Hyrule

Hyrule (ハイラル) (lit. Hairaru) is the name of the magical kingdom that serves as the setting for many games in the Zelda series. It is usually depicted as a beautiful and prosperous land blessed with deep forests, tall mountains, vast lakes, a barren desert, and great cities. It is ruled by a monarchical government, the Royal Family of Hyrule, with its capital city at the bustling Hyrule Castle Town.

Hyrule has its unique creation mythology, deities, legendary relics, historical heroes, and villains. Hyrule also connects to other realms via magical artifacts and portals. Of these, the Sacred Realm and Dark World are the most storied. This story of the Triforce would shape Hyrule's future in the centuries that followed its creation, becoming the basis of Hyrule's providence, especially after the birth of a man from the desert named Ganondorf. After the Triforce is stolen by Ganondorf (who wishes to conquer the land for himself ), a young hero named Link, often armed with the Master Sword, rises up to save Hyrule from destruction. The hero is usually assisted in this effort by Hyrule's young princess, Zelda, for whom the series is named. These three characters are the best known figures in Hyrulean history.

Hyrule is shown in numerous incarnations, with several shared elements between versions. It is also home to a multitude of different races, each inhabiting a different part of the country.

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 spirits and life existed, these three goddesses descended upon the chaos that was Hyrule. Din, with her strong flaming arms, cultivated the land, created the red earth, and was thus responsible for the creation of the 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. Farore, with her rich soul, created all life forms that would uphold the law established by Nayru. 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.

The whole Triforce could only be claimed by one pure of heart, and this would cause the Sacred Realm to become a paradise. But if that one's heart is unbalanced, the Triforce would split into its three separate pieces, leaving only the piece representing the force in which that one most believes in 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, they would have to acquire the two lost pieces. The other two pieces would dwell within two people chosen by destiny, who would bear the symbol of the Triforce on the backs of their hands. The ancient Sages, fearing that the Triforce's magic could be abused, crafted a sword infused with magic resistant even to the Triforce itself. This weapon, the Blade of Evil's Bane better known as the Master Sword, was capable of banishing evil and was reserved for use only by a hero in times of great need.

The Hylian people were also aided in the development of their kingdom by the Oocca, a race said to be even closer to the gods. The Oocca also assisted the ancient Sages in the construction of the Temple of Time to protect the portal to the Sacred Realm and the Triforce stored within. Once the land of Hyrule had been established, the Oocca left for the City in the Sky, but maintained contact with the Royal Family of Hyrule for a time.

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. Hyrule's beings lived at peace, for much of the early history of the realm. Stories of the Sacred Realm began to spread across the land, speaking of a "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 power. Eventually former friends became bitter enemies and even sparked wars over the Triforce. These stories also reached the ears of 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 fellow Gerudo, out of their miserable existence in the barren Gerudo Desert. 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, even causing him to seek total domination over Hyrule. 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 to completely conquer Hyrule. 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, her associates, the Wind Sorcerer Vaati, and the forces of twilight led by Zant. Each time, Hyrule has had a savior 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 timeline and two Hyrules.

One of those two incarnations of Hyrule show it to be drowned beneath a deluge known as the Great Flood and destroyed centuries later after Ganondorf is defeated once again, leaving Link and Zelda to seek out a new Hyrule, which would later appear in. Another incarnation of Hyrule, depicts an invasion by the forces of twilight led by the Twili known as Zant, with a new incarnation of Link and Zelda rising up to defeat Zant and his dark master, Ganondorf himself. Both incarnations of Hyrule have shown vastly different fates for the kingdom. In the Adult Timeline, Hyrule is destroyed and buried underneath the oceans while Link and Tetra search for a new land that is revealed in Spirit Tracks to be the next Hyrule that was spoken of by Tetra in The Wind Waker. Meanwhile, in the other timeline, Zelda resumes her place as Hyrule's ruler, with Ganondorf left dead after a great battle in Hyrule Field and Link riding away on a new adventure.

Governance
Hyrule's form of government has remained relatively consistent throughout its history, with an ancient monarchy, the Royal Family of Hyrule, 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 most of the various races pledge their allegiance to the central government headed by the Royal Family. Each race has its own local government and the individual tribal leaders, but all races pledge their overall allegiance to the Royal Family as kingdom of Hyrule citizens.

Hyrule has faced many coups throughout its history, but ultimately the Royal Family is usually restored to power through the efforts of Hyrule's hero, Link.

Economy
Hyrule's economy is typical of most feudalistic societies 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. Several color and size variations are used to denote values. Some, such as green, blue or yellow Rupees are worth less than 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.

