Balaho
From Halopedia, the Halo wiki
| Balaho | |
|---|---|
| |
| Astrographical | |
|
System: |
|
|
Orbiting: |
|
|
Orbital position: |
|
|
Moon(s): |
|
| Physical | |
|
Diameter: |
7,836 kilometers (4,869 mi)[4] |
|
Gravity: |
|
|
Length of day: |
18.9 hours[2] |
|
Length of year: |
910.4 days[2] |
|
Atmosphere: |
|
|
Surface temperature: |
|
| Societal | |
|
Demonym: |
Balahoan[5] |
|
Species: |
|
|
Population: |
|
|
Government: |
|
- "From Balaho came the small methane-breathing Unggoy—the Grunts of the Covenant."
- — The Prophet of Clarity[8]
Balaho, also known as Tala IV, is the homeworld of the Unggoy and the fourth planet orbiting the blue star Tala. Hosting an atmosphere featuring large quantities of methane, Balaho is orbited by two natural satellites; Buwan and Padpad. Balaho is a hostile and frigid world, home to brackish tidal flats and numerous swamps,[1][9] growing less hospitable due to environmental degradation.[3]
Regarded as a backwater, Balaho and the Unggoy were aggressively subjugated into the Covenant in 2142.[10] After being stripped of its resources, Balaho was abandoned aside from a small population when the empire collapsed in 2552,[3] until the Created brought the planet into its fold and sought to bring prosperity to a once volatile and unpredictable world.[7]
Overview[edit]
Astronomical features[edit]
An unpredictable and dangerous world, Balaho is a mostly frozen planet with temperatures ranging from -33 °C to 5 °C (-27 °F to 41 °F).[1] It has two natural satellites, Buwan and Padpad, respectively the primary and secondary satellites.[11] With an atmosphere rating of 5.7, the terrestrial planet has significant amounts of methane in the atmosphere, in addition to carbon dioxide and helium, necessitating that Unggoy wear methane tanks while off-world. This gas forms a largely opaque layer of clouds that prevents much of the world from being seen from orbit.[1][Note 1]
Environmental features[edit]
Due to its low surface temperature, most of Balaho's surface is covered in large polar ice caps, leaving a thin strip close to the equator that is suitable for life to inhabit and covered in rocky volcanos, spout-dense ranges, and gelid wetlands and swamps.[3][9][2][4] The world has three continents; Vysolep, Kavmit, and Qethro, with the latter having the largest equatorial spread and thus housing most of the world's indigenous life.[2] The parts of the surface that are not covered by polar ice caps or fresh water are equatorial brackish tidal flats and salt marshes where naturally occurring pillars of fire e