the [[Taza-a Lami]], and its southern extension on [[Arophania]] the [[Alerryagi]]. The three ranges are collectively known in geology as the [[Western Boundary Mountain System]].

The world's highest, and most notorious peak, [[Mount Eramena]], sits along the southern Iryagi on its southeastern edge, overlooking the modern [[Arithia|Arithide]] province of [[Tannaea]].

==Name==

The name ''Iryagi'' derives from the [[Arithide language|Arithide]] word ''ryagi'', "mountain range", from ''ryāg'', "mountain", and simply means "the I mountain range". There is still debate over the origin of the toponym "I", especially over whether it bears any relation to the identical autonym of the [[Areth]].

==Geology==

The Iryagi were formed through crustal uplifting as the convergent [[Marcasian plate|Marcasian]] and [[Maellorian plate|Maellorian]] plates collided. The denser oceanic Maellorian slid under the lighter continental Marcasian, but, due to an unusually small difference in density between the two at the plate boundary (the western edge of the Maellorian has its own landmass), the subduction was particularly frictive, leading to much folding of the crust and sedimentation that gave rise to the mainly metamorphic rock of the range today. The great tension generated from the awkward and unwieldy collision was to provide the underlying cause for many disastrous future volcanic eruptions and earthquakes.

==Climate==

The range is of a generally uniform climate of the temperate sort, with temperatures averaging 20°C and precipitation around 60mm, and serves as the border between the more temperate south and the warmer northern parts of the continent. Due to this congenial climate, the range is heavily forested, and vegetation is primarily of the deciduous type. Snow lines are typically absent in the north of the range, but may reach as low as 2,400m near [[Erdia]].

==See also==

*[[Mount Eramena]]
**1 [[CIE]]: [[Eruption of Mount Eramena]]
*[[Mount Akannaa]]
*1 [[CIE]]: [[Great Worldwide Earthquake]]

[[Category: Ilethes]]
[[Category: Geography of Ilethes]]
[[Category: Landforms of Ilethes]]
[[Category: Marcasia]]