Military
The Hyrulean Castle Guards make up the bulk of Hyrule's military forces. Despite their duty to protect the peace, the guards have a poor reputation and a tendency towards cowardice, they will shrink in fear whenever Wolf Link passes by them. The guards have been unsuccessful in defending Hyrule in more recent games, falling to the army led by Ganondorf in Ocarina of Time as well as being overpowered by the forces of twilight led by Zant. Due to their minor inefficiencies, they often are unable to pevent infiltration of even Hyrule Castle. However, they have not always been cowardly, they have valiantly defended Princess Zelda from Zant's forces even as the Throne Room of Hyrule Castle underwent the twilight invasion of Twilight Princess; and while trying to prevent Vaati from blasting open the Bound Chest in The Minish Cap.

However, these guards were also very wary of when evil took over their kingdom. When Vaati impersonated King Daltus, the guards who dissented were turned to stone. When the guards would not follow an evil ruler, they were brainwashed into doing so. In A Link to the Past, the dark wizard Agahnim took over the country through much cunning and deceit; one of the first things he did was take over Hyrule's military force using his powerful magic. The guards are shown to be freed of this spell when Link destroys Agahnim and returns the Royal Family to power. Although the guards are mostly concentrated in the Hyrulean capital city Hyrule Castle Town, they are seen spread out all across the kingdom as well.

The more recent interpretations of the guards are vastly different compared to the more noble Knights of Hyrule spoken of in A Link to the Past, who gave their lives almost to the utter last in order to protect the Seven Sages as they cast their seal on the Dark World. Whether the Knights of Hyrule have any connection to the present day guards that make up Hyrule's military is unclear, but if the Knights of Hyrule were indeed the forerunners of the present guards, it would mean a vast decline in their efficiency and courage since the times of the Imprisoning War. A similar set of knights also called the "Knights of Hyrule" acted as the guardians of the Royal Jewels in Four Swords Adventures, and only four existed. Each protecting one of the four jewels that would restore the Tower of Winds and yield access to the Realm of the Heavens. Whether these four knights have any connection to the Knights of Hyrule spoken of in the tales of the Imprisoning War is unclear, but both are reputed for their bravery.

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


 * Hyrulean Civil War: This war was begun for unknown reasons, but it was said according to the Great Deku Tree to be a horrific and prolonged war that resulted in the unification of the country under the banner of the Royal Family.
 * Interloper War: This war began when the Dark Interlopers attempted to seize control of the Sacred Realm and claim the Triforce for themselves, but the intervention of the Light Spirits caused them to be sealed away in the Twilight Realm, outside of which they could only exist as shadows.
 * Imprisoning War: This conflict is spoken of in the backstory of A Link to the Past, where it is said to have begun 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-turned-Dark World.
 * War of the Bound Chest: The Hero of Men fought many evil creatures during ancient times using the Picori Blade. He sealed the evil monsters inside of the Bound Chest using the Picori Blade and the Light Force, until Vaati broke the blade and released the monsters back into the world some time later.
 * Great Flood: In the Adult Timeline following the end of Ocarina of Time, Hyrule was invaded once again by Ganondorf and was subsequently buried beneath a deluge of rainwater in the Great Flood when the Hero of Time failed to appear.
 * Zant's Invasion of Hyrule: In the Child Timeline following the end of Ocarina of Time and Majora's Mask, Hyrule was 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 returned to haunt Hyrule once again.
 * Spirit War: Following the events of Phantom Hourglass, a war breaks out between the good spirits of the land and the Demon King Malladus in the new Hyrule discovered by the Hero of Winds and Tetra to replace the one drowned beneath the Great Sea. This results in the Demon King being imprisoned by the Spirit Tracks and the Tower of Spirits, the good spirits returning to the heavens, and the kingdom of Hyrule being re-established in this new land.

Theology
Hyrule is known to be a polytheistic society, and the greatest of the deities worshiped by the Hyruleans are the three Golden Goddesses: Din the Goddess of Power, Nayru the Goddess of Wisdom, and Farore the Goddess of Courage. These three goddesses are the most highly-revered of all deities throughout the entire realm of Hyrule, as they were responsible for the creation of Hyrule and all who live in it. The people have also been known to worship the essences of these goddesses, which live within the almighty relic the goddesses created, the mythical Triforce. The goddesses have answered the prayers of the people at dark times of Hyrule's history, such as drowning Hyrule beneath the Great Flood to save its people from destruction at Ganon's hands and sending the Light Spirits to imprison the Dark Interlopers within the confines of the Twilight Realm to save Hyrule's people from their wicked reign.

The Golden Goddesses are not the only deities worshiped. The Zoras worship their patron deity, the great fish Lord Jabu-Jabu, going so far as to accord him a special place of honor in their society. They are also known to use the Water Temple to worship water spirits. The Kokiri pay homage to the great forest spirit known as the Great Deku Tree and hold him in the highest regard as both their father and protector. The Gerudo are known to worship the mysterious Goddess of the Sand, to whom they dedicated the construction of the Spirit Temple. There have also been other deities, such as the aforementioned Light Spirits, that are also worshiped by the people as the guardian deities of their respective provinces.

