| Planetary Information | |
|---|---|
| Betazed | |
| |
| Class: | Minshara |
| Quadrant: | Alpha Quadrant |
| Star System: | Hainara (Beta Veldonna) |
| Discovered: | joined UFP 2273 |
| Claimed By: | UFP |
| Population: | 1.3 billion |
| Leader(s): | Fifth House of Betazed |
| Status: | Federation Member |
Betazed, also known as Cyndriel or "Jewel of the Outer Crown" is a Federation member world and home to the empathic Betazoid species.
- Gravity: 1.0 G
- Length of year: 377.33 Federation standard days
- Length of day: 25 Federation standard hours
- Atmosphere: Oxygen-Nitrogen
- Hydrosphere: 78% of planet's surface
Solar System
Betazed's star is a type G2V with five planets.
The innermost planet, Hynozad, appears as one of the brightest object in Betazed's sky. Hynozad is geologically inactive and has a smooth, light coloured surface, making it one of the most highly reflective planets ever discovered. It is little explored, for the Betazoids have long attributed a spiritual significance to it and do not wish to treat it as just another planet to be poked at and catalogued.
Betazed is the second planet in the system and has three small moons: Avandar, Merandar and Keylandar. The moons all have distinct orbits and rarely appear in the same section of the sky. When all three moons cluster together it is considered a time of great significance.
The three outer planets Proxon, Avandar and Khrysaros are Class J gas giants with rings and several icy moons each.
Hainara IV (Avandar) is home to the system's orbital shipyards.
Climate
Betazed is consistently described as a lush, beautiful world with a blue sky and pink clouds.
Most of the continents are filled with great forests and rainforests broken up by grasslands and vast wetlands, especially near the coasts. Long rainy seasons typify spring weather on Betazed, but the summers are generally fair and temperate. Autumns and winters also tend to be mild and comfortable, but when the atmospheric conditions shift, they do so with startling speed. Rainstorms can be fierce, and often have natives sprint indoors at the first roll of thunder (offworld visitors are strongly encouraged to make use of the sturdy umbrellas provided free of charge at every major tourism office! Of course a great variety of highly artistic umbrellas are also available for sale all across the planet.)
The island climates of Betazed can vary from subtropical to tropical, moderated by gentle winds.
Individual climatic conditions are strongly dependent on elevation. At sea level there is usually little variation in temperature, regardless of the time of the day or the season of the year. Temperatures range between 24°C and 32°C (75°F-90°F or 297°K to 305°K). Even during the rainy period, however, the precipitation range fluctuates greatly. Windward sides of islands with mountains receive much rain, whereas leeward sides can have almost dry conditions.
Betazed uses no weather-control technology.
Geography
Betazed has five continents and hundreds of islands. Great expanses of natural wilderness cover much of the planet, varying from dense jungles to wide canyons and cliffs. Betazed's jungles are home to an abundance of flora and fauna and left mostly undisturbed, although the only real danger (other than getting utterly and completely lost or having an unlikely run-in with a fogcat) are the 'mud pits' which have been known to swallow uncautious travelers or wildlife within seconds.
Hedeya
The largest continent of Betazed holds such famous landmarks as the Vathax Mountains, Lake Cataria and the planetary capital Medara (also often referred to as the City of Rixx, a mythical figure of Betazed's history and acolyte of Khrysaros. The Jalara Jungle and the romantic Janaran Falls are just west of the capitol.
Medara
Seat of the ruling council of Betazed. Each of the Great Houses maintains a residence near the city's center. Most of these residences border the vast Plaza of Contemplation which rests in the center of the city and is also the locale of a plethora of small sacred sites. Medara is a large, sprawling place, made all the more beautiful because of its wholesale integration into its surroundings. Gardens abound, and many structures rise from the floor of the great swamp which cradles the city. Medara is also a holy city and as such contains many temples, shrines, and the tombs of the Great Houses of Betazed.
Medara also houses the famous University of Betazed and several consulates from other Federation member worlds.
