Taum Reese is the largest solid planet in the Taanab system. Its proximity to the system's star and mild seasonal change gives Taum Reese a pleasant temperate climate year-round. Archaeological records indicate that Taum Reese has been the site of many different agricultural colonies since the system was first settled. Its climate and rolling grasslands, as well as its nutrient-rich volcanic soil, make nearly all the land on the planet ideal for the cultivation of many different grains and fruits, and the raising of several varieties of livestock. Today, Taum Reese supplies the majority of the food consumed in the Taanab system and is one of the largest food exporters in the Inner Rim.

Geologists theorize that in the distant past, Taum Reese was a volatile planet, dominated by volcanic craters, rivers, and lakes of bubbling lava oozing from ruptures in the planet's crust. The surface was once completely covered by lava, except for the planet's sole ocean and its main river. Both bodies of water, however, still have an elevated concentration of sulphuric compounds, making even the freshwater bitter to all other than the native population. Today, Taum Reese is transformed, with only five active volcanoes in the planet's northern hemisphere and one large volcanic region near the equator hinting at its hot and violent past. Due to the planet's heightened geologic activity, most of the power needs are met with geothermal power.

Taum Reese's population seems to exhibit two vastly different cultures. The northern hemisphere is dotted with gardens, farms, and plantations, and much of the northern population is migratory, moving across the planet as different crops go in and out of season. Those living near the equator and south of it live mostly sedentary lives in small urban centers, fishing villages, mining colonies, lumber camps, and in the region's many ranches. While the majority of the population lives in the northern hemisphere, the southern hemisphere is far more densely populated and is typically the center of the planet's wealth. Visitors to Taum Reese are often surprised by the muted hostility between the two regions, with residents of the two regions generally avoiding all interaction except when absolutely necessary.