Hyrule

Hyrule (ハイラル, Hairaru) is the name of the magical kingdom that serves as the backdrop of nearly every game in the Zelda series. It is usually depicted to be a prosperous land blessed with deep forests, tall mountains, vast lakes, a barren desert, and great cities. Oftentimes the land of Hyrule is described as "beautiful", and this typically is proven true in all incarnations of it to date. It is ruled by a monarchical government in the fashion of middle-age feudalistic societies, with its capital city being the bustling and prosperous Hyrule Castle Town located near the seat of the country's government, Hyrule Castle. The realm was created long ago by three Golden Goddesses who each breathed their essences into the land and gave life and order to the formerly chaotic realm. They also left within the realm of Hyrule a portal leading to a plane from which the goddesses departed the world, a magical place called the Sacred Realm. It was within this Sacred Realm that the goddesses left an extremely powerful relic called the Triforce, which when mastered in its entirety will grant the wishes of its holder.

This story of the Triforce would in many ways shape Hyrule's future in the centuries that followed its creation (even becoming the basis of Hyrule's providence), especially after the birth of a man from the desert named Ganondorf. After the Triforce was eventually shattered by Ganondorf (who wishes to conquer the land for himself), a young hero named Link, often armed with the Blade of Evil's Bane known as the Master Sword, is typically shown to rise up to save Hyrule from destruction at his hands each time he rises to power. The hero is usually assisted in this effort by Hyrule's young princess, Zelda, for whom the series is named. These three characters are three of the most well-known figures in Hyrulean history and have shaped it in countless ways throughout Hyrule's existence, with each of them holding a piece of the Triforce respectively. Hyrule itself is shown in multiple incarnations, each as different as the next, though there are several common elements they all share that unite them. It is also home to a multitude of different races, each of which inhabits a different part of the country and is adapted to living in that particular region.

Early History
Hyrule was formed many ages ago through the works of the three Golden Goddesses: Din the Goddess of Power, Nayru the Goddess of Wisdom, and Farore the Goddess of Courage. Before time began, before spirits and life existed, these three goddesses descended upon the chaos that was Hyrule. Din, with her strong flaming arms, cultivated the land and created the red earth and was thus responsible for the creation of the very geography of Hyrule. Nayru poured her wisdom onto the earth and gave the spirit of law to the world, bringing order to a formerly chaotic realm. Thus she was responsible for the establishment of all the laws of science and wizardry that govern the physical world of Hyrule. Farore, with her rich soul, created all life forms that would uphold the law established by Nayru and thus was the mother of all life in the realm of Hyrule.

When the labors of the three great goddesses were completed, they departed the world for the heavens. It was in the Sacred Realm that the three goddesses left behind a symbol of their power, the all-powerful relic known as the Triforce, which when mastered in its entirety would grant the heart's desire of its holder, whatever that desire may be.

The Triforce could only be claimed as a whole by one pure of heart however, and this action would cause the Sacred Realm to become a beautiful paradise. But if that one's heart is not in balance, the Triforce would separate into its three separate pieces, leaving only the piece representing the force in which that one most believes in his or her hand and transforming the Sacred Realm into a world of evil. If that one who shattered the Triforce were to seek the true force to govern all, he or she would have to acquire the two lost pieces. The other two pieces would dwell within two special people chosen by destiny, who would bear the symbol of the Triforce on the backs of their hands.

It was at this time that the ancient Sages, knowing that evil ones could abuse the Triforce's magic, crafted a sword that was infused with magic that was resistant even to that of the Triforce itself. This weapon, the Blade of Evil's Bane more commonly known as the Master Sword, was capable of banishing evil itself and was reserved to be used only by a hero that would act as Hyrule's savior in times of Hyrule's greatest need.