Vathax
The Vathax Mountains' high peaks are famous for the multicolored crystals that catch the rays of the Betazoid sun, throwing delicate layers of color upon the landscape. The soil of Kharazad province possesses crystals of a faceted green mineral called Versina.
The Loneel Mountains are dormant volcanoes at the southern end of the Vathax range. Ancient volcanic activity created a network of tunnels and caves throughout the mountains, which also contains high concentrations of sensor-blocking fistrium. The Betazed government constructed emergency shelters within the Loneel Mountains, and evacuees were taken to these shelters in the immediate aftermath of the Dominion attack on Betazed in 2374. The Betazoid resitance maintained a stronghold in Vathax until the end of the occupation.
A series of caves just north of Loneel are a sacred site, famous for their warm springs and crystal-lined walls. The Sacred Fires of Vathax are tended by the Twelfth House of Betazed.
Lake Cataria
Cataria is a scenic resort, with the lake's twisting shoreline creating many private coves. The waters are crystal clear, and boating, swimming, and fishing are favoite pastimes in different sections of the lake. Several fine hotels and inns cater to natives and offworld tourists alike.
Tharazad
The second largest continent, Tharazad is known as the planet's 'breadbasket' due to its many farms, large and small. The Veliko Mountains are a popular tourist destination, and famous for the Azure peaks range.
Dalar
Dalaria not only has the planet's largest spaceport, but also hosts the biennial Trade Agreements Conference.
The northern cliffs in the Valley of Song are a popular location for scattering the ashes of deceased loved ones.
Arandel
Located south of Dalar, the small continent of Arandel is heavily forested and the interior is almost exclusively taken up by mountains, from the Khara Archipelago to the Veliko Mountains. Mount Traxanaxanos, the highest peak of Betazed, is located in the western Khara range. The coastal regions however are characterized by gentle hills and a pleasant subtropical climate.
Since the Dominion occupation Arandel's small spaceport at Arar includes a squadron of the planet's (still rather small) defense forces. Despite their insignificant size, "Jewel Three" has gained a measure of fame outside their home planet.
Thalzed
The smallest of Betazed's continent is also the only one with any amount of snow, and thus a popular winter sports resort. Terran tobbogganning and Andorian kochek have been imported and are practiced with great enthusiasm by natives and visitors alike.
Flora and Fauna
A broad diversity of plant and animal life lives on Betazed, and most are specially adapted to the pleasant, if often humid climate. Unlike some worlds, Betazed still has a number of large predators, though they generally avoid humanoid creatures and are well content to be left alone in turn.
Plants
- Catarian Emerald Grass - a soft, low growing type of grass found mostly near Lake Cataria, but lovingly cultivated in many gardens due to its lush color and pleasant scent.
- Cavat - a type of crop similar to Terran corn. Used to make cavat muffins.
- Corzon - a tall-growing plant similar to bamboo. Primitive Betazoids used hollowed out corzon stems for blowguns. The members of the Betazed resistance to the Dominion occupation similarly came to rely on these low-tech weapons.
- Muktok - a flower with a distinctive variegated, bristlelike foliage; they live for hundreds of years. The blooms of the muktok give off a pleasant sound when shaken. These plants are cherished by Betazoids, and grown muktok are protected from destruction. The muktok seems to thrive off a particular combination of nutrients only found in the soil of Betazed - attempts to cultivate these flowers on other worlds have been met with very little success.
- Sadi - a yellow, juicy fruit, rather tart.
- Tharna - a thorny bush-like plant. the thorns make excellent projectiles for promitive corzon blowguns.
- Toyar - a flowering plant similar to hibiscus, though more fragrant. A favored flower for wedding decorations.
- Uttaberry - a fruit-bearing bush, similar to Terran blueberries. Uttaberries can be used to make a light, fruity wine, but are also a popular ingredient for pies and crepes.
Animals
- Flanarian Bird - a small songbird, mostly cobalt-blue, with white heads and orange legs and feet.