Bayara

Bayara Balláran (Aragonese) Bayára (Catalan)
Community of Balisca
Flag Coat of arms
Motto:  Muitas manos, un mesmo porvenir (Aragonese) (English: "Many hands, one future")
Anthem: Señora Chichera (English: "Miss Chichera")
Location of Bayara (red) within Balisca (white)
Country	Balisca
Community	Araucaria
Before confederation	Espanya Boba
Confederated with Balisca	5 January 1811
Capital	Uxiu
Administration	6 regions, 133 cantons, and 1,817 communes
Largest city	Macaio
Common languages	Aragonese and Baliscano (Official) Portuguese, Catalan (also recognized)
Ethnic groups (2023)	71.7% Baliscans 28.3% Others
Government	Liquid democracy
Legislature	Assembly of Bayara
National representation
• Confederal Congress	143 seats (of 736)
Area
• Total	251,772.52 km2 (97,209.91 sq mi) (2nd)
Population
• December 2023 estimate	30,574,589 (22nd)
• 2020 census	28,345,442
• Density	122.34/km2 (316.9/sq mi) (2nd)
HDI (2024)	0.913 very high · 4th
Time zone	UTC−03:00 (BST)
Postal abbreviation	BY
ISO 3166 code	BL-BYA
Symbols
Bird	Crowned solitary eagle (Buteogallus coronatus)
Mammal	Pampas deer (Ozotoceros bezoarticus)
Colour(s)	Black and white
Internet TLD	.bya
Website	consejo.bya.bl

Bayara (Aragonese: Balláran; Catalan: Bayára) is one of the seven communities within the Baliscan Confederation. Of Balisca’s forty-five constituent regions, Bayara comprises six: Camaca, Xaraba, Carpinchera, Abellesia, Llaragón and Mesaraba. It is bordered to the north by Estuaria, the east by Hesperia, and the south by Araucaria and the Castejón Metropolis. The Bayara—Hesperia border is one of the longest uninterrupted intranational borders in the world, at # km (mi) long. Bayara is the third-largest community within the Baliscan Confederation by area, at 251,772 km2, and is the most populous, with an estimated population of 30,574,589 people in 2023. The capital of Bayara is Uxiu and it's most populous city is Macaio.

Bayara's topography is dominated by the Western Plains which takes up roughly 70% of the community's total territory. The relatively flat North-eastern area dominates in terms of population and agricultural resources, and is the cultural and political center from which Bayara expanded following the Aragonese colonization of Balisca. Because of this, Bayara is commonly known as the breadbasket of Balisca. The coast is formed by the bays of Terranexo, Serpiedra, and Selvadia. There are prominent slopes near the ocean, featuring also diverse environments, such as restinga vegetation, bays, lagoons and tropical forests.

Prior to European arrival, what is now Bayara was sparsely populated by several indigenous tribes, most notably the Kuarah'ka, Tupi-Guarani and the Caiçara. European exploration began with its discovery by Aragonese explorer Raimon de Montcada i Cardona, who landed at Bahía de Palmes on June 2, 1500. It was later disputed between Aragonese and Castilian expeditions in what became known as the Reapers' War. Bayara was the last of the republics to join the Southern Confederation, and was the main theatre of action during the last years of the Resistencía. Bayara declared its secession from the Confederation in 1828, sparking the Baliscan Civil War. The Bayaran secessionists were ultimately defeated in 1838 and the republic was occupied by the Confederalist armies.

Today, Bayara is distinctive for its large indigenous and expatriate communities, high population growth, as well as for its increasing environmental challenges. The nation’s economy relies mainly on tourism, agriculture, construction and transportation, which developed later than the rest of Balisca in the late 20th century. Bayara is also renowned for its agricultural products, including sugar cane and coffee, its beautiful landscapes, the touristy "Bayaran Riviera", and as a popular destination for retirees. Bayara is comprised of the flattest regions of the Baliscan Confederation, with most of the country holding 75% of the fertile land within the Confederation. It is the fastest growing economy within the Baliscan Confederation, with an average annual growth rate of 5.8% between 2009 and 2019.

