Template:Place Zora's Domain,(OoT)[1][citation needed] also known as the Land of the Zoras,(OoT)[2] is a recurring location in The Legend of Zelda series. It is based on Zora's Waterfall from A Link to the Past. It serves as the home of the aquatic race known as the Zora.
Features and Overview
Zora's Domain from Ocarina of Time 3D
Ocarina of Time
In Ocarina of Time, Zora's Domain is located in the northeast section of Hyrule and is home to King Zora and his daughter, Princess Ruto.[3] It consists of a large cavernous area mostly filled with water, with a large waterfall flowing from the top into the lower area. Its source of water comes from Zora's Fountain, to which it is closely linked. The only ways to access the domain are from Zora's River or via a secret entrance hidden underwater in Lake Hylia; however, only those who have some connection with the Royal Family of Hyrule are allowed to enter.[4] To enter via Zora's River, Link will need to play "Zelda's Lullaby" in front of the seemingly impassable waterfall at the end of the river to prove his connection to the Royal Family. This will cause the waterfall to momentarily split in two, allowing the young hero to access Zora's Domain.
Link's first visit to the domain is called upon during his search for the third Spiritual Stone, the Zora's Sapphire. He ventures Inside Jabu-Jabu's Belly in Zora's Fountain to rescue Princess Ruto, receiving the Spiritual Stone in return. Seven years later, after Link awakens from having pulled the Master Sword from its pedestal, the young hero returns to Zora's Domain to find it completely frozen over. Moreover, the entrance to Lake Hylia has been blocked by ice. The only Zoras that inhabit it are King Zora and the shopkeeper of the Zora Shop, and both of them are frozen over by Red Ice, which only Blue Fire can melt.[5] Sheik explains that the ice is caused by an evil curse, and the source of the curse is Morpha, a monster in the Water Temple. The only way to restore Zora's Domain to its natural state is by destroying Morpha. Thus, Link ventures to the Water Temple where, with the aid of Princess Ruto, the source of the curse is shut off.[6] Princess Ruto, awakening as the Sage of Water, thanks Link for his help and reassures him that Zora's Domain and its people will eventually return to their original state.[7]
During the ending credits, Zora's Domain is shown to have been thawed out, although it is still empty since all of the Zoras are in Lon Lon Ranch celebrating the defeat of Ganondorf.
Twilight Princess
Frozen Zoras in Zora's Domain
In Twilight Princess, Zora's Domain is located in the Lanayru Province, and it serves as Hyrule's source of water. The water flow comes from the throne room, situated above the domain. From here, the water streams into the rest of the village, forming the Zora's Waterfall and continuing its path to Upper Zora's River and eventually reaching Lake Hylia. Zora's Domain is also connected to Snowpeak, and it is the only way to access that region other than Warping. Link can access the throne room by asking one of the Zoras near the waterfall to take him upstream.[8]
When Link first visits Zora's Domain, he finds that it has been completely frozen over and all the Zoras have been trapped under the thick sheet of ice. Since the domain is frozen, Zora's River has dried up as well as Lake Hylia.[9] Link must warp a Molten Shard from Death Mountain with the help of Midna and drop it into the throne room, which will cause the ice to shatter and allow the water to flow again. With Zora's Domain now thawed and the Zoras safe, Wolf Link and Midna begin to head out of the throne room when Rutela makes an apparition before them, stopping them on their way out. She thanks them for saving her village and her people,[10] and informs them of her unfortunate fate.[11] Rutela asks Link to save her son Ralis and promises to give him the Zora Armor in return, which is necessary to enter the Lakebed Temple.[12]
Later on in the game, after Link obtains the Coral Earring from Prince Ralis, the young hero must revisit Zora's Domain to fish in an area known as the Mother-and-Child Rocks.[13] It is here that the Reekfish dwell, a rare fish specimen unique to the Zora village.[14] Once Link manages to catch a Reekfish, he will be able to pick up the Reekfish Scent that is necessary to navigate through Snowpeak.