Several houses of worship and temples exist in Hyrulean society. Hyrule has been known to have temples dedicated to each of several different elements, each with a caretaker Sage that is guardian of the temple. The most well known of these Sages are the Seven Sages: Rauru in the Temple of Light at the heart of the Sacred Realm, Saria in the Forest Temple deep within the Lost Woods, Darunia in the Fire Temple on Death Mountain, Ruto in the Water Temple deep beneath Lake Hylia, Impa in the Shadow Temple residing in the graveyard in the shadow of Death Mountain, Nabooru in the Spirit Temple far across the desert in the Desert Colossus, and Princess Zelda in the Temple of Time. The Temple of Time's architecture also draws from Gothic cathedral architecture, and acts as the primary gateway to the Sacred Realm. The Earth Temple and the Wind Temple house the Sages whose prayers power the Master Sword and grant it the Power to Repel Evil.

Several towns in The Adventure of Link have churches, and a lone priest that resides at the Sanctuary in A Link to the Past helped smuggle Zelda out of Agahnim's clutches. Renado is the village shaman of Kakariko Village in Twilight Princess and the unofficial leader of the village. These figures, alongside the Sages, act as chief members of Hyrule's theological sphere.

Locations and Landmarks
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 Snowpeak 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.

Cities, Residences and Villages
Hyrule Castle, also known as "Castle Hyrule", is the seat of Hyrule's monarchical government and the home of the Royal Family of Hyrule. In most depictions of the castle, it is a great stone castle with battlements and towers in the gothic style of medieval castles, usually surrounded by water. It is often one of the most important places for Link during his adventures in Hyrule and many times is the site of the final confrontations. It first appears in A Link to the Past, where it has been infiltrated and usurped by the dark wizard Agahnim. Hyrule Castle next appears in Ocarina of Time where, in the future era, it has been torn down by Ganondorf, only to be replaced by Ganon's Castle. The castle appears briefly in the Oracle games as the home of the Triforce and, in The Wind Waker, the castle ruins appear beneath the Great Sea, a result of the Great Flood, and it is the resting place of the Master Sword. It appears once again in Four Swords Adventures, located near the center of Hyrule. The castle makes another appearance in The Minish Cap, where it is home to the Elemental Sanctuary that links Hyrule to the Minish Realm. The castle's latest appearances is in Twilight Princess, as the home of Princess Zelda which is later invaded by Zant.

Kakariko Village is a recurring locale throughout the series. First appearing as the primary Hyrulean settlement in A Link to the Past, it is seen again in Ocarina of Time, where it rests in the foothills of Death Mountain and the village's origins are elaborated upon, revealing it to have been founded by the Sheikah. The village's primary founder and leader is the nursemaid of Princess Zelda, Impa. Four Swords Adventures shows the village once more, closely matching the location and appearance of the village in A Link to the Past. In Twilight Princess it is once again located in the foothills of Death Mountain, but it is depicted as a rugged dwelling built into the cliffs of Death Mountain.

Hyrule Castle Town, also known simply as "Castle Town", is the capital city of Hyrule and the heart of the country's commerce as well as the seat of its government. The city has much history surrounding it, and two of its most important structures depicted in the series have been Hyrule Castle, the city's namesake, and the ancient Temple of Time that serves as the primary gateway between Hyrule and the Sacred Realm. The city's marketplace is usually depicted to be a bustling metropolis where Hyruleans come to engage in business and trade. As a means of some protection, the city is usually surrounded by a moat that is only accessible by bridges or drawbridges. Throughout the Zelda series, the city has been prone to conflict multiple times and has been the subject of invasion more than once.

Goron City is the main dwelling of the Goron race, deep within Death Mountain caverns. The city itself is built inside one large cavern with multiple levels. In Ocarina of Time, the chieftain's chamber is a secret passageway leading into Death Mountain Crater, from which the Fire Temple can be accessed. Goron City thrives on the Bomb Flower crop that grows on Death Mountain. A similar dwelling for the Gorons is depicted in Twilight Princess up on Death Mountain, where it is home to the Goron Mines and the resting place of one of the Fused Shadows.

Zora's Domain is the home of the aquatic Zora race. The domain debuted in A Link to the Past as Zora's Waterfall, which was a series of waterfalls and waterways in northeastern Hyrule leading from a single large waterfall, underneath which lived the ruler of the Zoras in that game. The domain, however, took on its modern-day appearance in Ocarina of Time, where it is located in southeastern Hyrule and is depicted as a large cavern through which runs the waters of Zora's Fountain. The domain next appears in Twilight Princess, where it greatly mirrors its Ocarina of Time appearance, with a few differences, including the domain being the path to the Snowpeak mountain range.

