Death Mountain

Death Mountain is a recurring location in. It is a tall mountain that can be found in Hyrule, the Dark World, and Lorule.

The Legend of Zelda
In, Death Mountain is both the name of the final dungeon and the region located in northern Hyrule. It is a large sprawling expanse of rock covering the northern border of the map. The mountain range is usually home to some of the stronger enemies, such as Lynels, who are said to be the guardians of the mountain. Occasionally, boulders will fall from the hills. The mountains also have a few streams and ponds that are home to River Zoras.

Death Mountain also has two distinctive landmarks. The first being Lost Hills, a mountainous counterpart of the maze-like Lost Woods. Beyond this maze is the fifth dungeon, Lizard, in the first quest. The mountain also has Spectacle Rock, in which Ganon keeps his hideout, simply referred to as Death Mountain. This dungeon is a huge labyrinth found underneath the mountain itself. It is one of the largest dungeons in the series and is filled with lava pools and a large number of enemies such as Lanmola and Wizzrobes. It is also where the Silver Arrows are found and where Ganon makes his final stand. Princess Zelda is held captive deep in the dungeon.

The Adventure of Link
In, Death Mountain can be found south of Western Hyrule. This area, located south of the Water Town of Saria, is comprised of many different tunnels that house many enemies, such as Dairas, several of which lead to dead ends if the wrong paths are taken. A few tunnels also have pools of lava, usually with a bridge suspended above them. Only a few paths lead to the southern region of Hyrule, where Link can find the Hammer hidden in a cave beneath Spectacle Rock.

A Link to the Past
In, Death Mountain can be found on the northern border of Hyrule. It is home to many Deadrocks and numerous caves filled with Keese and Mini-Moldorms among other enemies. At the very peak of mountain, the Tower of Hera can be found beyond Spectacle Rock. Without traveling to the Dark World, Link cannot scale this peak to reach the dungeon and the final Pendant of Virtue. Here, the hero also meets the Lost Old Man, and by saving him, he is able to start the game from his hideout in the Mountain Cave. Death Mountain is covered by constantly tumbling boulders.

Its Dark World counterpart is home to Turtle Rock and Ganon's Tower, found where the Tower of Hera is in the Light World. Ganon's Tower itself is guarded by Lynels. The Dark World counterpart is volcanic, with rocks constantly dripping with magma. The Cane of Byrna can also be found hidden in its caves.

Ocarina of Time
In, Death Mountain is home to the Gorons, a peaceful race who eat rocks and are exceptionally good at forging blades, among them, Biggoron who lives on the mountain itself. It can only be reached via a gate in Kakariko Village. Anyone wishing to travel up to Death Mountain needs the King's permission. It is said that the state of the mountain is reflected by the clouds surrounding the peak: if they look normal, then Death Mountain is at peace.

Death Mountain Trail
In order to reach the upper part of Death Mountain and the Goron City itself, Link must travel through the Death Mountain Trail, which is filled with Tektites and giant boulders. However, the path to the Death Mountain Trail is initially closed off and will not open until Link shows Zelda's Letter to the Soldier guarding the gate.

Death Mountain Trail takes Link to all of the prominent locations of Death Mountain. It is home to Dodongo's Cavern, where child Link faces King Dodongo, eventually receiving the Goron's Ruby in the process. By scaling up the trail, Link can arrive to the home of the Gorons. Death Mountain Crater, the inner part of the volcano of Death Mountain and the location of the Fire Temple, can be accessed either via Goron City or by climbing up the mountain through the Death Mountain Trail.



Atop the mountain trail is a Great Fairy Fountain where the Great Fairy of Power living within grants Link the Magic Meter and the Spin Attack. Another Great Fairy Fountain is found inside the crater, which doubles Link's Magic Meter.

During the past, Death Mountain is an active volcano. Any time Link approaches the northernmost part of the mountain in an attempt to climb it up to the crater, the volcano will activate itself. As such, Link must equip himself with the Hylian Shield in order to safely climb it. Biggoron, the giant Goron involved in the Biggoron's Sword sidequest, resides behind the mountain next to the crater entrance, although since he is always rolled up, Link cannot see him until he approaches him. Kaepora Gaebora can also be found top the highest point of the trail near the Great Fairy Fountain entrance. where he offers Link a ride down to Kakariko Village.

After Link withdraws the Master Sword from the Pedestal of Time, Ganondorf revives the ancient dragon Volvagia and stirs up trouble at the depths of the crater, causing Death Mountain's white clouds to turn into red, fiery ones. It is not until Link defeats Volvagia that Death Mountain returns to normal and the volcano stops its spontaneous eruptions, allowing him to safely scale up the mountain.