Zora's Domain from A Link Between Worlds
After Link obtains the Water Bombs and Zora Armor, he can sink to the bottom of the throne room and blow up the remains of the Molten Shard, releasing a Goron that was trapped in it. By speaking to him, Link will receive a Bomb Bag. Eventually, Prince Ralis will return to Zora's Domain and sit in the throne room in place of his mother.
Zora's Domain is last seen during the ending credits, showing Queen Rutela looking over her son.
A Link Between Worlds
Zora's Domain appears again in A Link Between Worlds as the abode of Queen Oren and her Underlings. When Link first visits Zora's Domain, he bumps into the Shady Guy, who has stolen Oren's Smooth Gem. This causes discord among the Zoras, as Oren begins to uncontrollably bloat without the Smooth Gem. After Link returns the stolen Smooth Gem, Oren gives the young hero the Zora's Flippers out of gratitude.
After Oren is trapped within a Painting and subsequently released, she vows to return to Zora's Domain once Link defeats Yuga and Ganon.[15]
Breath of the Wild
In Breath of the Wild, Zora's Domain is located in the Lanayru Region next to the Akkala Region. The Domain is ruled by the family of King Dorephan and his son Sidon. Their princess who was a sister to the prince and daughter to the king was Mipha, who was also a deceased Zora Champion of Hyrule, tasked to pilot the Divine Beast Vah Ruta.
Other Appearances
Link's Crossbow Training
Stage 4 of Link's Crossbow Training is specifically seated in the outer waters of Zora's Domain. The stage begins facing a waterfall and has targets falling with the water at various speeds. A few pots can be shot for additional points. In the second area, Link shoots at targets dropping with the waterfall and panning through openings in the mountainside. The stage normally ends in an overhead view of the two waterfalls as the targets again follow the water downwards. The alternative end can be unlocked by getting 1000 points on the Scarecrows from the first two sections. The stage ending scene will take Link above the waterfalls and offer a larger cluster of targets drifting towards him. Many more gold targets are found in this area among the regular and false targets.
Ocarina of Time (Himekawa)
Template:Sectstub
Hyrule Warriors
The frozen Zora's Domain appears as part of the Lake Hylia Stage in Hyrule Warriors.
Trivia
- According to an interview given by Shigeru Miyamoto to Nintendo Power for their 100th issue, an area called "Zola Lake" was planned to be included in Ocarina of Time. This may have been during the phase of development where Zoras were still Enemies, and was instead converted into the more village-like Zora's Domain.[16]
- Although Zora's Domain does not appear in The Wind Waker, Laruto's Figurine states that she was born there prior to the Great Flood.[17]
Nomenclature
 Names in Other Regions 
| |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Language | Name | Meaning | |
 |
Japanese | ゾーラの里 (Zōra no Sato) (BotW) | Zora's Village |
 |
ChineseSI | 卓拉的故里 (Zhuólā de Gùlǐ) 卓拉领地 (Zhuólā Lǐngdì) (BotW) |
Zora Village Same as English. |
 |
ChineseTR | 卓拉領地 (Zhuólā Lǐngdì) | Same as English. |
 |
Dutch | Zora-paleis | Zora palace |
 |
FrenchCA | Domaine des Zoras (OoT3D) | Same as English. |
 |
FrenchEU | Domaine Zora (BotW) Village Zora |
Same as English. Zora Village |
 |
German | Dorf des Zoras (BotW) Zoras Reich |
Zora Village Zora's Kingdom |
 |
Italian | Villaggio degli Zora | Zora Village |
|
Korean | 조라의 마을 (Joraui Maeul) | Zora Village |
 |
Russian | Владения зора (Vladeniya zora) | Same as English. |
 |
SpanishEU | Región de los zora (OoT3D) | Zora's region |
 |
SpanishLA | Región de los zora (BotW) | Zora's region |
Gallery
Zora's Domain from Ocarina of Time
Zora's Domain from Ocarina of Time
The Zora Throne room from Ocarina of Time
Frozen Zora's Domain from Ocarina of Time
Zora Domain from Twilight Princess
The throne room from Twilight Princess