The Gerudo's Fortress is the home of the Gerudo race from the Gerudo Desert. The fortress is made almost completely of stone and is built into the cliffs of Gerudo Valley, near the entrance of the Haunted Wasteland. The Gerudo and their home-dwelling appear again in Four Swords Adventures, though this time in southwestern Hyrule under the name of the Desert of Doubt, and the Gerudo do not live in a great fortress as they did in Ocarina of Time but rather in huts near the southwestern corner of Hyrule.

Primary Waterways
The primary source of Hyrule's major water bodies stems from Zora's Fountain. Zora's Fountain fountain rests behind the caverns of Zora's Domain at the time of Ocarina of Time, where it is shown to also be home to the Ice Cavern and the Zoras' patron deity, Lord Jabu-Jabu. While Zora's Domain reappears in Twilight Princess, Zora's Fountain has all but vanished. However, the source of Zora's River now resides in the throne room of the Zora royalty.

The spring first feeds the mighty Zora's River, which has been consistently shown to run a strong and swift current. After flowing across of much of Hyrule's landscape, Zora's River eventually terminates at Lake Hylia. Lake Hylia, which is one of the largest bodies of water in Hyrule, first appears as a large lake with a single island in its center located in the southeastern section of Hyrule in A Link to the Past. It next appears in Ocarina of Time, where it is now located in the southwestern section of the country and has an island with a single tree on it, below which is located the sacred Water Temple. The lake makes its next official appearance in Four Swords Adventures, where it is shown to be a two-tiered lake residing in Hyrule's northeastern region. In The Minish Cap, Lake Hylia follows the tradition of being connected directly the source of water via a river, and having a single large island off center. In Twilight Princess, Lake Hylia, like in Ocarina of Time, is fed by Zora's River, flowing all the way from Zora's Domain. It is also home to the Lakebed Temple located far beneath the lake's waters.

Smaller Water Bodies
Fishing is a popular Hyrulean pastime seen in multiple games throughout the series. A variety of fish inhabit Hyrule's rivers and streams, and several ponds have been set up to allow convenient places to fish. The first Hyrulean fishing hole was seen in Ocarina of Time, and was located near Lake Hylia on the far side of the lake. Fishing returns in Twilight Princess, with a new fishing hole set up near Zora's River and run by Hena.

Veil Falls is the so-called "Source of the Flow" of Hyrule in The Minish Cap. The falls serve as the primary source of water for Lake Hylia as well as all of Hyrule.

Tundra
Snowpeak is the name of the cold mountain range in the northern region of Hyrule in Twilight Princess, with its entrance at Zora's Domain. The only notable location in this region is the fort-like structure, the Snowpeak Ruins, which houses a shard of the Mirror of Twilight. It is also home to the Yeti race.

Temporarily Frozen Areas
Frozen Hyrule is the name of the southern region of Hyrule from Four Swords Adventures. This region used to be the road to the Realm of the Heavens and the home of the Tower of Winds, but Vaati's evil magic transformed it into a frozen wasteland. The Temple of Ice is located in this region, as is the sacred Four Sword Sanctuary.

Zora's Domain becomes a frozen water-body in Ocarina of Time's later age, which is only thawed out after Link defeats Morpha in the Water Temple. In Twilight Princess, when Link first visits Zora's Domain, he finds that the river has been frozen solid by Zant's power. To thaw out the frozen land, the young hero warps a gigantic volcanic rock from Death Mountain to the domain, using it to shatter the ice at the river's source in the Zora throne room, heating the water to jump-start the flow back to its normal pace and refilling Lake Hylia in the process.

Traditional obstacles of frozen lands in Hyrule include tall walls of snow, frequent blizzards, arctic blasts of wind, enemies that are able to freeze Link, slippery terrain, and falling icicles

Swamps
The Adventure of Link introduced two neighboring swamps, Moruge Swamp and Midoro Swamp. Both were north of the Water Town of Saria along a series of mountains. Midoro Swamp, slightly further northeast of Moruge Swamp, seated the Midoro Palace. Link moves much slower while traversing the swamplands in both the overworld map and split screen views. The only enemies lurking the swamplands were octoroks and mobies.

The Swamp is the name of a murky mire located to the south of Hyrule Castle in Four Swords Adventures. Kaepora Gaebora tells the four Links that the Swamp was once home to many creatures that have been driven away by the machinations of Vaati, who poisoned the Swamp's waters and cast unending darkness across its skies. The four Links soon learn that the Swamp is a large expanse of marshland complete with many caves and paths of lilypads that offer the only means of crossing the poisonous waters of the Swamp. The graveyard, which lies on the firmer grounds of The Swamp, is home to Dampé, the sole inhabitant of the area.

Castor Wilds is the name of an enormous marshland that inhabits the entire southwestern sector of Hyrule in The Minish Cap. It is home to the Wind Ruins and the Fortress of Winds, the former home of the Wind Tribe that protects the Wind Element, far to its southern borders. To cross this inhospitable marshland, Link needs the assistance of the Pegasus Shoes. The entire swamp is filled with enemies, such as ropes and eyegores, who inhabit not only the patches of solid ground throughout the region but also the caves that lead into the surrounding cliffs.

