http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cardassian
The
Cardassian homeworld, Cardassia Prime (also known simply as
"Cardassia"), is the sixth planet of its system. (Star Trek Star
charts, © 2002 paramount, Geoffrey Mandel)
The planet's climate is more humid and warmer than that preferred by Humans. (Humans and Bajorans, among others, make comments throughout Star Trek: Deep Space Nine's run about Cardassians' preference for heat, while characters like Elim Garak complain about the uncomfortably cool temperatures preferred by non-Cardassians.)
To the Cardassians, the home world is wonderfully hot and humid. Shallow oceans cover 40% of the planet's surface. The thick heavy atmosphere holds in the heat and moisture, so there is little relief even at night except in the mountains. There is little climactic variation about the planet due to the blanket effect of the atmosphere and low axial tilt. However temperatures can vary up to 10 deg. Celsius by latitude.
Once lush and fertile, the land is poor in trace minerals and desert-like due to centuries of over-farming and industrialization after a dramatic climate change. There are some isolated pockets of vegetation centered around water, but most moisture tends to remain suspended in the atmosphere. So foods that cannot be grown on the soil of the homeworld are imported from off-world colonies.
Higher
elevations give rise to barren, sere landscapes. Only the hardiest of vegetation
and small creatures live there. A few mountain tops are as high as 10,000m but
most of the highlands are between 2000m and 4000m elevation.
The early Hebitian civilization lived in harmony with the planet and lack of industrial metals did not affect them. However, a climatic shift changed the planet to a wasteland and the early Hebitians were beset by plague and starvation. When the invaders came from space and began to intermarry with the Hebitians, the emerging civilization moved rapidly towards industrialization. They soon depleted what few minerals Cardassia possessed.
As
desolate as the planet has become, the Cardassian people will not leave their
home for a more resource-rich planet. Instead, they have annexed planets for
their resources and made those colonies extensions of Cardassia Prime. Their
territorial nature makes them loathe to leave "home" and It is only
out of a sense of duty do Cardassians leave the planet to serve the Union on
starships, colonies and outposts.
Before the devastation of the Dominion forces on Cardassia Prime, the capital City of Lakat proudly boasted a large governmental complex, the Imperial Plaza, the Lakarian amusement Park, and the University of Culat. After the Dominion War, the Cardassians resolutely began to pick through the rubble to save every stone, every precious object in order to rebuild again.
CARDASSIA CITY - CAPITAL OF CARDASSIA PRIME
The City is laid out roughly like a wagon wheel, with the administrative center in the middle.
As with all Cardassian Cities, The streets and buildings of Cardassia City are kept neat and clean, a result of the Cardassian attention to detail and need to establish territorial boundaries.
Much of the city was decimated by the Dominion War and a billion Cardassians died planet-wide when the Dominion attacked Cardassia Prime.
However, some sectors, such as Torr, have quickly been rebuilt and continue to be cultural centers of activity.
Places of Note in Cardassia City
Imperial Plaza - large open square in Cardassia City. In 2373 a monument to Gul Skrain Dukat was erected at its gates when he became the head of the government.
Mekar Wilderness - Desert training grounds near the Bamarren Institute outside of Cardassia City.
Cardassia City Map - image scanned from A Stitch in Time
Sectors of the City
Akleen Sector - Large military training and storage sector in Cardassia City named after the putative founder of modern Cardassia, Tret Akleen.
Barvonok Sector - Business and financial sector of Cardassia City.
Coranum Sector - Oldest and most prestigious residential Sector in Cardassian City.
Munda'ar Sector - Sector in Cardassia City that contains mostly storehouses.
Paldar Sector - Second oldest sector in
Cardassia City. Home to bureaucrats and civil servants.
Tarlak Sector- Administrative sector and center of Cardassia City.
Torr Sector - Most populated sector in Cardassia City since the Dominion War. Is noted for its entertainment facilities such as restaurants, nightclubs, theaters and artistic displays. Originally built to house the service classes, it became the center of Cardassian culture.