Zora's Domain waterfall from Twilight Princess
Statue of Mipha in Zora's Domain from Breath of the Wild
Zora's Domain concept art from Breath of the Wild
Zora's Domain concept art from Breath of the Wild
Zora's Domain concept art from Breath of the Wild
Zora's Domain concept art from Breath of the Wild
- LCTZora'sDomain.jpg
Zora's Domain from Link's Crossbow Training
- LCTZD1.jpg
Zora's Domain from Link's Crossbow Training
- LCTZD2.jpg
Zora's Domain from Link's Crossbow Training
- LCTZD3.jpg
Zora's Domain from Link's Crossbow Training
Frozen Zora's Domain from Hyrule Warriors
See Also
References
- ↑ Encyclopedia, Dark Horse Books, pg. 110,(OoT) 112 (TP) & 301 (ALBW)
- ↑ {{{game}}} text dump
- ↑ "The Zoras come from Zora's Domain in northeast Hyrule." — Kaepora Gaebora (Ocarina of Time)
- ↑ "Just ahead lies Zora's Domain. The Zoras serve Hyrule's Royal Family by protecting this water source. Their door will not open for anyone except those who have some connection with the Royal Family." — Kaepora Gaebora (Ocarina of Time)
- ↑ "I'm sure you've already seen it! Zora's Domain--totally frozen! A young man named Sheik saved me from under the ice... But my father and the other Zoras have not...yet..." — Princess Ruto (Ocarina of Time)
- ↑ "This ice is created by an evil curse... The monster in the Water Temple is the source of the curse. Unless you shut off the source, this ice will never melt... If you have courage enough to confront the danger and save the Zoras, I will teach you the melody that leads to the temple." — Sheik (Ocarina of Time)
- ↑ "Zora's Domain and its people will eventually return to their original state." — Princess Ruto (Ocarina of Time)
- ↑ "So, what do you think? Is it not a splendid waterfall? This one is the largest in our domain. And this waterfall flows directly from the throne room. If you would like, I can take you there." — Zora (Twilight Princess)
- ↑ "We've had absolutely no water flowing from upstream... There's no mistaking it. Something must have happened at the water's source in our home, Zora's Domain." — A Zora (Twilight Princess)
- ↑ "Wait! Please, you must allow me to thank you for revitalizing both my people and this spring, which is the water source for all the lands of Hyrule." — Queen Rutela (Twilight Princess)
- ↑ "The dark ones... They raided this village and, as a message to my people, executed me before them. When the dark ones descended upon our village, I sent my young one, Ralis, to Hyrule Castle to inform Princess Zelda of our fate. But... I fear danger followed him from this doomed place. I feel it. His presence grows fainter to me over time..." — Rutela (Twilight Princess)
- ↑ "Please... Would you save my dearest, Prince Ralis? If you do this thing, I will bestow upon you the protection of water. This power will grant you the ability to swim and respire in very deep water as if you were a Zora." — Queen Rutela (Twilight Princess)
- ↑ "The reekfish can be found near the Mother-and-Child Rocks in the waterfall basin near my village." — Prince Ralis (Twilight Princess)
- ↑ "It must be a reekfish. That is a rare specimen found only in the Zora village." — Prince Ralis (Twilight Princess)
- ↑ "You have my undying gratitude, young hero. You are truly among the very best of your people. Now there is more for you to do, if I am to get back home to MY people. The Zoras are surely worried." — Oren (A Link Between Worlds)
- ↑ "Miyamoto also described several areas, mentioning mountains, valleys, a deep "fairy" forest, and the mythical Zola Lake" (Nintendo Power Volume 100, Nintendo Power, pg. 15)
- ↑ "Birthplace: Zora's Domain. Long, long ago the Zora sage, Laruto, offered up her prayers in the Earth Temple so that the Master Sword would continue to house the power to repel evil." — Laruto's Figurine (The Wind Waker)
| Regions in Ocarina of Time | |
|---|---|
 Click on a location | |
| Hyrule in Twilight Princess | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Click on a location | |