Recent History
The land of Hyrule's more recent history has been a long tale that has woven through many ages and many periods of both light and darkness. For a time, Hyrule's beings lived at peace, content in mind and body for much of the early history of the realm. Soon however, stories of the Sacred Realm began to spread across the land, stories speaking of a so-called "Golden Power" more commonly known as the Triforce that would grant the wishes of its holder. These stories of unlimited power eventually stirred such emotions in the hearts and minds of Hyrule's beings that soon there was nothing left in them but pure greed and lust for the Triforce's wish-granting magic. This eventually turned former friends into bitter enemies and even sparked wars that were fought over the Triforce. Eventually, these stories also reached the ears of a man from the desert named Ganondorf, the king of the Gerudo thieves that hail from the Gerudo Desert in the far western region of Hyrule.

Ganondorf originally hoped to attain the Triforce in order to lift his people, the Gerudo, out of their miserable existence in the barren Gerudo Desert and help them achieve a better way of life. Soon however, these tales of limitless power twisted and warped Ganondorf's mind into being solely interested in using the Triforce for his own desires, eventually causing him to seek total domination over the entire realm of Hyrule, with himself as its ruler forevermore. The Gerudo King soon concocted a plan to enter the Sacred Realm and lay claim to the Triforce, and through much cunning and deceit, he succeeded in entering the Sacred Realm with the unwitting assistance of a young boy from the forest named Link and Hyrule's young princess, Zelda. When he laid his tainted hands on the Triforce however, the legend came true, causing it to shatter and leave only the Triforce of Power in Ganondorf's hand, as that was the force he most believed in and desired most. The other two pieces were eventually joined within what would become Ganondorf's two archenemies: the Triforce of Wisdom was bestowed upon Princess Zelda, and the Triforce of Courage upon Link.

Since that time, the three have battled across much of Hyrule's history as Ganondorf has sought many times to reunite the Triforce pieces and claim the united relic for himself to completely conquer Hyrule, with Zelda and Link usually rising each time to stop him and act as a check on his vast magical powers. When Hyrule is not being threatened by Ganondorf, it has also faced threats from other foes such as the evil Gerudo witch Twinrova and her associates, the Wind Sorcerer Vaati, and the forces of twilight led by the evil Zant to name a few. Each time, Hyrule has usually had a savior rise up to save it in the form of Link, who has reappeared throughout the ages of Hyrule's history as has Zelda when evil threatens Hyrule. The most recent chapters of Hyrule's history have had very lasting and yet diverging implications for each incarnation of the kingdom depicted, thought by many to be the result of a split in Hyrule's history caused around the time Ganondorf was first defeated by Link and Zelda and the hero was sent back to his own age, causing a split universe in which Hyrule exists in two different incarnations of itself as a result.

One of those two incarnations of Hyrule show it to be drowned beneath a deluge known as the Great Flood and eventually destroyed centuries later after Ganondorf is defeated once again, leaving Link and Zelda to seek out a new land that will be the next Hyrule in that particular branch of Hyrule's history. The other, the most recent incarnation of Hyrule, depicts an invasion by the forces of twilight led by the evil Twili known as Zant, with a new incarnation of Link and Zelda rising up once again to defeat Zant and his dark master, who is eventually revealed to be Ganondorf himself. Both incarnations of Hyrule have shown vastly different fates for the kingdom, and it remains to be seen what new adventures will take place for Link and Zelda in Hyrule in either incarnation of the kingdom. When gamers last see the pair in one branch of Hyrule's history, they are last seen searching for a new land that will be the next Hyrule after Ganondorf's fate was sealed beneath the Great Sea in the original Hyrule of that branch. Meanwhile, in the other branch, gamers last see Zelda resuming her place as Hyrule's ruler, with Ganondorf's fate left uncertain after a great battle in Hyrule Field and Link riding away on a new adventure. Hyrule is expected to make another appearance in the upcoming Zelda Wii.

Major Conflicts
Most of the wars in Hyrule's history were fought over possession of the Triforce or dominion over the Sacred Realm.


