Located in the Nouane sector, Phateem boasts many jungles with canopies to rival the heights of the Wroshyr trees on Kashyyyk. This awe-inspiring and vibrant ecosystem has attracted thousands of tourists to the planet in recent years -- many of whom later decided to stay. These off-world immigrants have built multiple cities among the dense woodlands. To preserve the prehistoric flora while living among it, the construction of these urban areas has sought to integrate the oldest plants into the architecture. As a result, many of the tallest skyscrapers are built surrounding an even taller tree. This trend has created cities that are dark, humid, and mysterious places that have charmed many visitors who have looked out from their rented rooms among the treetops.
The large jungles dominate the eastern hemisphere, while in the west, swamps and two rivers reside. The rivers are the only source of water above ground for much of the year, mainly due to the sun's proximity. At one time the two rivers were connected in an extensive freshwater lake. However, sediment -- run-off and construction debris from the jungle region -- gradually raised the bottom of the lake and created the swampland between the shallow waterways. Plains and another large forest lie in the north of the planet. Considered the planet's most beautiful locale, many citizens from all over the galaxy come specifically to visit the temperate region. Phateem's warmer southern pole is covered mainly in vast plains with very little forest; however, it is the ideal habitat for the planet's animal population. Herds with populations numbering in the thousands traverse the flat terrain, hidden among the tall grass stalks which, depending on the species, can reach the height of a small building.
While once again supporting a burgeoning population after nearly a century of being virtually uninhabited, Phateem is relatively poor by galactic standards. If there is a wealth of natural resources beneath the planet's surface it remains undiscovered. Unwilling to harvest lumber from the revered forests, Phateem's inhabitants have long struggled to find ways to supplement the tourism industry. They have had little success, however, and following an initial construction boom, the planet's economy has been matching the downward trend of galactic tourism overall for several decades. Many of Phateem's most promising citizens, those with the knowledge and energy to address the society's growing challenges, have left for better opportunities on wealthier planets in the surrounding systems. The remaining population struggles with the upkeep of their cities among the trees and has thus far resorted to merely hoping that the rest of the galaxy will rediscover their planet's beauty and that the situation will improve in the years to come.