The　fluorescence　spectrum　and　thermal　properties　of　the　mixed　crystal　Nd:Lu0.99La0.01VO4　are　determined.　The　strongest　emission　peak　located　at　1065.6　nm　had　a　full　width　at　half　maximum　(FWHM)　of　2.1　nm.　Continuous-wave　(CW)　laser　performance　is　demonstrated　by　a　compact　planar-planar　cavity　that　is　endpumped　by　a　diode　laser.　The　laser　output　characteristics　are　investigated　by　using　output　couplers　with　different　transmissions.　A　maximum　CW　output　power　of　8.09　W　was　obtained　at　an　incident　pump　power　of　19.4　W,　which　corresponds　to　an　optical-to-optical　conversion　efficiency　of　41.7%　and　a　slope　efficiency　of　54.6%.　The　dependence　of　optimum　transmission　on　pump　power　is　calculated　theoretically　and　is　found　to　be　consistent　with　experimental　results.　©　2013　Chinese　Optics　Letters.