 * The Interloper War began when the Dark Interlopers attempted to control the Sacred Realm, but the intervention of the Light Spirits caused them to be sealed away in the Twilight Realm.
 * The Hero of Men also fought evil during the ancient times using the Picori Blade. He sealed the evil monsters inside of a chest, until Vaati broke the blade and released the monsters back into the world.
 * The Hyrulean Civil War was begun for unknown reasons, but was a horrific and prolonged war that resulted in the unification of the country.
 * The Imprisoning War is told as the backstory to The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past and began when Ganondorf stole the Triforce from the Sacred Realm. The Knights of Hyrule were nearly wiped out during the ensuing conflict, but the Seven Sages were able to trap Ganon in the Sacred Realm.
 * In one timeline, Hyrule was also invaded by Ganondorf and buried in the Great Flood when the Hero of Time failed to appear.
 * In another timeline, Hyrule was also invaded by an evil Twili named Zant, who seized control of the Twilight Realm and covered Hyrule in twilight on the order of his dark master, Ganondorf, who was sealed within the Twilight Realm quite some time in the past by the Sages.

The Legend of Zelda
Hyrule is first seen in the original The Legend of Zelda as the magical kingdom in which the adventures of a young man named Link take place in his quest to save Hyrule's young princess, Zelda, from the clutches of the evil pig-like sorcerer Ganon. In this game, Hyrule is described as a beautiful kingdom with deep forests and tall mountains bordering a vast ocean to its southern and eastern borders. As Link explores the kingdom, he visits all the different parts of it, including the Lost Woods to the west-southwest, the Graveyard in the shadow of Death Mountain to the northwest, the coastline to the southeastern and eastern borders of the kingdom and even the strange forests in the southeastern region of the country. In this original incarnation of Hyrule, the land is shown to have many forests and lakes in addition to the mountainous terrain of Death Mountain. This would mark the gaming world's first experience in the land of Hyrule and began several long traditions that would continue to be featured in later incarnations of the kingdom as it would later be vastly expanded upon and improved by the game developers.

In the story, it is revealed that the "Prince of Darkness", Ganon, has invaded the kingdom of Hyrule and taken possession of the Triforce of Power. Before he could claim the Triforce of Wisdom however, Princess Zelda shattered the relic into eight fragments and scattered them across the kingdom into eight underground dungeons filled with dangerous traps and enemies in order to prevent Ganon from acquiring it and having near-unlimited power to conquer Hyrule. Upon learning of this, Ganon grew angry and imprisoned Zelda in his base of operations, Death Mountain, and sent his minions after Zelda's nursemaid, Impa, whom Zelda had charged with escaping to find a hero with the courage to confront and destroy Ganon and save Hyrule. Ganon's minions almost captured Impa when a young man garbed in green appeared, wielding a Magical Sword that could destroy evil. After saving Impa, Link learned of Zelda's plight and resolved himself to destroy Ganon, save Zelda and restore peace to the land of Hyrule. Link traverses the entire realm and locates the eight hidden labyrinths that hold the Triforce fragments he seeks. After clearing the last of these dungeons, Link reforms the Triforce of Wisdom and heads toward Spectacle Rock on Death Mountain, where Ganon's lair is located. Deep in the darkest recesses of Spectacle Rock, Link eventually comes face to face with Ganon himself and battles the Prince of Darkness, each possessing one of the Triforce pieces. Ultimately, Link overpowers Ganon and slays the beast with the power of the Silver Arrows and his own Magical Sword. Soon thereafter, Link frees Zelda from her prison cell just beyond Ganon's lair and is declared a true hero in service to the kingdom of Hyrule by Princess Zelda.