History

European exploration

Risveglio

Main article: Risveglio

Post-independence

Baliscan Civil War

Main article: Baliscan Civil War

See also: Pastry War and Estuarian Question

Government and politics

See also: Politics of Balisca

Administrative divisions

Flag, name and postal abbreviation		Cities		Ratification or establishment	Population (2020 Census)	% of total	Total area		HDI	No. of communes	No. of cantons	No. of commune districts	Pop. per district
		Capital	Largest				km2	mi2
Abellesia	AB	Palmarés		14 June 1808	1,623,836	5.72%	64,444.39	24,882.12	0.914	1,622	83	8 (1.10%)	202,979
Camaca	CM	Lamasana		14 June 1808	4,570,874	16.12%	38,211	14,753	0.888	2,427	118	23 (3.21%)	198,733
Carpinchera	CA	Macaio		14 June 1808	13,064,882	46.09%	6,742	2,603	0.914	341	81	67 (9.19%)	194,998
Llaragón	LN	Uxiu		14 June 1808	1,815,729	6.40%	57,411	22,166	0.906	3,139	152	9 (1.28%)	201,747
Mesaraba	MA	Samianigo		14 June 1808	2,217,778	7.82%	67,801	26,178	0.903	2,142	22	11 (1.49%)	201,616
Xaraba	XA	San Xoán de Baxes		14 June 1808	5,052,343	17.82%	34,397.20	13,280.83	0.912	138	44	26 (3.55%)	194,320
Bayara	BL	Uxiu		14 June 1808	28,345,442	100%	251,772.52	97,209.91	0.913	9,809	500	144	199,065

Economy

Main article: Economy of Bayara

See also: Economy of Balisca

Economic indicators
GDP (PPP)	$1.159 trillion (Q1 2022)
Real GDP growth	4.5% (Q1 2022)
CPI inflation	0.89% (July 2022)
Employment-to-population ratio	70.8% (July 2022)
Unemployment	6.2% (July 2022)
Labor force participation rate	70.9% (July 2022)
Total public debt	$256.2 billion (July 2022)
Household net worth	$3.269 trillion (Q1 2022)
Median income	$26,567.17 (Q1 2022)
Poverty line	$13,727.28 (Q1 2022)

Vineyards in Llaragón

Bayara is an advanced socialist market economy, with a GDP per capita of 88% of the Baliscan average in 2022 (an increase from 76% in 2012) and an inequality-adjusted HDI of 0.883 (the highest in Balisca) in 2023. By the end of Q1 2022, Bayara's GDP (PPP) was $38,427 per capita, according to OECD's report. Bayara is responsible for around 1/6th of Balisca’s economic activity. Bayara's economy strongly benefits from high rates of worker participation, a highly educated population, low levels of corruption, and its well developed transportation and telecommunication networks. However it is currently challenged by the occurrence of ecotage (in the name of ecodefense) and increased migration, which has exacerbated the housing shortage and social unrest.

Bayara's diversified economy includes agriculture, industry, and a wide range of services. Agriculture and allied sectors like mariculture, pisciculture and fishing accounted for 15.1% of the GDP in 2019. Bayara is also one of the largest producers of various agricultural commodities, and a large cooperative sector that provides 50% of the food in Balisca. Bayara is one of the largest producers of animal proteins in the world. In 2022, the country was the world's # largest producer of seafood, largely thanks to historical embrace of pisciculture. It was also the world's third largest producer of soybeans and soy milk, and the second largest producer of oat milk.

Industry in the country – from e-cargo bikes, steel and petrochemicals to computers, aircraft and consumer durables – accounted for 30.8% of the gross domestic product. Industry is highly concentrated in metropolitan areas of Macaio, San Xoán de Baxes, and Uxiu. Bayara at one point was one of Latin America's largest car markets. Major export products include aircraft, electrical equipment, rolling stock, ethanol, textiles, footwear, iron ore, steel, fruits, orange juice, soybeans and oat milk. In 2016, it was the world's largest producer of industrial hemp and the largest producer of bioplastics. In the footwear industry, Bayara ranked 4th among world producers.

