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Zora's Waterfall,[1] also known as Zora's Falls,[name reference needed] is a location in A Link to the Past. It is the home of all Zoras. It plays the same role for the Zora as Zora's River and Zora's Domain do for the ordinary Zora, while in A Link Between Worlds they are implied to be the same location.

Features and Overview

This large, lush area filled with streams, waterfalls and lakes is hidden at the base of Death Mountain, beyond the Waterfall of Wishing.[2] It serves as the source of the river which courses through Hyrule and ends at Lake Hylia. Unlike many other regions, it does not actually appear on the map itself, nor does it have a known equivalent in the Dark World (in the Dark World, the river ends at the Lake of Ill Omen). It is home of numerous aggressive Zora as well as the giant but amiable King Zora.[2][3]

There are a number of waterfalls in the region, but Zora's Waterfall itself can be found at the end of the river, beyond a large shallow lake that Link will have to make his way across, moving through the maze-like shallows while avoiding the numerous attacks from the Zora. This is where King Zora makes his home and here Link can buy the Zora's Flippers from him for 500 Rupees. When Link moves close to the waterfall, King Zora reveals himself and speaks to the hero. At the end of the game, King Zora is seen along with seemingly benign Zora offering flippers for sale at Zora's Waterfall.

Many of the enemy Zoras that appear at Zora's Waterfall are unique, and known as "Walking Type" Zoras. Appearing along with their fire-spitting brethren, they leap from the water and land in a standing posture in the shallows and chase after Link (similar to their behavior in The Adventure of Link). When hit, they are stunned, and can be picked up and thrown at other enemies. If Link hits them when leaping from the water, they can be sent flying onto the ledges and into the tree canopies surrounding the whole region.

Link can also find a Piece of Heart hidden in the foliage of this area.

Sleepless Waterfall

Main article: Sleepless Waterfall

In Ocarina of Time, Zora's Waterfall does not appear, but Zora's River is an extremely similar location leading to the Sleepless Waterfall, which acts as a barrier to impede outsiders from entering Zora's Domain.[4]

In Twilight Princess, a nameless waterfall appears at Zora's Domain that plays a similar role to the Sleepless Waterfall, acting as a barrier to the throne room.[5] Zora's Domain itself is an open-air region, possibly as a reference to Zora's Waterfall.

Other Appearances

A Link to the Past (Ishinomori)

Zora's Lake (comic)

Zora's Waterfall in A Link to the Past (Ishinomori)

A place highly resembling Zora's Waterfall in the A Link to the Past comic by Shotaro Ishinomori, although it is situated in the Dark World instead of the Light World. After Link saves a fairy from a band of Thieves, the fairy leads him to the Zora's Waterfall, where Link encounters a Zola. Thinking it to be a monster, the young hero tries to fight it, but the Zola thanks Link for having saved Epheremelda, the fairy.[6] The Zola explains that he thought he was Romu, the knight who, with the Master Sword, scarred his forehead.[7] After Link is healed by Epheremelda,[8] the creature introduces itself as Zora. He and Epheremelda tell Link about the ruler of the Dark World and the usurper of the Triforce, Ganon, as well as Agahnim, Ganon's puppet.[9] With Agahnim's magic, he sent the Maidens to the Dark World so Ganon could steal their power, which makes Link realize that Zelda is still alive.[10]

Knowing this, Zora tells Link that one of the maidens is imprisoned in the Palace of Darkness nearby; however, he warns the young hero of the explosive materials, known as Firecorn, that are kept in there.[11] Link decides to go anyway, insisting that he must rescue the maiden trapped in the Crystal.[12] Before leaving, Zora allows Link to take Epheremelda as a guide and grants him the Zora's Mask to disguise himself and not look so conspicuous as he is sneaking around the palace.[13]

Trivia

NintendoPower Zelda 64 locations

Part of the Nintendo Power interview

  • Zora's Waterfall is known as Zora's Den in the Japanese version of the game. The kanji for 巣 (den), also meaning nest or lair, is very similar to that used for 里 (domain), meaning village, likely meaning Zora's Domain is a reference to this location.
  • 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 Zora, and was instead converted into the more village-like Zora's Domain.

Nomenclature

TMC Forest Minish Artwork Names in other regions TMC Jabber Nut Sprite
LanguageNameMeaning
JapanJapaneseゾーラの巣 (Zōra no Su)[14]
ゾーラの滝 (Zōra no Taki)[15]
Zola's/Zora’s Den
Zola's/Zora’s Waterfall
This table was generated using translation pages.
To request an addition, please contact a staff member with a reference.

Gallery

References

  1. Encyclopedia, Dark Horse Books, pg. 229
  2. 2.0 2.1 "I cannot grant any more wishes for you, but a friend of mine might be able to... She lives in the Waterfall Of Wishing near Zora's lake. I will return your Rupees to you. May you be happy..." — Venus (A Link to the Past)
  3. "There is a lake swimming with Zoras at the source of the river, but it is hard to find." — Hylian (A Link to the Past)
  4. "Sleepless Waterfall / The flow of this waterfall serves the King of Hyrule. When the King slumbers, so too do these falls." — Sign (Ocarina of Time)
  5. "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)
  6. "Uggh! You're an ugly little mannn...but you have my thanksss for helping my Epheremelda... I sssaw your sssword and thought you were the knight..." (A Link to the Past manga, VIZ Media, pg. 4)
  7. "A dangerousss man who sswung the sssingular Massster Ssssword... Rommmu wasss his name... He's the one who ssscarred my forehead..." (A Link to the Past manga, VIZ Media, pg. 4)
  8. "Suddenly I feel healed and refreshed!" (A Link to the Past manga, VIZ Media, pg. 4)
  9. "My name isss Zzzora... Mmmy people had lived in peace sssince water firssst fell upon the earth...until Ganon usssurped the Power of Gold and created the Dark World!" (A Link to the Past manga, VIZ Media, pg. 5)
  10. "Agahnim sent the Maidens here so Ganon could steal their power!" (A Link to the Past manga, VIZ Media, pg. 5)
  11. "Yesss, and one is imprisoned in Crystal in the palace nearby...but you shouldn't go there! In legendsss that place is known as the Palace of Darkness... Ganon's servantss have ssstockpiled the dangerousss, explosssive firecorn there..." (A Link to the Past manga, VIZ Media, pg. 5,6)
  12. "I've already seen what the firecorn can do, but no matter what... I must rescue the girl who is held there!" (A Link to the Past manga, VIZ Media, pg. 6)
  13. "If you mussst go, take my Epheremelda for your ggguide... Also, your gggrotesssque face isss too conssspicuousss... You musst wear Zzzora's Masssk!!" (A Link to the Past manga, VIZ Media, pg. 6)
  14. A Link to the Past manual, pg. 2, 3
  15. Nintendo Official Guidebook—The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past Vol. 1, Shogakukan, pg. 3
Locations in A Link to the Past
Locations in the Light World Locations in the Dark World
Waterfall of WishingEastern PalaceGraveyardLost WoodsKakariko VillageDesert PalaceDesert of MysteryHyrule CastleGreat SwampTower of HeraPond of HappinessLake HyliaLink's HouseZora's WaterfallHaunted GroveSanctuaryWitch's HutDeath MountainHyrule Light World map

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Skull WoodsSkeleton ForestGhostly GardenThieves' TownVillage of OutcastsMisery MireSwamp of EvilSwamp PalaceGanon's TowerPalace of DarknessPyramid of PowerIce PalaceIce LakeLake of Ill OmenBomb ShopTurtle RockDark World Map

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