The Adventure of Link
The second appearance of Hyrule was in The Adventure of Link, where it is shown to still retain several familiar locales but at the same time with several major changes to the kingdom's terrain as it is revealed that the overworld explored in the previous game was only part of Hyrule. This game takes place in a section of Hyrule not explored in any other game. The overworld of Zelda II lies to the north of the Hyrule featured in the original game, and utterly dwarfs it in size. It features three major continents and more towns and settlements than the barren landscape featured in the original Zelda game. The original Hyrule overworld is still explorable, but it is a tiny landmass south of Death Mountain. As Link progresses through the game, fans see Hyrule has changed somewhat in this incarnation of the kingdom. Although Hyrule still borders a vast ocean, it has swamps, mountains, deserts and islands. The graveyard in the shadow of Death Mountain still remains in this incarnation of Hyrule, although another that is home to the King's Tomb is featured in this game too. The hero also visits several towns that would later provide the origins of the names of some very important characters in a future game.

Hyrule is revealed to have once been ruled by a just King who mastered the Triforce in its entirety in the backstory of The Adventure of Link. However, the King eventually grew old and fell ill. Before his death, he concealed the Triforce of Courage in the Great Palace to prevent the one true Triforce's misuse, intending for a true hero to come in search of it one day. He confided this secret in his daughter, Princess Zelda, who was placed into an enchanted slumber by an evil magician when she refused to talk when confronted by her brother, the Prince of Hyrule, and the magician. The mournful Prince then decreed that every female member of the Royal Family would henceforth be called Zelda in memory of this tragic event. This would mark the first time the game developers attempted to explain why Hyrule's monarchy almost always contains a princess named Zelda. This game would also mark the first time that game developers used the idea of palaces or temples to be the dungeons of Hyrule to be explored by the hero, a formula that would come to be used time and again in future games. In this game, Link traverses Hyrule to restore six magical crystals to their proper places within six other individual palaces in order to break the seal on the Great Palace and awaken Zelda with the completed Triforce.

A Link to the Past
A Link to the Past is the first game to offer a glimpse into Hyrule's greater history within the series. This game marked the first appearances of such major landmarks as Lake Hylia, the Lost Woods, Zora's Waterfall, Hyrule Castle, and Kakariko Village. The mirror of Hyrule, the Dark World, was also made explorable for the first time and marks the only canonical time that the Sacred Realm could be explored in any incarnation. The Dark World appeared to be what Hyrule would be like if it were ruled by Ganon. The two worlds were closely linked together, and what happened in one would even affect its twin in the other. This game establishes several precedents for Hyrule for the first time as well, such as some of the classic locales listed previously as well as the first time that the Master Sword was introduced into the game formula. It was also in this game that gamers are introduced to the earliest form of the legends surrounding Hyrule's creation as well as the creation of the Sacred Realm and the Triforce. This incarnation of Hyrule features many forests, lakes and mountains like its predecessors, but there is a lone desert, the Desert of Mystery, to the southwest rather than multiple deserts such as those featured in The Adventure of Link. This template of Hyrule would also be used again for future games, and in some cases the similarities are unmistakeable.

In the backstory of the game, fans are told of Hyrule's creation by the three Golden Goddesses for the first time as well as the history of a conflict known as the Imprisoning War that was fought when an evil thief named Ganondorf (the future Ganon) accidentally gained access to the Golden Land of the Triforce (the Sacred Realm) and claimed the golden relic with bloodstained hands after slaying all of his followers in a long running battle across the Sacred Realm so as to claim the Triforce uncontested. Using the so-called Golden Power, Ganondorf was transformed into the demonic beast Ganon and created an army of evil creatures to attack and conquer the land of Hyrule. Hyrule was on the verge of defeat when the King of Hyrule at last convened the Seven Wise Men (the Seven Sages) to seal Ganon within the tainted Sacred Realm-turned-Dark World. The Knights of Hyrule defended the Wise Men and bought them the time they needed to cast their seal, suffering many casualties in the process, almost to the point of complete extinction. However, the seal was cast and evil flowed no more from the Dark World thanks to the Seven Wise Men and the Knights of Hyrule. As a result, peace reigned across Hyrule for many a year as the Imprisoning War passed into legend. Years later, Hyrule is threatened once again by a dark wizard named Agahnim, who is revealed to be a vessel for Ganon's soul, who seeks to break the seal of the Seven Wise Men and allow Ganon to conquer Hyrule. Link is swept up into the effort to stop this plot and takes up the mythical Master Sword to destroy Ganon and Agahnim, take back the Triforce, restore the Sacred Realm, and return peace and prosperity to Hyrule.