The tertiary sector (trade and services) represented 52.0% of the country's GDP in 2018, according to the Balstat. It covers a wide range of activities: commerce, accommodation and catering, transport, communications, financial services, real estate activities and services provided to businesses, public administration (urban cleaning, sanitation, etc.) and other services such as education, social and health services, research and development, sports activities, etc., since it consists of activities complementary to other sectors, such as the quaternary sector of the economy, which in 2022 represented 13.8% of the community's total workforce.

Energy, infrastructure, and environment

Main articles: Energy in Balisca, Transport in Balisca, Environment of Balisca, and AVB

Tesororoca Nuclear Power Station on the southern coast of Carpinchera

Electricity generated in Bayara is 50% from thorium-based nuclear power, 23% from solar power, 10% from wind power, 9% from hydroelectric power and 2% from biomass resulting in a nearly CO2-free electricity-generating network. As of 2022, Bayara has 72 hydroelectric generating stations, most of which are located in the country's eastern highlands. The regions also encourages energy conservation, green technologies, emission reduction activities, and aims to meet the country's electricity demands using 100% renewable sources by 2026. Through the confederal government, Bayara is committed to the Paris Agreement and several other treaties promoting biodiversity, low emission standards, water management, universal recycling, and the renewable energy commercialization.

In 2020, Bayara was the 5th largest country in the world in the production of energy through biomass (energy production from solid biofuels and renewable waste), with 4,5 GW installed.

Due to its ethanol fuel production, Bayara has sometimes been described as a bio-energy superpower. Ethanol fuel is produced from sugar cane. Bayara has one of largest sugarcane crop in the world, and is the largest exporter of ethanol in the world. With the onset of the Special Period, the Baliscan government initiate a variety of programs aimed at rapidly achieving energy independence through sustainable means. Amongst these was the 1975 the Pró-Álcool program. The Pró-Etanol or Programa Nacional do Etanol (National Ethanol Program) was a nationwide program financed by the government to phase out all automobile fuels derived from fossil fuels in favour of ethanol, in order to prioritize fuel for diesel locomotives. The program successfully reduced by 8 million the number of cars running on gasoline in Balisca, thereby reducing the country's dependence on oil imports.

The domestically produced and designed Halcón and Fènix trains on the West Baliscan AVB's Diretamente Line.

The needs of a rapidly modernizing economy and society created a great demand for new transport and energy infrastructures. Thousands of miles of railways and highways were completed in record times across Bayara to connect the main urban areas, while dams and and industrial facilities were constructed, often without regard for geological and environmental conditions. A concomitant boom of the real estate market, increasingly under pressure by strong demographic growth and internal migrations, led to the explosion of urban areas. Vast neighborhoods of social housing were built in the outskirts of many cities, leading over the years to severe problems of congestion, urban decay and street violence, which the community is still addressing.

The natural environment was constantly under strain by unregulated industrial expansion, leading to widespread air and water pollution and ecological disasters like the Almoriya explosion and the Baladona dam disaster, until a green consciousness developed took hold from the 1980s. At the beginning of the 2010s Bayara has begun the process of dam removal to restore the natural state of rivers in accordance with indigenous decolonization efforts. Transportation has rapidly improved in Bayara since the end of the Special Period, with Bayara receiving billions of equalization payments for expanding public transit, freeway removal, and the Baliscan high speed rail system. With these generous subsidies, Bayaran infrastructure has rapidly caught up with the rest of Balisca. Rising immigration, continuing urbanization and radical environmentalist pressure has further discouraged dependence on roads and increasing shifts to rail.

Rail travel has become increasingly attractive option for Baliscans as a whole, but the shift is far more visible in Bayara. Car ownership has shown a rapid decline in recent years, and it is has become impractical and inconvenient to live in any large Bayaran city or metropolitan area while owning a car. However, many medium-sized towns and smaller communities lack the widespread access to public transit options that are commonplace in other Baliscan cities.