Four Swords
In, Death Mountain appears as one of the four initial stages. By clearing the stage and defeating the boss, the Links receive a Great Key from the Great Fairy. The key received depends on how many Rupees were collected. The boss of Death Mountain is a flame monster called Gouen, and the symbol is the Fire Element.

Four Swords Adventures
In, Death Mountain appears as an area of Hyrule and as the third Level. It consists of three Stages: Death Mountain Foothills, The Mountain Path, and Tower of Flames.

Twilight Princess
In, Death Mountain is also home to the Goron tribe. Due to its volcanic nature, the mountain also boasts steam jets and mineral-rich Hot Springs. Death Mountain experiences frequent eruptions early on in the game due to events related to the Twilight.

Sticking to the Gorons' reputation as skilled metal smiths, metal structures have been erected around the face of the mountain to provide access to areas which are otherwise unreachable. The Gorons themselves can give each other and Link a leg-up to unscalable surfaces. The Gorons also have a mine inside the volcanic interior of the mountain, where materials are mined and transported with the assistance of magnetic cranes. The mine is also home to Torch Slugs and Dodongos.

When Link first tries to climb up Death Mountain, the Gorons attack him upon sight due to an order from the Goron Elder, Gor Coron. To be able to successfully get through the mountain, Link must use the Iron Boots to avoid being knocked down by the Gorons' roll attack and thus be able to stop them on their tracks. Link eventually reaches the main area of Death Mountain, where a giant rock from the mountain's volcano falls. After successfully evading the Gorons and using them to launch himself higher up into the mountains, Link enters the Gorons' home. There, he is informed by Gor Coron that he will not allow him to enter the Goron Mines, which are sacred to the Gorons, unless he beats him in a match of sumo. Successfully defeating the Goron Elder allows Link to enter the mines and obtain the second Fused Shadow, saving Darbus and obtaining the Gorons' respect along the way.

A Link Between Worlds
In, the volcano upon Death Mountain, Spectacle Rock, is active, which causes boulders to fall across the lower areas of the mountain. Spectacle Rock is now near the Tower of Hera. As the Dark World is not present in A Link Between Worlds, going through it is not necessary to reach the Tower of Hera. The cave system on the eastern side of Death Mountain is complex, containing several moving platforms that Link must fall on in order to reach the exits. One of the exits leads to Rosso's Ore Mine, which contains a portal to Lorule.

Lorule has its own Death Mountain that is not an active volcano. It is covered in snow, thus many of the enemies adapted ice-themed powers. The cave system of Lorule's Death Mountain contains similar jumping puzzles in the eastern section. This version is split in half, with one half containing the Treacherous Tower, and the other half containing the Ice Ruins.

Link's Crossbow Training
In, Death Mountain appears in Stage 2 as the Goron Target Practice. The central area of the Goron's lair is the first two screens of the stage. There, Gorons stand in various formations, roll in place, then spring up with either regular, gold, or false targets. The screen changes every 20 seconds, all with different formations of Gorons.

A Link to the Past Comic
In the A Link to the Past comic, Death Mountain is on the borders of the Desert of Mystery.

While in the Desert of Mystery, Link is guided by Sahasrahla's telepathy to Death Mountain. Link arrives to the mountain and stumbles upon a portal, which activates itself and shows a vision of two people standing with his uncle. Believing them to be his parents, Link reaches for his mother's hand when she extends hers out to the him, but Link's hand turns into a claw when it passes the portal's boundary. Sahasrahla warns that the power of the Dark World turns the inhabitants into a reflection of their heart, and Link's hatred of Agahnim would turn him into a beast if he were to enter. Shortly afterwards, Zelda appears to Link and explains that they are in a dream, for if two people dream the same thing, they will meet. After waking up from the dream, Link finds himself standing in front of the Tower of Hera, where he eventually retrieves the Pendant of Wisdom from Moldorm.

Hyrule Warriors
In, Death Mountain appears as a stage part of Impa and Sheik's quest. Here, they must fight against the Gorons and their chieftain, Darunia, who is being controlled by Cia's Dark Forces.

Trivia

 * In, a mountain called Mount Desma might be a reference to Death Mountain, as it is written that Mount Desma is "the Mountain of Death" in one of the Yamatami tribe's ancient books. Comparison of the Japanese names further suggests this. "Yama" is the Japanese word for "mountain," whereas "Desuma" differs only one Japanese letter from "Desu," or death.

Etymology
In the Japanese version of A Link to the Past, the mountain is only named Death Mountain in the Dark World. In the Light World, it is known as, although it is seemingly considered the same location under a different name.