Ocarina of Time
The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time begins during the aftermath of the Hyrulean Civil War. The fierce war that united the kingdom also claimed the life of Link's mother, who carried him deep into the forest where he was adopted by the Great Deku Tree. Link spent his childhood unaware of his Hylian heritage, but he was unlike his Kokiri friends, because he had no fairy companion. Navi was sent to Link to be his companion after the Deku Tree was cursed by Ganondorf, and the two embarked on a quest to find the three Spiritual Stones to prevent Ganondorf from locating the entrance to the Sacred Realm. Tragically, this plot backfired when Ganondorf sneaked in behind them when they opened the Door of Time and stole the Triforce, plunging Hyrule into a reign of darkness. Link awoke seven years later with the Master Sword in hand and set out on a new quest to awaken the Seven Sages and seal Ganon in the Sacred Realm.

The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time marks the first time the kingdom of Hyrule was represented in three dimensions. Familiar locations like Death Mountain and Lake Hylia returned, along with new locations such as Gerudo Valley, Lon Lon Ranch, and Kokiri Forest. The geography of the land was rearranged, making Hyrule Field a hub area between most of the major locations.

Majora's Mask
Hyrule only appears in the opening and closing of The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask. The portal to Termina was located in the Lost Woods.

Oracle of Seasons/Oracle of Ages
Hyrule in the Oracle games plays a minor role in the overarching storyline. The kingdom appears to be at peace, because Ganon was vanquished sometime in the past and the Triforce is safe in Hyrule Castle. When Link touches the Triforce, he receives a mark on his hand that signifies that he is the chosen hero of Hyrule.

Four Swords
The legend of the Four Sword is introduced in this game. The Four Sword was used in ancient times to seal away Vaati when he rampaged through Hyrule kidnapping maidens. When Vaati breaks the seal, Link took the sword and used it to split into four in order to defeat him. Several locations appear in the game that have not yet appeared in any other, such as the Sea of Trees, Chambers of Insight, and Talus Cave.

The Wind Waker
Hyrule is a distant memory by the time of The Wind Waker, and such important artifacts as the Triforce are misremembered as the "Triumph Forks." It is later revealed that Hyrule has been kept locked away underneath the Great Sea by the gods to prevent Ganondorf's return. At the end of the game, King Daphnes Nohansen Hyrule makes a wish on the Triforce to wash away the old kingdom.

Four Swords Adventures
The Hyrule of The Legend of Zelda: Four Swords Adventures shares many landmarks with the Hyrule of A Link to the Past. The Eastern Palace, Desert Palace, and Tower of Hera are in the same locations, as is Kakariko Village. Some locations have shifted, however. Lake Hylia is now in the northeast, and locations not featured in A Link to the Past are present, such as the Village of the Blue Maiden and Lon Lon Ranch. The southern part of the map is frozen due to Vaati's evil magic. The Dark World is again present, both as the northwestern portion of Hyrule and the base of Ganon's power, and as an actual mirror universe.

Most of the Hyrulean races that were introduced in Ocarina of Time return. The Gorons live on Death Mountain, the Deku Scrubs live in the Lost Woods, and the Gerudo live in the Desert of Doubt. A new race, the Zuna, are introduced. The Zuna are a tribe of green-skinned desert nomads who are descended from the ancient Pyramid Builders.

The Minish Cap
The Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap begins with an ancient legend of Hyrule. Long ago, Hyrule was being plagued by evil monsters, until the Minish descended from the sky and gave the Hero of Men the Picori Blade and the Light Force. With these, the Hero defeated the monsters and sealed them away in a chest. This event is honored yearly by the people with their Picori Festival.

