As I recall (books are in storage) there is a map in _Dune_ showing that all the action happens near the North pole of Arrakis. This suggests that Arrakis actually does have latitudinal variations but the rest of the planet is considered uninhabitable.
(Score: 1, Informative) by Anonymous Coward on Friday February 23 2024, @02:43AM
by Anonymous Coward
on Friday February 23 2024, @02:43AM (#1345774)
Most of the action on Dune occurs in the Northern hemisphere. This is because the shield wall and bedrock protected the area from incursion by the sandworms. Fremen inhabit other areas of Arrakis, but only the Northern 75° of the planet have been explored by the imperials because the Fremen use the uninhabitable equatorial area, weather control, their defense forces, extensive camouflage, and bribes from their spice smuggling operations in the southern half to keep their various activities there hidden. However, they do describe the southern half as being very similar to the north, with the major difference being less and smaller shield rocks.
(Score: 3, Insightful) by ese002 on Thursday February 22 2024, @11:21PM (1 child)
As I recall (books are in storage) there is a map in _Dune_ showing that all the action happens near the North pole of Arrakis. This suggests that Arrakis actually does have latitudinal variations but the rest of the planet is considered uninhabitable.
(Score: 1, Informative) by Anonymous Coward on Friday February 23 2024, @02:43AM
Most of the action on Dune occurs in the Northern hemisphere. This is because the shield wall and bedrock protected the area from incursion by the sandworms. Fremen inhabit other areas of Arrakis, but only the Northern 75° of the planet have been explored by the imperials because the Fremen use the uninhabitable equatorial area, weather control, their defense forces, extensive camouflage, and bribes from their spice smuggling operations in the southern half to keep their various activities there hidden. However, they do describe the southern half as being very similar to the north, with the major difference being less and smaller shield rocks.