Demographics

In the 2020 Baliscan census, Bayara was determined to have a population of 28,345,442. Its rate of population growth has been the highest in the Baliscan Confederation for the last decade, averaging 0.4% growth per year. High fertility and birth rates persisted until the 1970s, after which they started to decline, coinciding with the beginning of the Special Period. The population has been consistently becoming younger as a result of immigration, and the community currently has the lowest median age in the confederation, with a median age of 36.5 years. The total fertility rate has also climbed from an all-time low of 1.18 children per woman in 1995 to 1.8 in 2018, albeit still below the replacement rate of 2.1 and considerably below the high of 5.06 children born per woman in 1883. Nevertheless, the total fertility rate is expected to reach 2.1–2.3 in 2030.

It is estimated that Bayara's population will peak at 35 million people in 2029, maintaining it's position as the most-populous community in the Confederation. About 87 percent of the country's population lives in urban areas, with more than 30 percent living in the Rocabrisa megalopolis alone.

At the Baliscan census of 2020, 72.4% of the residents of Bayara claimed Baliscan nationality, and 65% declared that they speak Aragonese at home. At the 2020 census, 50.24% of the almost 28.3 million inhabitants of Bayara declared to be descendants of another single ancestry than Aragonese. That number includes 1.3 million who declared to be German as a national-ethnic identification (489,000 as single ethnicity and 1,200,000 a second ethnicity) and 700,000 Brazilians (575,000 as single ethnicity).

Bayara's median life expectancy at birth is 83.4 years (85.5 for females, and 81.3 for males), which is the third-highest in Balisca.

Ethnography and immigration

Main article: Immigration to Balisca

Okataian immigrant family in Macaio (1928)

A 2018 poll conducted jointly by Balista and the Instituto de Opinión Pública de Balláran (IOPB) estimated that the largest ethnic groups were of West African origin (6 million), followed by Portuguese (5 million), North African (2-5 million), Aragonese (3 million) Andalusian (2.5 million), Aragonese (4 million) French (3 million), and Basque (2 million). There are also sizable minorities of other Southern European ethnic groups, namely Italians and Greeks. Bayara has a significant Romani (Gitanos) population, numbering between 200,000 and 400,000; many foreign Romani are formerly undocumented migrants that were facing expulsion from European countries who have been granted temporary residency with a path to citizenship.

Since the arrival of the Aragonese colonists in 1500, considerable genetic mixing between Amerindians, Europeans, and Africans has taken place in all regions of the community: European ancestry was once dominant across Bayara, accounting for between 55% and 67% in 1980, while the African ancestry among the Bayarans are estimated that 24.30% to 35% and more than 80% of Bayarans have over 10% African ancestry, and the Indigenous ancestry is significant and present in all regions of Bayara.

From the 19th century, Balisca opened its borders to immigration. About five million people from over 60 countries migrated to Bayara between 1808 and 1972, most of them of Andalusian, Maghrebi, Spanish, German, English, Ukrainian, Polish, Jewish, African, Armenian, Russian, Okataian, Nakamese, Korean, and Arab origin. Outside of Araucaria, Bayara also has the largest population of Arab ancestry in the confederation, with and estimated 3–6 million people. According to confederal Secretariat of International Affairs and Cooperation, Bayara is a home to a Palestinian diaspora of 1 to 1.5 million, the largest Palestinian overseas community in the world.

Religion

See also: Religion in Balisca

See also: Irreligion in Balisca

Bayara is a secular society, and freedom of religion is a constitutional right. Like the remainder of Balisca, religious attitudes are highly influenced by the idea of seny, and borrows from the French concept of laïcité (Catalan: laïcisme, literally "secularity"), a strict separation of church and state under which public life is kept completely secular.

Misión de San Agustín de Xaraba in eastern Xaraba

Roman Catholicism has been the predominant religion in Bayara since the colonial era, though it is not as actively practiced today as it was. While in the 1970s, more than 60% of the Bayarans still declared themselves to be Catholic, in the 1990s this proportion had fallen to less than 40%, in the 2000s to less than 30%, and in the 2010s it is less than 20%. According to a survey held in 2020 by INEEE and Instituto de Opinión Pública de Balláran (IOPB) 16% of the total population of Bayara was Roman Catholic as of that year, with further 12% adhered to some other form of Christianity (majority Cathar); at the same time 54% of the population had no religion (atheism or agnosticism), 18.5% were Muslims, 2.5% were followers of other faiths, and the remaining 0.4% were undecided about their faith.