The geography of the Hyrule presented in The Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap introduces new locations such as Castor Wilds, Mount Crenel, and the Royal Valley, while such common landmarks as Death Mountain and Kakariko Village are absent. Hyrule Field is divided into sectors, and locations such as Lon Lon Ranch and Castle Town serve as major populated areas.

Many areas can only be explored while Link is small, such as Melari's Mines. A large part of the map is covered in clouds. This is the home of the Wind Tribe and the location of the Palace of Winds. There is some continuity with locations from the rest of the Four Swords trilogy, as this game likely shows the palace before Vaati began using it as his palace.

Twilight Princess
The Hyrule appearing in The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess is much larger than in previous games. The government is centralized in Castle Town, and Kakariko Village again appears at the base of Death Mountain. A sign at the entrance to the Hidden Village identifies it as "Old Kakariko," indicating that the Kakariko Village appearing in Twilight Princess may be a recent settlement, and not the same one seen in Ocarina of Time.

Hyrule Field is larger again divided into sectors like it was in The Minish Cap. The kingdom appears to have a more developed system of roads, with fortified bridges like the Bridge of Eldin and the Great Bridge of Hylia guarding the roads. New locations such as Snowpeak and Ordon Village also appear.

Three new races are introduced in this game. The Twili are the descendants of the Dark Interlopers who once attempted to conquer the Sacred Realm and were banished to the Twilight Realm. The Bulblins are a goblinoid race of mercenary boar-riders who fight on Ganon's side until Link proves that he is stronger. The Yeti race has two known members, Yeto and his wife Yeta. They are good-natured snow creatures who live in an old mansion the Snowpeak Ruins.

The Temple of Time has shifted locations. It is not longer in Castle Town as it was in Ocarina of Time, but its ruins are instead in the Sacred Grove. This draws parallels with the Master Sword's location in A Link to the Past.

This game also introduces the Light Spirits, who guard the four provinces of Hyrule: Ordona, Faron, Eldin, and Lanayru.

Government
Hyrule's form of government has remained relatively consistent throughout its history, with an ancient monarchy, the Royal Family of Hyrule, ruling over the land. This form of government is also typical of most feudalistic monarchies documented throughout history, with the Royal Family ruling over the lower-caste citizens of the kingdom from Hyrule's capital city, Hyrule Castle Town. The Royal Family itself rules from the seat of government in the land of Hyrule, Hyrule Castle, the namesake of the capital. The government is typically headed by the King of Hyrule, and his heir in most depictions of Hyrule is his daughter or descendant, Princess Zelda. In some cases, Zelda herself has ruled over the land as matriarch of the Royal Family as well, such as during the Twili invasion of Hyrule. Hyrule is typically divided into various provinces and each race is known to have a relationship in some way with the Royal Family of Hyrule, with most of these various races pledging their allegiance to the central government headed by the Royal Family. Each race has its own form of local government and the individual leaders of their tribes, but all races pledge their overall allegiance to the Royal Family as citizens of the kingdom of Hyrule. Hyrule has faced many coups throughout its history (most of them either directly or indirectly orchestrated by Ganondorf himself), but ultimately the Royal Family is usually restored to power through the efforts of Hyrule's hero, Link.

Currency
Hyrule's economy is typical of most feudalistic socieities documented throughout history, with trade and different forms of unconventional payment not being unheard of throughout the country's history. As with any unified nation however, Hyrule also has an official currency that also suffices to obtain goods and services when the trading system is not chosen by its citizens. This currency is a small jewel-like object known as the Rupee, which can be found by digging in the earth, underneath pots, or even hidden in the trees of Hyrule. There are several different color variations of Rupees that can be found throughout the land, each color having a different value. Some, such as green, blue or yellow Rupees are worth lower amounts when compared to such rarer Rupees as red, purple, orange, silver or gold. Rupees are accepted in almost any establishment throughout the kingdom of Hyrule and are the single most common form of payment in the marketplace of Hyrule's capital city, Hyrule Castle Town. Rupees are sometimes also required in order to use certain objects, such as some incarnations of the Bow or special garments such as the Magic Armor.

