Zelda franchise strategy guide/Locations/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 video games. Its first appearance was in the original The Legend of Zelda video game 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 is possible 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. However, the continued existence of Spectacle Rock is a point against such a theory, as is the return of the Master Sword, and Ganon from the bottom of the Great Sea, which would suggest that Hyrule is in fact the same location, and the Sea drains at some point, thus, Death Mountain remaining the same Mountain or Mountain Range.

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) 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 accessible within the crater, extends in its fourth and fifth levels 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. It may be possible that in Legend of Zelda, the Fire Temple becomes converted into Ganon's main base, "Level 9."

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 A 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.

The Legend of Zelda

In The Legend of Zelda, 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.

The Adventure of Link

In Zelda II: The Adventure of Link, 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 the overworld of The Legend of Zelda. Here, Spectacle Rock makes a second appearance in the series.

A Link to the Past

In A Link to the Past, 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 Death 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.

Ocarina of Time

In Ocarina of Time, Death Mountain is a volcano located in the far Northeast 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 ancestral 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. Their staple supply of rock (for nourishment) comes from Dodongo's Cavern, which in the time just before Ganondorf's invasion had been overrun by the extinct race of Dodongos and the mighty King Dodongo.

Beyond Goron City, Death Mountain can be climbed, although Tektites and falling rocks will impede Link's path. Along with an entrance to Death Mountain Crater, a Great Fairy's Fountain is hidden at the summit; the Great Fairy there grants Link his magic power. Inside the crater is a second Great Fairy's Fountain where Link's magic meter can be doubled.

Twilight Princess

In Twilight Princess, Death Mountain is a volcano once again, located close to Kakariko Village. Below the enormous mountain lies Spectacle Rock (as north as the player can get in the Death Mountain area). Spectacle Rock is the home of the Goron race, and also houses their Goron Mines. Lava flows inside, and there is a hot spring located behind Spectacle Rock itself. Subsequently Link is not able to enter the mine at first, but as the story progresses, Gor Coron, a Goron elder temporarily ruling in the patriarch's stead, will allow Link to enter after defeating him at sumo wrestling, to search for their possessed leader Darbus. The entrance to Ocarina of Time's Dodongo's Cavern can be seen in the distance if the camera is faced north-west.

Other Death Mountains

There also appear to be places named Death Mountain in Labrynna, Holodrum and Koholint Island. This could perhaps indicate that at sometime all these islands were a part of some shared landmass. In The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker, Dragon Roost Island is speculated to be part of Death Mountain, due to being a volcano, having Bomb Flowers, and being surrounded by a smoke ring very similar to the one in Ocarina of Time when you first see it.