Mountain Ranges
Death Mountain is one of the oldest and most recurring locales in Hyrule throughout the series, having been present in nearly every incarnation of Hyrule since the original The Legend of Zelda. In that game, Death Mountain is a great mountain range residing in the northern section of Hyrule and serves as the hideout of Ganon. What is thought to be the same Death Mountain reappears in The Adventure of Link, where it is a mountain range located in the southwestern corner of the now-expanded land of Hyrule. The mountain's next appearance is in A Link to the Past, where it is home to the Tower of Hera in the Light World and home to Ganon's Tower and Turtle Rock in its Dark World incarnation. In Ocarina of Time, the mountain is an active volcano and home to the rock-eating Goron race, Dodongo's Cavern, and the sacred Fire Temple. Four Swords features Death Mountain as a volcanic environment as well, and it serves as one of the main regions explored in the game. The mountain reappears in Four Swords Adventures, retaining a similar appearance to the Ocarina of Time version and being home to the Gorons as well as the Tower of Flames. The mountain appears in Twilight Princess, where it retains its status as an active volcano, the home of the Gorons and is the location of the Goron Mines.

Maze Island is a massive island located off the shores of Eastern Hyrule in The Adventure of Link. It is the home of the Maze Island Palace that Link must visit in order to restore one of the six magical crystals to its proper place. The island is a foreboding place with unfriendly terrain, the mountains and rocky pathways lead to a maze-like pattern about the island. Also in The Adventure of Link is the Valley of Death, which is a a mountain range on the southwestern section of Eastern Hyrule and seats the Great Palace, the resting place of the Triforce of Courage. The region is filled with enemies, one of which include Moas that infest the area and force Link into confrontations on his way to the Great Palace. The valley is implied to be one of the King's tests for the hero that would come to seek the Triforce, to test his resourcefulness, determination, and to obtain the last of the three pieces of the Triforce.

Mount Crenel is a mountain range residing in Hyrule's northwestern sector in The Minish Cap. It is home to the the sweltering and dangerous Cave of Flames as well as a special spring water that has certain special abilities to make certain plants grow at an accelerated rate.

Forests


The Lost Woods are a mysterious forest that appears in most Zelda games. Its first appearance was in The Legend of Zelda, where it is a simple repeating screen. In A Link to the Past it is located in northwestern Hyrule and is the resting place of the Master Sword, while its Dark World counterpart is the Skeleton Forest. The Lost Woods in Ocarina of Time contain several secret tunnels and portals to other areas like Death Mountain and Zora's River, as well as other worlds like Termina (as revealed in Majora's Mask). The major point of interest in the Lost Woods in this incarnation is an isolated place called the Sacred Forest Meadow, location of the Forest Temple. In Four Swords Adventures, the Lost Woods are Ganon's base of power. It has recently been corrupted, and was once known as the Forest of Light.

The Kokiri Forest is the homeland of the Kokiri and the orphaned Hero of Time. It is located near the Lost Woods. Although the Kokiri Forest itself does not appear in The Wind Waker, its remains are theorized to be the Forest Haven and the nearby Forbidden Woods. Likewise, although the Kokiri Forest does not appear in Twilight Princess, striking similarities between the Kokiri settlement and Ordon Village, combined with the nearby Forest Temple resembling the Deku Tree and bearing the Kokiri symbol, has led some to thoerize that Ordon Village may be the former Kokiri Forest.

The Minish Woods are a forest in the southeastern corner of Hyrule in The Minish Cap. The Minish Woods are the only known place where the tiny race of beings are known to still reside. The woods themselves cover the entire southeastern corner of Hyrule and feature many small pools of water, as well as the Minish Village. They also border the Lake Hylia region just to the north of the woods and are home to Syrup's hut. Beyond the Minish Village is the Deepwood Shrine that is home to the Earth Element and was once used as a meeting place between Humans and the Minish.

The Ordon Woods are a small section of forest on the outskirts of Ordon Village in Twilight Princess. On the outskirts of the Ordon Woods lies Link's House and further in lies a special spring dedicated to the Light Spirit Ordona.

The Faron Woods appear in Twilight Princess and make up much of the Faron Province in southern Hyrule. This area is shrouded in twilight early in the story, causing Link to transform into his wolf form. Both the Forest Temple and the Sacred Grove are located deep within Faron Woods. The forest is guarded by the Light Spirit known as Faron, who takes the form of a divine bird when approached at his spring. The Faron Woods are also the only path connecting the Ordona Province to Hyrule Field, thus necessitating travel through the forest for those entering or leaving Ordon Village.