Geography
Like many of the other lands depicted in the Zelda series such as Termina, Holodrum and Labrynna, Hyrule's geography varies greatly from region to region. In most depictions of Hyrule, the land is shown to be a collection of regions with varying geographies and climates usually linked by a great open expanse of land known as Hyrule Field. Hyrule Castle Town and by extension Hyrule Castle are usually located near the central part of the country and not far away from Hyrule Field. The other regions of Hyrule as stated before vary greatly in their composition and appearance. For example, the region most associated with the rock-loving Gorons is the sweltering and rocky Death Mountain, which has little to no vegetation and is for all intents and purposes a large volcano. On the other hand, there are parts of the country covered by deep forests that have a more hospitable climate and atmosphere, where plant-life and vegetation are much more common and provide a means to live for such forest-dwellers as the child-like Kokiri race. Hyrule is also usually shown to be home to a vast lake usually named Lake Hylia as well as a watery grotto named Zora's Domain, both being more hospitable and suitable to the aquatic Zora race. Hyrule is also known to have snowy regions as well, such as the Snowhead Mountain Range, which is the preferred home region of the Yeti race. Finally, Hyrule is also usually shown to be home to a vast desert (usually to the west), more commonly known as the Gerudo Desert amongst other names, which is home to such desert-dwelling tribes as the Gerudo or the Zuna. Taken altogether, Hyrule is shown to be a melting pot of sorts in regards to its geography as it has been shown to possess nearly every kind of climate and terrain.

Locations and Landmarks
Although Hylian geography varies from game to game, Hyrule features several reoccurring landmarks and locations. These are:

Hyrule Field
Hyrule Field is a large plain that vastly covers the majority of Hyrule. No travelers or any other activity are ever seen here, due to being inhabited by many creatures under Ganon’s rule. First appearing in Ocarina of Time, it has since been known for branching out into other territories, such as Hyrule Castle, Death Mountain, and Lake Hylia. It is highly praised in Twilight Princess, appearing five times larger than in its first debut.

Lon Lon Ranch
Lon Lon Ranch is a large farm located at the center of Hyrule Field in Ocarina of Time. It focuses on the raising of horses and Cuccos, as well as the shipping of milk. It is owned by Talon, his daughter Malon, and Ingo. The ranch is also the home of Epona who becomes quite useful later in the game. With the help of Ganondorf, Ingo later takes over the ranch and sends Talon away, who settles in Kakariko Village. Its Terminan counterpart in Majora's Mask, Romani Ranch, bears many resemblances.

Death Mountain
Death Mountain often appears as a large volcano and as the home of the Gorons. In The Legend of Zelda, it was actually the domain of the game's main antagonist, Ganon. It also returned as Ganon's hideaway of the Dark World in A Link to the Past. In Ocarina of Time and Twilight Princess, it appears as the homeland of the Goron tribe as well as the home of several dungeons. Death Mountain is also often believed to appear in The Wind Waker as Dragon Roost Island.

Kakariko Village
Kakariko Village is a large settlement, home to many merchants in its debut in A Link to the Past. It was more notable in Ocarina of Time, however, serving as a former village to the Sheikah tribe, and the location of the Shadow Temple. In Twilight Princess, it appears more barren, having little plant life, and is quite abandoned (which according to several characters is due to many being driven out by Shadow Beasts). Another village appears later in the game, the Hidden Village. A sign posted can be translated as Kakariko Village, however its location is off compared to that of Ocarina of Time, and lacks many of the landmarks found in its previous counterpart. However, it is stated to have been inhabited by 'the tribe that protected the royal family of Hyrule' which 'dwindled in the great war', implying that it is the village that was inhabited by the Sheikah, although its location remains to be explained.

