Death Mountain
Death Mountain (Japanese: デスマウンテン, Desu-Maunten) is a fictional mountain (occasionally a volcano as well), located in the fictional land of Hyrule in the Legend of Zelda series of videogames. Its first appearance was in the original Legend of Zelda videogame for the Famicom Disk System and has subsequently appeared in several games in the series.
Based on the events detailed in the Wind Waker, it seems likely that Death Mountain is in fact two different locations: one being the volcano shown in Ocarina of Time and the other being the mountain that appears in the games that fall later in series chronology.
Characteristics of Death Mountain
Death Mountain is one of the most important and memorable locations in the Zelda series. Certain things stand out about it.
When viewed from afar, (as seen in Ocarina of Time and the Wind Waker) Death Mountain appears as an ominous volcano with a ring of smoke surrounding its peak. It is said that the ring of smoke reflects the state of affairs at the mount: when all is peaceful, the ring is white and calm, but when things go awry, it turns violently ashen and seemingly aflame.
Atop the mountain, a large rock formation exists known as Spectacle Rock. In the Legend of Zelda, Spectacle Rock was the entrance to Ganon's lair, and was heavily guarded. In A Link to the Past, it blocks the way to the Tower of Hera. Spectacle Rock was also accessible in Ocarina of Time, inside the crater of Death Mountain. However, it could only be reached using a magic bean plant as Adult Link. It is evident by its structure that the Fire Temple, which was built into the bedrock of the mountain and is accessable within the crater, extends in its fourth and fifth into each of the two peaks of Spectacle Rock. One of the rocks has a heart piece on top, but other than that they hold little importance.
Death Mountain, in all of its appearances, is riddled with caves and dungeons, from Goron City and Dodongo's Cavern in Ocarina of Time to Ganon's lair in the Legend of Zelda.
Climbing the mountain, one is certain to encounter a large number of Tektites, as well as Lynels. To make matters worse, boulders constantly fall from the mountain onto any potential climbers.
Death Mountain is also traditionally the home of the Gorons. They first appeared as an enemy in Link to the Past which would turn to stone when attacked; they were later fleshed out as a sentient race and given a city inside the mountain in Ocarina of Time.
In the Wind Waker, many of these things have changed, as much of Hyrule is flooded. There are no Tektites or Lynels. The Gorons also seem to have been driven out. Now a race of bird-like people called the Rito reside in what was Goron City, and the Great Valoo, a dragon who protects the Rito, roosts atop the mountain. For this reason, the mountain is known as Dragon Roost Island in the game. Strangely, Spectacle Rock has also been moved from inside Death Mountain Crater, which is now Dragon Roost, to its own distant island on the Great Sea.
Death Mountain is an area in the first game occupying much of the northwestern part of the map. It contains some of the most difficult enemies in the game, and is also where the player will discover Levels 6 and 9. Level 9, Ganon's lair and the final level in the game, is discovered by bombing a portion of Spectacle Rock, and even then is only accessible when completing all other levels and assembling the Triforce. Death Mountain is inhabited by Tektites, Lynels, and falling rocks. There is a lake on the east end which flows into a waterfall, which in turns flows into a river which flows into Lake Hylia. The Lost Hills are located directly east of the Death Mountain area.
Death Mountain is in the southwest portion of the map. This area consists of a maze of caves. The proper exit of the maze leads the player to an area similar to that of The Legend of Zelda overworld. Here, Spectacle Rock makes a second appearance in the series.
Death Mountain is the area which occupies much of the upper-area of the map in this game. It is location of Hera's Tower in the Light World, and Ganon's Tower and Turtle Rock in the Dark World. It's inhabited by Tektites, Lynels, and falling rocks. When first visiting the mountain, Link encounters a lost old man in the cave system leading to the area. After guiding him through the paths, the old man will heal Link when he visits.
Spectacle Rock makes another appearance in this version of Death Mountain.
Though no lake is actually seen on Death Mountain itself, there is a waterfall in the northeastern corner of Hyrule which, judging from its position, most likely comes from a body of water on Death Mountain. The waterfall flows into a river which flows into Lake Hylia, possibly a throwback to The Legend of Zelda.
The Japanese game refers only to the Dark World mountains as Dark Mountain calling the ones in the Light World Hebra Mountain instead. This has never happened in any later Zelda games, so it is assumed the change during translation was deliberate and intended by the creators.
Death Mountain is the location of the "untranslatable slab" (no known official name) in the Light World (once again, the Japanese name is actually Hebra Mountain), and Ganon's Tower in the Dark World.
In Ocarina of Time, Death Mountain is a volcano located in the far northwest reaches of the country. The Fire Temple is located inside the Death Mountain Crater, where Link must kill Volvagia, an old dragon that once was destroyed by the old hero of the Goron people. Spectacle Rock also appears inside the Death Mountain Crater.
The Goron race occupies Death Mountain inside a cave network with four levels called Goron City. All their rock supply comes from Dodongo's Cavern, which in the time of the invasion of Ganon had been overrun by the extinct race of Dodongos and King Dodongo.
Outside the Goron City barrier, Death Mountain can be climbed but it Tektites and falling rocks will impede Link's path. A Fairy Fountain is hidden at the top of Death Mountain; the Great Fairy there grants Link her magic power. Inside the Death Mountain Crater a second Great Fairy who can enhance Link's magic lives. Template:Legend of Zelda locations