The Sacred Grove is the hidden forest in Twilight Princess, long forgotten the general public of Hyrule, though the members of the Royal Family remain aware of its existence and importance. The grove is located across the canyons surrounding the Forest Temple and can only be reached by those having some method of traveling by air. It is inhabited by a mischievous Skull Kid and two statue guardians. The ancient ruins of the Temple of Time are located here as well. It is also the resting place of the Master Sword. The meadow housing the Master Sword and the Pedestal of Time are guarded by the two statues, placed there to test the mettle of the hero. The temple can be accessed through a time portal contained within the temple's original door, which still stands in the Sacred Grove in the present time of Twilight Princess.

Farms and Fields
Hyrule Field comprises the central region of Hyrule in many games. Generally, it connects to most other regions in Hyrule, and has been the location of Lon Lon Ranch. Peahats, Stalchildren, Big Poes, and various other enemies dot the landscape. The center of the field is often Hyrule Town. The Hyrule Field that appears in Twilight Princess is comprised of three provinces.

Lon Lon Ranch appears in Ocarina of Time, Four Swords Adventures, and The Minish Cap. This ranch is usually home to Malon, Talon, and Ingo and produces most of Hyrule's Milk. Ingo had been given the ranch by Ganondorf after he came to power, and was a manipulative and uncaring employer. He would beat the horses if Malon did not obey him. In The Minish Cap, Lon Lon Ranch is a small farm just outside of Hyrule Town and is on the main road to Lake Hylia.

Royal Valley is the final resting place for members of the Royal Family of Hyrule when they pass on into the next world at the time of The Minish Cap, largely filling the role held in other games by the Kakariko Graveyard. The valley, located just to the west of Hyrule Castle in Hyrule's northern regions, has an overall eerie atmosphere, with little to no natural light penetrating the dark gloom that is prevalent all over the valley. The only living resident of the valley is Dampé, the graveyard keeper, who resides in a hut near the entrance of the graveyard. The most prominent of those who rest in the valley however is Gustaf, a great former ruler of Hyrule and ancestor of Daltus and Princess Zelda.

Deserts


Parapa and Tantari Deserts are large expanses of desert in the northern regions of Western Hyrule in The Adventure of Link. Parapa Palace resides in the northeastern corner of the same-named desert.

The Desert of Mystery is the location of the Desert Palace and the Pendant of Wisdom in A Link to the Past. The desert seemingly has a single entrance located at its southeastern border, and is lined with rock walls. Vultures and an array of sand-related monsters attack those trying to cross the desert. Located on an outcropping at the southwestern corner of the desert is one of the portals leading to the Dark World, this particular portal leading to the desert's Dark World counterpart, the Swamp of Evil.

The Haunted Wasteland is a long stretch of desert prone to violent sandstorms that appears in Ocarina of Time. Link must traverse this desert in order to reach the far-flung Spirit Temple inside of the Desert Colossus. There are two challenges to overcome in order to pass safely, or else be caught in the sandstorm and return to the edge of the desert. First, cross the River of Sand, secondly, follow the flagposts to reach the Phantom Guide. Using the Lens of Truth, Link will be guided by a Poe until he reaches the Desert Colossus. The entrance to the Haunted Wasteland is protected by the Gerudo, who only grant access to the desert to bearers of the Gerudo Membership Card.

The Desert of Doubt is the sixth level of Four Swords Adventures and the homeland of the Gerudo and Zuna tribes. Notable features of this desert are the Desert Temple and the forbidden Pyramid, where the Trident of Power is kept. The builders of this Pyramid were ancestors of the Zuna tribe. The Gerudo, who reside at the desert's far southern borders, are the gatekeepers of the desert. Because of the evil power within the Pyramid, the Desert Temple was built to prevent people from reaching it. Ganondorf breaks Gerudo law by entering this Pyramid and stealing the Trident, which transforms him into the King of Darkness.

The Gerudo Desert is a desert in Twilight Princess. The desert is thought to take its name from the Gerudo tribe of thieves (though they do not appear in this story), as well as some of the desert's features such as the Gerudo Mesa. It is a vast and arid desert, overlooked by the Arbiter's Grounds, resting place of the Mirror of Twilight and home of the Sages. Bulblins have set up camp around the prison complex and have erected barricades near the prison. The missing piece of the Bridge of Eldin was teleported to the Gerudo Mesa after Link crossed it earlier in the story, and the Cave of Ordeals can be reached once it is warped back to its original location.

The Sky
Vaati's Palace is the dwelling of the wind sorcerer Vaati in Four Swords. After escaping his prison due to the weakening of the seal on the Four Sword, Vaati carries Princess Zelda off to the palace. Link then takes up the Four Sword and journeys across Hyrule as four individuals to reach Vaati's Palace, floating high over Hyrule. There, the four Links work together to vanquish Vaati, resealing him within the Four Sword's blade.