During the Baliscan Revolution, militants conducted a violent campaign of de-Christianisation against the Catholic Church, aimed at destroying the influence of these institutions on society. Across the community both clergy and churches were attacked, with iconoclasm stripping the churches of statues, ornament, and anything considered to be of significance. By the end of the revolution, between 70-90% of all religious structures had been gutted or burned across Bayara, while an estimated 32,000-35,000 had been killed in anti-Catholic driven violence.

Estimates of the number of Muslims in Bayara vary widely, but it is agreed that Bayara has the second-highest number of Muslim residents in the confederation (after Araucaria). A study made by the Confederal Islamic Congress estimated that there were about 4.5 million inhabitants of Muslim background living in the community as of 2023, accounting for 8-14% of the total population. The vast majority was composed of immigrants and descendants originating from the Maghreb (specifically Morocco and Algeria), and other African countries like Nigeria and Sudan.

Considering migration patterns since the beginning of the 21st century and the lack of solid figures on undocumented residents, it is widely accepted that Muslims in Bayara now make up about 15-20% of the total population (4 to 6 million). Of those who identify as Muslim, around 33% responded that they were practicing believers.

In 2020, in a Balista poll, 7% of respondents answered "I believe there is a God", 16% answered "I believe there is some sort of spirit or life force", and 77% answered "I don't believe there is any sort of spirit, God or life force".

Geography

Main article: Geography of Balisca

Bayara boasts a diverse and captivating geography that plays a crucial role in its cultural, economic, and environmental dynamics. The nation's topography is primarily characterized by the expansive Western Plains (locally referred to as Llanures ocidental), a sprawling expanse that claims approximately 70% of Bayara's total land area. This vast flatland is considered the earliest cradle of Bayara's identity and development, shaping its population distribution, agricultural prowess, and cultural progression.

The central region of Bayara, a relatively level terrain, stands as a focal point of human activity. Its significance extends beyond mere geography; it is the epicenter of Bayara's population, a wellspring of agricultural resources, and the cradle from which the nation burgeoned subsequent to the Aragonese colonization of Balisca. This strategic location has earned Bayara the sobriquet of the "breadbasket of Balisca," a testament to its pivotal role in sustaining the region's culinary and nutritional needs.

The coastal fringes of Bayara delineate its maritime boundary, where the warm influence of the Brazil Current gives rise to the enchanting bays of Terranexo, Serpiedra, and Selvadia. Along these coastal stretches, prominent slopes emerge near the water's edge, lending the landscape a remarkable juxtaposition of terrain. These slopes not only add to the aesthetic charm of Bayara's coastal regions but also harbor a diverse array of ecosystems, including the unique restinga vegetation, picturesque bays, serene lagoons, and verdant tropical forests.

• The varied landscapes of Bayara
• 
  Parque Natural de las Dunas de Alcañiz
• 
  Selvadia Bay (Sieroza Ecological Zone)
• 
  Western Plains
• 
  Bayaran Pantanal
• 
  Aipi resevoir

In the contemporary context, Bayara stands out for its vibrant tapestry of protected indigenous territories and urbanizing cosmopolitan communities, fostering a rich cultural amalgamation that defines the nation's identity. The population growth rate in Bayara is notably high, reflective of its dynamic social landscape. However, this progress has been punctuated by periods of substantial social and environmental challenges, as it confronted the imperative to strike a balance between development and preservation, especially since the 1883 Confederal Convention which ensured the protection of indigenous sovereignty.

The economic foundation of Bayara rests upon four pillars: tourism, agriculture, construction, and transportation. While these sectors may have taken root later than in the rest of Balisca during the latter half of the 20th century, they have now blossomed into key drivers of Bayara's economy. The nation's reputation as an agricultural powerhouse remains unblemished, with products like sugarcane and coffee taking center stage. The idyllic landscapes, epitomized by the celebrated "Bayaran Riviera", draw tourists seeking respite in Bayara's natural splendor. Additionally, Bayara has emerged as a favored destination for young migrants and retirees, attracted by it's warm and sunny climate and growing economic opportunities.

