Sluis Van is a world of wide-open spaces: from vast prairies of hardy, drought-resistant grass, to undulating seas of sand. At higher latitudes, scrubby forests of hardy, spiny plants stretch for hundreds of kilometres. These are home to many species of reptilian hunters: from small, flying lizards barely larger than a person's hand, to massive land crocodiles ten or more meters in length. Sluis Van's constant warmth and aridness make it a haven for reptilian species, and their abundance and variety is almost unmatched anywhere else in the galaxy. Indeed, many renowned universities maintain departments of herpetology on the planet to study the myriad species of reptiles found here.

This rich diversity is likely what gave rise to the Sluissi themselves. Cities of this technologically advanced race are a marvellous mix of modern technology and harmony with the environment. Most buildings do not bother with temperature control systems, as the native Sluissi are perfectly at home with the warmth. Those buildings that do have environmental controls tend to be frequented by offworlders seeking respite from the dry heat. With very little surface water of any kind, and the natives themselves requiring little drinking water, offworlders must be careful to hydrate thoroughly or risk dehydration on a daily basis. The transport and sale of potable water is one of the most lucrative non-engineering related industries on the planet and the price of a unit of drinking water can be several times what someone would pay in the Galactic Core.

Sluis Van has been one of the most historically significant planets since even before the founding of the Galactic Republic. The Sluissi had already invented light speed travel when they encountered the early Human and Duros explorers during the Subterra Period. The Sluis Van shipyards surrounding the planet have been a major supplier of both commercial and military ships since the early days of the Republic. They have been destroyed and rebuilt multiple times, most notably after the Great Galactic War. The shipyards continue to be a major source of new shipbuilding even now, ensuring that Sluis Van remains one of the most significant planets in the galaxy.