The Realm of the Heavens is the eighth and final stage of Four Swords Adventures. It encompasses the land above the clouds and is composed of three areas: the Realm of the Heavens itself, the Dark Cloud, and the Palace of Winds. The terrain of the Realm of the Heavens consists entirely of clouds and is located high above Hyrule, making any small missteps quite dangerous.

High above Hyrule is is an immense, floating structure known as the Palace of Winds, which resides in the Cloud Tops. It first appears under that name in Four Swords Adventures, where it is the bastion of Vaati and the final dungeon of the game, floating in the Realm of the Heavens. It reappears in The Minish Cap, where its origins are seemingly explained. In this story, it is revealed that the true builders of the Palace of Winds were the people of the so-called Wind Tribe, who at some point moved the palace up out of the Wind Ruins and into the Cloud Tops.

The Cloud Tops constitute the so-called "Land Above the Clouds" featured in The Minish Cap. It is the home of the Tower of Winds, home of the Wind Tribe, as well as the immense Palace of Winds guarded by said tribe. It is said that only members of the Wind Tribe can walk on the clouds, alongside surface-dwellers that are especially pure of heart. The primary means of reaching the Cloud Tops from the surface of Hyrule is by means of a whirlwind located at the pinnacle of Veil Springs, perched atop Veil Falls.

The City in the Sky is an immense set of floating buildings that drift high in the clouds over Hyrule in Twilight Princess. It is inhabited by the mysterious Oocca, a race of chicken-like beings that have been hinted to possess great powers they have yet to exhibit. Travel once took place between the Oocca in the City in the Sky and surface-dwellers (namely the Royal Family) by means of the Sky Cannon. Using the Dominion Rod and the Ancient Sky Book, Link is able to locate and repair the Sky Cannon, launching himself up to the city while on his quest for the shards of the Mirror of Twilight. The city itself runs on many complex machines that are run solely on the power of the winds that surround it. For example, the city's structures are kept afloat by many gigantic and powerful propellars that support them.

Races of Hyrule
Hyrule is home to numerous races which are scattered all across the land, each inhabiting a different part of the kingdom. The main distinction between Hyrule's inhabitants is that of Hylians and Hyruleans. Hylian refers to the specific race prominently appearing throughout Hyrule. Hyrulean refers to the many humanoid and non humanoid races that have inhabited Hyrule.

With the exception of the Hylians, most of the races have preferred environments and primarily reside among members of their own race. Moreover, few of Hyrule's races are limited to residency in just this one kingdom. Other lands of the Legend of Zelda series have featured these, and even more exotic races.

Aside from the following races, Hyrule's inhabitants include many familiar animals such as horses, cows, dogs, cats, and the like. The distinction between Animals and Beasts lies in the aggressiveness of the two. Hyrulean beasts are very varied; the primary categorization used by the Legend of Zelda series' creators is the ones found in the Overworld and those of the Underworlds of Hyrule.

Humanoid Hyruleans
Hylians

The Hylians are the dominant race of the realm, with close ties to the goddesses as their chosen people. The Hylians are extremely abundant and are quite similar to humans on earth. Unlike most other races of Hyrule, Hylians tend to live in large cities, such as Hyrule Castle Town or Kakariko Village. They are said to be born with magic-infused blood and use magic quite often.

Gerudo

The Gerudo are a race of largely female thieves who hail from the desert far to the west of Hyrule. Not much is known of this race's origins, apart from the fact that long ago, their ancestors were responsible for the construction of the Spirit Temple at the Desert Colossus, and for mapping out the vast Haunted Wasteland (Gerudo Desert). They live in the Gerudo's Fortress, nestled in the cliffs of Gerudo Valley, where they guard the entrance to the desert. According to Gerudo lore, only one male Gerudo is born every century, and that single male is to become King of the Gerudo. It is hinted that the Gerudo take on relationships with Hylian men for reproductive purposes. The Gerudo have a largely Arabesque appearance, even carrying scimitar-like swords for protection.

Kokiri

The Kokiri, a humanoid, child-like race, reside deep in the Kokiri Forest under the protection of the Great Deku Tree. With long lifespans and never aging, these small beings are the dominant race of the forest and are the guardians of the Forest Temple deep in the Lost Woods. They have only ever appeared in Hyrule, making them unique to the land, unlike other races.

Sheikah

The mysterious Sheikah are a race of ninja-like shadow warriors, said to be the guardians of the Royal Family of Hyrule. They are said to have been the builders and founders of Kakariko Village. Little definite information is known about this race, but speculation abounds as to their history and the reasons for their subsequent disappearance. The Sheikah have red-colored eyes but are otherwise a humanoid race of beings quite similar in appearance to Hylians and humans.