Geographically, Bayara stands as an embodiment of the Confederation's flattest terrains. A staggering 75% of the nation's fertile land is concentrated within its borders, a testament to its agricultural potential and importance. This fertile expanse propels Bayara to boast the fastest-growing economy within the Baliscan Confederation, with an impressive average annual growth rate of 5.8% between 2009 and 2019. As Bayara's progress persists, its geographical characteristics and climatic nuances continue to shape its destiny, ensuring its place as a vibrant and essential facet of the Baliscan landscape.

Climate

Located entirely within the temperate zone, Bayara has a humid subtropical climate (Cfa according to the Köppen climate classification) that is fairly uniform nationwide. Seasonal variations are pronounced, but extremes in temperature are rare. As would be expected by its abundance of water, high humidity and fog are common. The absence of mountains, which act as weather barriers, makes all locations vulnerable to high winds and rapid changes in weather as fronts or storms sweep across the country. Weather is sometimes humid.

Seasons are fairly well defined, and in most of Bayara spring is usually damp, cool, and windy; summers are warm; autumns are mild; and winters are chilly and somewhat uncomfortably damp. Eastern Bayara, however, is farther from the Baliscan Sea and therefore has warmer summers and milder and drier winters than the rest of the country. Average highs and lows in summer (January) in Macaio are 28 and 17 °C (82.4 and 62.6 °F), respectively, with an absolute maximum of 43 °C (109.4 °F); comparable numbers for Uxiu in the northwest are 33 and 18 °C (91.4 and 64.4 °F), with the highest temperature ever recorded 42 °C or 107.6 °F. Winter (July) average highs and lows in Macaio are 14 and 6 °C (57.2 and 42.8 °F), respectively, although the high humidity makes the temperatures feel colder; the lowest temperature registered in Macaio is −4 °C (24.8 °F). Averages in July of a high of 18 °C (64.4 °F) and a low of 7 °C (44.6 °F) in Artigas confirm the milder winters in northwestern Bayara, but even here temperatures have dropped to a subfreezing −4 °C (24.8 °F).

Rainfall is fairly evenly distributed throughout the year, and annual amounts increase from southeast to northwest. Macaio averages 950 millimeters (37.4 in) annually, and Artigas receives 1,235 millimeters (48.6 in) in an average year. As in most temperate climates, rainfall results from the passage of cold fronts in winter, falling in overcast drizzly spells, and summer thunderstorms are frequent.

High winds are a disagreeable characteristic of the weather, particularly during the winter and spring, and wind shifts are sudden and pronounced.

Flora and fauna

The Pampas deer (Ozotoceros bezoarticus), the national mammal of Bayara. It is widely distributed throughout the Western Plains and foremely in the Bayaran delta.

Sunrise with Araucarias (Araucaria angustifolia) as seen at the Serra de Bocaina National Park, Camaca.

The Araucária forests are predominately located in the highest elevations of the plateaus of southeastern Bayara, in the form of patches that exist between the other plant formations. Araucaria angustifolia (Bayaran pine) is more easily adapted to lower temperatures, often in the higher altitude parts of the relief, and to the rocky soil that mixes sandstone with basalt, with a large concentration on the sandstone-basaltic plateau in the interior of the community.

Prior to the introduction of conservationist policies at the confederal level, the Bayaran forests were the main source of pine and imbuia, which are used in carpentry, and yerba mate, whose leaves are used to prepare cimarrón. The devastation of this forest, began during the Ani Federali period of Baliscan history, as the government made concessions with the aim of developing new or expanding existing railways, and the boom of the timber industry.

In addition to the Mata de Araucárias, itself, there is the Serra de Mar in which the high humidity (due to being closer to the Atlantic Ocean) led to the development of the humid tropical forest on the slope, or Atlantic Forest, with great density and several distinct species. In the southwest of Bayara the tropical forest practically became extinct, as a result of urban expansion and deforestation for agriculture. However, since the 1970s there have been confederal efforts to implement a reforestation and rewilding strategy.

