The province of Gol is located in the southwest corner of Na'Nam, below Raal and Xial. It is separated from the island continent Xir'Tan by the Straits of Ha'Zen, a narrow but treacherous channel of water famous for its ancient shipwrecks. The southernmost tip of Gol, which also forms the southernomst extent of the continent of Na'Nam, is known as Menal Haul-kur (Cape Silver).
Although small to mid-sized settlements and strips of arable farmland can be found in the southernmost regions and near the borders with Raal, most of the province consists of untamed desert wastes which are nearly as prone to sandstorms as the more famous Forge. Desert settlements are mostly limited to scattered caravanserais, and the only population centers of any renown are the mining towns in the Gol Mountains.
History
Mineral-rich by Vulcan standards, Gol has seen its share of warfare despite its inhospitable landscape.
The northern houses were engaged in near constant war with the Na'ree river valley clans, when not temporary alliances allowed for brief periods of lively trade.
Due to its rugged shoreline Gol has few coastal settlements, however there is an old fortress overlooking Menal Krin-tu (Cape of Wolves, a now extinct feral canine related to the Kayren'tu) around which a small trading post developed. The town of Du'Krin-tu (Shadow of the Wolf) has been renowned for its seafarers throughout Vulcan history and added to the reputation of Golsu-lar as being an odd bunch, as the vast majority of Vulcans are quite content to stay on solid land. For millennia, Krin-tusu were among the few braving the Straits of Ha'Zen and doing trade with the exotic island-continent.
Not surprisingly Western Gol has contributed a great deal to the first crews of Vulcans venturing into space, and to this day has a disproportionally large number of former or active duty Starfleet officers among its natives.
By contrast, the clans of central Gol remained nomadic until well into space-faring times, garnering a reputation for being stubbornly backwards and altoghether among the last to accept Surak's teachings. Their fiercely ascetic lifestyle continues in the disciplines of Kolinahr, taught at the monastery in the Gol Mountains.