Ice Cavern (Ocarina of Time)

The Ice Cavern is a frozen cave behind Zora's Fountain. After his seven year sleep, Link finds Zora's Domain frozen and the Zoras encased in ice. King Zora is encased in a mysterious Red Ice, as is the entrance to the Zora's Shop. Lord Jabu-Jabu is missing from the fountain and is replaced with a path of ice blocks leading to a previously inaccessible cavern, the Ice Cavern.

Inside, Link finds Blue Fire, an unnaturally occurring fire only found within the cavern and the Water Barrier in Ganon's Castle (although it can also be bought in Potion Shops). Blue Fire melts Red Ice, so Link uses bottles to carry the fire and melt Red Ice throughout the cavern as well as in Zora's Domain to unblock certain paths and rooms.

Link receives the Iron Boots in the Cavern after defeating a White Wolfos. Sheik appears to tell the young hero about the Zoras frozen beneath Zora's domain as well as telling Link he saved Princess Ruto, who headed to the Water Temple underneath Lake Hylia. Afterwards, Sheik teaches Link the Serenade of Water, the warping song of the Water Temple, before disappearing again.

Minor Enemies and Traps
The Ice Cavern is home to various ice-based enemies including the Freezard and the Ice Keese. Gold Skulltulas also appear. Other hazards include falling stalactites, Blade Traps, and swirling scythes in one room. To add to the hazards, the floor is often slippery, making the hazards hard to avoid.

Master Quest
In the Master Quest version of the game, this dungeon is actually easier. The spinning scythe is gone, and there are very few Freezards and Keese. Instead of the ice block puzzle, the Song of Time can be played to make a block appear, which gives access to the Blue Fire. Some switches need to be activated to make some platforms disappear. However, they are very well hidden. One switch is camouflaged between some diamonds, anothr is behind a stalactite and the last one's tip is protruding from the floor. Because there is Red Ice blocking several ways, the first time Blue Fire is seen is where the Piece of Heart originally was (it has been moved to the other room with Blue Fire). New features include boulders rolling in connecting rooms and two White Wolfos throughout the dungeon. The miniboss is now a Stalfos.

Trivia

 * The Ice Cavern was originally going to be the Ice Temple, but it was removed from the game.
 * In Twilight Princess, there is a cavern similar to the Ice Cavern, located in the northernmost portion of Hyrule Field; its puzzle feature is also similar: Link has to move blocks to make them slide through the frozen floor in order to press switches that open new doors, leading Link to a chest with a Heart Piece.