A sizable body of water rested where Aldera, the planet Alderaan's capital, once stood. The Royal Palace faced this lake, which was actually a meteor crater that formed not long ago geologically. This crater came to be around 30,500 BBY and was later filled by water coming from the area's underground water sources. Aldera, the city, was constructed on a peninsula or island that gave a view of the lake. Typically, people visiting the city would use boats to get across the lake.
The lake at Aldera was initially brought up in The Illustrated Star Wars Universe, a reference book from 1995. The first image to picture the city of Aldera also featured the lake in this very book. Even though the city had a significant design change for the 2005 film Star Wars: Episode III Revenge of the Sith, the lake was still present. The lake of Aldera was said to be to the city's south in "Prélude à un nouvel espoir," a roleplaying adventure with unclear canonical status found in the French gaming publication Casus Belli HS6.