Games - Death Mountain

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	Games - 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 Nintendo Entertainment 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.

Atop the mountain, a large rock formation exists known as Spectacle Rock, named so because it resembles a pair of spectacles when viewed from above. 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. Strangely, Spectacle Rock was not accessible in Ocarina of Time, but was visible on the distant horizon of Death Mountain.

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's Roost Isle" in the game.

The Legend of Zelda and the Animated Series

Death Mountain is the location of Ganon's fortress in northern Hyrule. In the game, Ganon's lair (officially known as "Level 9") is accessible by bombing a portion of "Spectacle Rock", and then only if Link has all the Triforce shards. Level 6 is also located on Death Mountain. 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 Death Mountain.

The Adventure of Link

Death Mountain is in the Southwest portion of the map. The mountain (really more of a mountain range) is home to a maze-like network of caves. The game is set in Northern Hyrule, and is believed to take place above the area in The Legend of Zelda. In fact, there is speculation that the portion of the game known as Death Mountain Area (the non-mountain area directly south of Death Mountain) is where The Legend of Zelda took place; compare the area with maps of Hyrule from The Legend of Zelda and you'll be able to identify Spectacle Rock, the graveyard, Lake Hylia, and the Lost Woods, roughly in the appropriate position in relation to Death Mountain.

A Link to the Past

Death Mountain is the 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. There seems to be an old man living on Death Mountain as well. In the Light World, the entrance is guarded by a large boulder. 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.

Kodai no Sekiban

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.

[ Visit the complete Wikipedia entry for Death Mountain ]

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