Hmm... I picture Meracydia to be like a fantasy version of Australia...

A few spread out civilized areas

Lots of dangerous wilderness

Everything present can kill you no matter how small or cute it may be. (And its the most harmless looking things that are actually the most dangerous. Kill giant dragon without breaking a sweat. Get bitten by cute tiny fuzzy spider and die from 1,000,000 HP per tic poison DoT)