Wind Tribe

The Wind Tribe are a race of humanoid beings who have magical powers strongly connected to the winds, as the guardians of the Wind Element. They were responsible for the construction of the Fortress of Winds in the Wind Ruins just south of Castor Wilds as well as the Palace of Winds and the Tower of Winds above Hyrule. They were said to have been the favorite tribe of Gustaf, an ancient King of Hyrule. After living in the marshlands of the Castor Wilds for a time, the Wind Tribe abandoned the Wind Ruins and the Fortress of Winds, leaving for the Cloud Tops and taking the Wind Element with them. In the Cloud Tops, they have made the Tower of Winds their home as well as the road to the Palace of Winds.

Non-Humanoid Hyruleans
Zoras

The Zoras are aquatic, amphibious creatures that inhabit the waters of the kingdom, and are found in different forms which differ greatly in appearance and behavior. River Zoras occupy the rivers and appear more fish-like and aggressive, and can spit fireballs at passers-by, whereas Sea Zoras seem to be more peaceful and appear to be a hybrid between human and fish. Zora’s Domain is home to much of the Zora race, and is the source of all of Hyrule’s water in most stories set in Hyrule. The Zoras are often ruled by a monarchy themselves, the Royal Family of the Zoras usually headed by King Zora, though they also swear allegiance to the central Hyrulean government. They serve the Royal Family of Hyrule largely by guarding Hyrule’s water supply.

Gorons

The Gorons are a race of rock-consuming, golem-like creatures that inhabit the mountainous regions and rocky areas of Hyrule, largely Death Mountain. They possess superhuman strength and the ability to curl up into a ball and roll at high speeds, and are completely heat-resistant, able to wade through lava for extended periods of time. They have formed an alliance with the Royal Family of Hyrule, answering to the central government headed by the King of Hyrule. However, in the day-to-day governing of their tribe, they live under a council of elders typically headed by a patriarch, such as Darunia or Darbus.

Deku

Also inhabiting the forests of the kingdom are the plant-like race known as the Deku. The Deku of Hyrule are composed of the Deku Scrubs, which spit nuts as passersby or try to sell wares to those whom they meet. Typically these Deku Scrubs will live near a Deku Flower, into which they can retreat. The Deku do not appear to have any allegiance to any form of government in Hyrule. The term "Deku" has referred to Great Deku Tree, Deku Baba, and many items related to the forest nature of the creatures.

Zuna

The Zuna are a race of desert-dwelling nomads featured so far only in Four Swords Adventures, where they inhabit the Desert of Doubt alongside the Gerudo. They are a race of green-skinned humanoid beings that are said to be descended from the ancient tribe that built the Pyramid and sealed the Trident of Power there. Outside of that, little is known of their race's origins or how they came to live in Hyrule. They live in a small village in the central part of the Desert of Doubt, in small huts with flowers atop their roofs.

Minish

The Minish are a race of tiny beings who are largely responsible for Rupees and countless objects such as Magic Jars and Bombs being hidden in the weeds, grass, and beneath the pots throughout Hyrule. They are said to be concerned with bringing happiness to humans. The Minish seemingly did not originate from Hyrule however, as their homeland is said to be the Minish Realm that is connected to Hyrule. The passageway connecting the two worlds, the Minish Door, opens only temporarily once a century to allow the Minish to traverse to or from Hyrule. Though they primarily live in the Minish Village deep in the Minish Woods of Hyrule, they are also scattered around Hyrule, such as in Hyrule Town, Castor Wilds, and even up on Mount Crenel.

Oocca

The strange Oocca race inhabits the City in the Sky, floating high above Hyrule. Only fragments of the Oocca's history have been revealed. They are said to be the creators of the Dominion Rod (known to their tribe as the "Rod of the Heavens"), a magical rod that possesses the power to infuse life into certain statues found scattered across Hyrule. They are hinted to have had a close connection to both the Royal Family of Hyrule and the Sheikah, as they left the Ancient Sky Book to the Sheikah tribe upon departing for the City in the Sky. The Oocca maintained relations with the Royal Family even after they left for the skies, by means of the "Messenger to the Heavens" who would carry the "Rod of the Heavens" and journey between the surface and the city by the Sky Cannon. The Oocca have mysteriously lost touch with the surface-dwellers of Hyrule and nobody has seen one in living memory, causing many to believe their existence to be a myth.

Theories
The manual for the original Legend of Zelda places the game in "a little kingdom" in the land of Hyrule. The Japanese specifically states that the little kingdom is part of the "Hyrule region". This indicates that The Legend of Zelda's Hyrule is just a small part of a greater geographical territory collectively known as Hyrule. Though commonly refered to as "North Hyrule", it's believed by many theorists that the Hyrule seen in The Adventure of Link is the Hyrule region spoken of in the Legend of Zelda manual. Thus, the little kingdom is part of Adventure of Link's Hyrule, and not just a territory south of it.

Theorists point to the southwestern corner of the Adventure of Link map as being the little kingdom, because of the existence of several common landmarks. Both territories contain a Death Mountain, Spectacle Rock, graveyard, twin ponds, sideways L-shaped forested area, mazelike forested area, and a eastern side that borders water.