Alderaan, which once shared the Alderaan system with its sister planet Delaya, was a beautiful, peaceful, moonless planet and one of the foremost worlds of the inner systems. Its sweeping steppes and gentle hills were covered with rich grasslands, and weather patterns were predictable and pleasant. Though the planet lacked oceans, Alderaan had many shallow lake chains and one ice-rimmed polar sea. The various species of grasses covering the plains numbered more than 8000, and colorful flowers were even more numerous. In late summer as the grasses dried, their seeds would be swept up by the winds in impressive "seedstorms," which were sometimes thick enough to prevent air travel. Animal life on the world included huge saillike Thrantas Domesticated grazers and nerfs were raised as food sources, and every year lowly nerf herders would travel into the cities to sell their animals' meat. The Alderaanians culled the wildlife herds on the continent of Thonn to remove those animals too sick to survive the winter.

Some of the galaxy's greatest artists and thinkers came from Alderaan, and the world was often considered the center of galactic culture. Certain artists used Alderaan's wide grasslands as their canvases, planting seeds in intricate patterns and displaying their art as it grew and blossomed. One of the world's greatest holidays was the "Silver Flow," celebrated each spring when thousands of hatching glimmerfish choked the waterways. In other areas of the planet, some particularly clear, deep lakes were used as aquatic preserves where tourists could observe underwater mud castles built by crustacean colonies. The low-grade, blue quella gem is found only on Alderaan and Delaya.

Out of their respect for life, the Alderaanian colonists refused to build their cities in the grasses of the fields. Instead, organic-looking cities and industries were built into the sides of deep cracks in the surface, on top of sandstone hills, under the polar ice, or on stilts in the planet's shallow seas. Terrarium City, also known as the City Under Glass, was built by first excavating an enormous bowl and filling it with a liquid polymer. The polymer was then shaped and hardened with lasers according to an intricate, pre-programmed city layout. When all eighteen levels of Terrarium City were completed, the bowl was capped with a transparent sheet and needlelike towers were extended above, so its residents could travel up to view the countryside. Crevasse City was built directly into the walls of a canyon network, and was nearly invisible from the air. Aldera, the capital city of Alderaan, was located on an island in the center of a circular lake. It was home to the famous Alderaan University, established generations ago by the great philosopher Collus. The university was one of the most prestigious learning institutions in the galaxy, and had recently been a center for dissent against Palpatine's New Order. The airy, organic architecture used everywhere on Alderaan inspired many imitators; Bespin's Cloud City, for instance, incorporates many elements of Alderaanian design.

Millennia ago, the first human colonists came to Alderaan and discovered the remnants of the lost Killik civilization. The early colonists included miners, but most were retired businessmen or wealthy dignitaries searching for a beautiful world on which to spend their lives. Four thousand years ago, the Jedi knights Ulic and Cay Qel-Droma were born on Alderaan into a great warrior family. Following the chaos of the Clone Wars, the Alderaanians made a radical decision, vowing to never again have weapons or standing armies on their world. The planet became a model of peaceful coexistence, and the people were known for their pursuit of knowledge and art. The government became a democracy at some point in its past, yet retained a Royal House of Alderaan for its symbolic value. Much later, the Jedi Jorus C'baoth helped to resolve the Alderaan ascendancy contention, ruling in favor of Bail Organa's family line. The Organa royal family lived in Aldera, and included Senator Leia Organa, her adoptive father Senator Bail Organa and her adoptive mother as well as Leia's aunts Celly, Tia, and Rouge, and her cousin Nial. Bail Organa was one of the original founders of the Rebel Alliance, making Alderaan a center for opposition and dissent and arousing the attention of the Empire. Alderaan is now famous as the planet utterly destroyed by the first Death Star as an example of Imperial power, a scattered asteroid field is now all that remains of the once-lovely world. After the planet's destruction, the Empire initially claimed that Alderaan had torn itself apart due to the explosion of several secret underground superweapons. When actual footage of the Death Star's action was released to the media, the Empire admitted responsibility, but claimed it was necessary to prevent Bail Organa from completing a deadly biowar virus program. The surviving Alderaanians who were offworld at the time were invited by Emperor Palpatine to relocate to his private resort world of Byss. A hydroponics facility on the planet Borleias, producing Alderaanian foodstuffs, became extremely profitable after the destruction of the world increased demand for now-scarce Alderaanian goods. Besides the Organa family, other notable Alderaanians include Rogue Squadron member Tycho Celchu and the famous poet Hari Seldona.

Alderaan Trade Route
This trade route connects Sectors 3 and 9.

Delaya
A sister world of the planet Alderaan, Delaya is located in the Alderaan system. The low-grade, blue quella gem was found only on Alderaan and Delaya; since Alderaan's destruction, Delaya is the only source. Alliance general Carlist Rieekan was inspecting a satellite transmission station in orbit around Delaya when the Death Star appeared in the system and subsequently destroyed Alderaan.

Delderaan
The gas giant Yavin has been compared to a ball of multicolored yarn woven by the primitive northern tribes of ancient Delderaan.

Kktkt
A planet in the Alderaan System of the Farlax Sector.

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One of the six moons of the planet New Alderaan.

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One of the six moons of the planet New Alderaan.

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One of the six moons of the planet New Alderaan.

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One of the six moons of the planet New Alderaan.

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One of the six moons of the planet New Alderaan.

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One of the six moons of the planet New Alderaan.

New Alderaan
New Republic Support Services located a planet, renamed New Alderaan, to serve as a homeworld for the refugees from the destroyed world of Alderaan. Following the Battle of Endor, General Jan Dodonna went into semi-retirement on New Alderaan until called back into service to fight the Empire. The planet was later discovered by Imperial Warlord Zsinj and its entire population was forced to temporarily evacuate. During the Emperor's reappearance six years after the Battle of Endor, Mon Mothma's daughter was convalescing on New Alderaan.

At the same time, Jacen and Jaina Solo were being protected on an uncharted, green, exotic world code- named "New Alderaan." The small, unassuming settlement near a lake helped disguise a large underground technical complex and its advanced defensive weaponry. The Emperor attacked the complex with his seven Darkside warriors and a phalanx of advanced AT-ATs in an attempt to kidnap the Solo children.