Zhol

Zhol (Qymish: Жол) is the capital and largest city of Qym, with an estimated city population of #,###,### in an area of ### km², and a metropolitan population of 21,078,935 as of January 2025. Located at the confluence of the rivers Foldava and Mizhpy, in the central region of TBD, Zhol is Qym's economic center and the seat of the Qymish government and the King of Qym.

History

Main article: History of Zhol

Geography

Climate

Zhol has a humid continental climate with temperate summers, or Dfb in the Köppen classification. The average annual temperature was 6.8°C between 1980 and 2020. The warmest month is July and the coldest is January. On average, there are 8 days above 30°C and 17 days below −20°C per year. Between 1980 and 2020, Zhol received approximately 900 mm of precipitation annually, 691 mm as rain and 209 cm as snow. In that period, the median date for the first snowfall was between December 1st and 15th, and the median period for snowmelt was from April 1st to 15th, for a total of about four snowy months every year.

Transport

Public transit

Metro

Main article: Zhol Metro

The Zhol Metro, known in Qymish as Миестй Miesty — short for Дажне Миестй Гелис Dazhne Miesty Gelis, or "frequent urban rail" — is ?th-longest metro system in the world. Opened in 1897, it has ### stations and ### stops spread across ## lines. The network features a system length of ### km, generally with three or four parallel tracks: two tracks for local trains and one or two for by-passing express trains. Around half the system is elevated while the rest is underground.

Commuter rail

Main article: Krajty Aqant Gelis

The Krajty Aqant Gelis is Zhol's commuter rail network comprising eight goniometric lines with branches and one loop line.

National railways

Zhol acts as the central hub of the national rail network. It has four major railway stations (Zhol Northern Station, Zhol Southern Station, Zhol Eastern Station, and Zhol Western Station) and two minor ones (Vyshir Station and Zhol Central Station), all — except Central — connected to three networks: high-speed rail lines (TBD), conventional speed trains (TBD), and the suburban rails (KAG).

Air

Zhol is served primarily by the King Bacha XV International Airport, the ?th-busiest airport in CONTINENT, handling over ### million passengers annually, of whom ##% are international travelers, and #.# million tons of cargo. It is located around 32 km southwest of the city center, in the suburb of NAME.

Princess Zhivalka International Airport is a secondary airport, serving mainly domestic travelers with limited short-haul international flights.

In 2025, these two airports recorded traffic of ### million passengers, making them the ?th busiest airport system in the world.

Waterways

The port of Zhol extends south of the city center along the banks of the Foldava. In 2025, it handled ## million tons of cargo and ##,### river cruise passengers. In terms of cargo volume, it is the second largest port in Qym and the largest inland port in CONTINENT. Ocean-going cargo ships can also access the port through the Royal Canal, leading to Nagur and the NAME Ocean. Icebreakers ensure access during the winter, when the canals are frozen for approximately three months each year.

Culture

Sports

Zhol's most popular sport is ice hockey, and it has six franchises in the Qymish Hockey League: the Zhol Squirrels, the Zhol Raccoons, the Zhol Hawks, the Zhol Rabbits, the Zhol Laborers, and the Zhol Chestnuts.