tarkastakaa

Tarkastakaa is a fictional planet featured in the science fiction novel "The Left Hand of Darkness" by Ursula K. Le Guin. The planet is one of the seven inhabited worlds in the Gethenian system. Tarkastaka is known for its harsh, arid environment, characterized by vast deserts and scarce water resources. The climate is extreme, with scorching hot days and freezing nights.

The society on Tarkastaka is tribal and nomadic, with its inhabitants living in small, self-sufficient groups that migrate across the desert in search of water and sustenance. These tribes are often in conflict with each other due to the limited resources. The Tarkastakaans are physically adapted to their environment, possessing dark skin and specialized respiratory systems to cope with the dust and heat.

Politically, Tarkastaka is a less influential world compared to others in the Gethenian system. It is not part of the larger Gethenian federation or the Terran Ekumen. The planet's inhabitants have a strong tradition of oral history and a deep connection to their land and ancestral routes. The novel suggests that Tarkastaka has a history of internal strife and has not achieved the same level of technological or social development as other Gethenian worlds. Its cultural practices and societal structures are shaped by the constant struggle for survival in a challenging ecosystem.