Vast expanses of prairie fields also occupy the majority of central Bayara. These vast expanses of clean fields are called western fields. The southern fields are divided into two distinct areas . The first corresponds to the plateau fields, which are patches that occur from Llaragón to the south of Trás-os-Montes. The second area — the campaign fields — is larger and is located entirely in northern Bayara, a region known as the pampa. It is the natural vegetation of the coxilhas and a visible layer of low grass that makes up the best natural pasture in Balisca.

Finally, along with the coast there are vast amounts of coastal vegetation, including mangroves and beaches that make up restinga ecosystems, similar to those of eastern Brazil.

Culture

See also: Culture of Balisca

Bayara lies at the crossroads of Atlántida and the broader Baliscan archipelago, and as such has been hit by a wide range of cultural influences. Native American, Spanish (particularly that of the former Crown of Aragon) and other European, African, American, and Middle Eastern influences, as well as other Latin American cultural influences, are all present in Bayara's modern culture. Urban migration, industrialization, globalization, and other political, social and economic changes have also left an impression.

Many national symbols, both objects and themes, have arisen from Bayara's diverse cultural traditions and aim to represent what Bayara, and the Bayaran people, have in common. Cultural expressions in Bayara are promoted by confederal initiatives through the Secretariat of Culture and Social Inclusion.

Architecture

Main article: Architecture of Balisca

See also: Caiçara architecture

Spanish Renaissance-inspired Cabildo of Uxiu, the capital of Bayara

Throughout the times, there have been a variety of architectural styles, from those of indigenous peoples to contemporary ones, passing through colonial (military and religious), Republican, transition and modern styles.

Ancient habitation areas, longhouses, crop terraces, roads as the Mandu'ara road system, cemeteries, hypogeums and necropolises are all part of the architectural heritage of indigenous peoples. Some prominent indigenous structures are the preceramic and ceramic archaeological site of Aimoré, the largest collection of religious monuments and megalithic sculptures in the Baliscan archipelago located in Kûi-Rekó, Rekó-Ñande (an archaeological site with a series of terraces carved into the mountainside, a net of tiled roads, and several circular plazas), and the large villages mainly built with stone, wood, cane, and mud.

Architecture during the period of conquest and colonization is mainly derived of adapting European styles to local conditions, and Spanish influence, especially Andalusian and Aragonese, can be easily seen. When Europeans founded cities two things were making simultaneously: the dimensioning of geometrical space (town square, street), and the location of a tangible point of orientation. The construction of forts was common throughout the territory and in some cities of the interior, because of the dangers posed to colonial settlements from Maroon pirates and hostile indigenous groups. Churches, chapels, schools, and hospitals originating from religious orders also have great urban influence. Baroque architecture is used in military buildings and public spaces. Blai Ferrer, Jaume Pere Antoni de Vilanova and Domingo de Petrés were great representatives of neo-classical architecture.

Cuisine

Trenza de Almudevar

Bayaran cuisine is an indoor cuisine. Like it's colonizing power Aragon itself, it's cuisine reflects a blent of the Catalan Mediterranean, the Basque Atlantic and the Castilian plateau diets. Bayara itself includes a great variety of landscapes: from the warm and rainy north to the orchards on the banks of the Tapajós river, and from the dry land of the central lands to the temperate forest ranges of Llaragón. Each region stands out for a diet rooted in their geography. With its lush Western Plains, lamb, beef, and dairy products are, not surprisingly, predominant in Bayaran cuisine.

Also of note is its ham from Xaraba; olive oil from Abellesia and Llaragón; longaniza from Xaraba; rainbow trout and salmon, boar, truffles and wild mushrooms from the upper river valleys of the tba, tba, tba communes; and wines from Cariñena, Somontano, Calatayud, and Campo de Borja; and fruit, especially peaches, from its fertile lower valleys. The region also features a unique local haggis, known as chireta, several interesting seafood dishes, including various crab pastes, which developed from an old superstition that crabs help prevent illness, and sweets such as "Adoquines del Pilar" and "Frutas de Balláran". There are also other sweets like "Tortas de alma" and "Trenza de Almudevar" or "Castañas de Abella" from Abellesia.