Lake Hylia
Lake Hylia appears in several Zelda titles and is known for being the home of the Water Temple, where the Zora tribe is said to worship the goddesses. While Lake Hylia is usually noted as it first appearing in Ocarina of Time, its first appearance was really in A Link to the Past. In both Ocarina of Time and Twilight Princess, it is the resting place of the water temple, at the bottom of the lake. It is believed to be the same dungeon despite of the differences in appearances.

Zora's Domain
The Zora’s Domain, as its name implies, is the abode location of the Zoras. It is a large, hollowed cavern within the surrounding mountains around the Zora River. At the top of the domain is the throne of the ruling Zora family, in the case of Ocarina of Time, King Zora and Princess Ruto. In Twilight Princess, it appeared much larger and taller, ruled by the now dead Queen Rutela and Prince Ralis.

Lost Woods
Having appeared in The Legend of Zelda, the Lost Woods has become a very popular landmark of the series. The woods, though, were properly introduced in A Link to the Past as an almost inescapable maze. In Ocarina of Time, it became infamous for its difficult navigation, as many players would take a wrong exit, and be warped back to the beginning. It played many roles needed to progress and contained many helpful passages that led to other places including Death Mountain and Zora’s Domain. The Lost Woods are also featured in the beginning of Majora's Mask, and there is also a Terminan counterpart known as the Woods of Mystery.

Gerudo Desert
This mysterious location first appeared with the unveiling of the Gerudo race in Ocarina of Time. It served many purposes including the housing of the Spirit Temple located within the Desert Colossus, a massive statue carved on the side of a large rock formation. It also made a return in Twilight Princess, where the Arbiter’s Grounds, a large prison speculated to be the former Spirit Temple, is located.

Hyrule Castle
Hyrule Castle has appeared within almost every single title throughout the series. It serves as the home of the Royal Family, and often as the final battle against Ganon. Hyrule Castle has gone through many changes between each game, looking almost completely different inside and out.

Castle Town
Castle Town first appeared in Ocarina of Time as a market place, where shops are the main attraction. Such locations including Potion and Bomb shops, minigames, and a mask shop. It is also home to two of the most important locations in the game, the Temple of Time and Hyrule Castle. Its appearance in Twilight Princess is very similar to that of Ocarina of Time, upholding many shops and businesses and being placed in front of Hyrule Castle. In this game, though, it is larger in size and houses many more shops and people than its Ocarina of Time counterpart.

Hylian
The dominant race of Hyrule has since the creation of the world been the Hylians, who were said to be blessed by the gods with some of their magical powers. These Hylians are extremely abundant and are quite similar to humans on earth. Unlike most other races, they tend to live in large cities. They are said to be born with magic-infused blood and use magic quite often (variating from their Terminan Counterparts, who use magic less and rely on technology more often.) They are thought of to be closer to the gods than other races and also inhabit Holodrum, Labrynna, and Termina.

Goron
These are Rock-consuming Golem-like creatures that inhabit mountains and rocky areas. They boast superhuman strength and the ability to curl up into a ball and roll. Using magic power some can sprout spikes when they pick up enough speed while rolling in this manner. They are completely heat resistant, able to wade through lava. Most Gorons (if not all) cannot swim due to their immense weight. They inhabit, aside from Hyrule, Termina, Labrynna, Holodrum, and many other places.

Zora
These are aquatic, mammalian creatures that inhabit the waters of the kingdom. Zoras that live in rivers seem to be more fish-like, aggressive, and can spit fire; whereas Sea Zoras seem to be more peaceful and dolphin/whale-like. Zora also inhabit Termina, Labrynna, Holodrum, and more.

Forest Dwellers
These include Kokiri, Deku Scrubs, Skull Kids, and many others, but altogether are occasionally referred to as Deku. Kokiri are similar to Hylian children, who never grow into the adult stage, and have the Great Deku Tree as a guardian. Deku Shrubs are plantlike, nut-spitting, short creatures that can burrow into flowers. Skull kids are mysterious, mischievous, childlike creatures. They also inhabit Termina.