Karst caves and Zoras

NOTE TO GOEG 1202 STUDENTS: This is a D example blog

One section of Hyrule is a vast maze of water filled tunnels and caverns called Zora's Domain. It's water source is unknown which may lead to the belief that this is a Karst landscape and that Zora's Domain is a series of caverns created by water from hidden valleys somewhere else that disolved the rocks as it passed through.

The water inside the domain doesn't really have a clear exit either. At some point it ends up in Lake Hylia to the north as shown by items from Zora's Domain, like rupees and jars, whcih show up on the lake's bottom. This is more evidence of under ground water ways, typical in a karst landscape.

Also their are typical cave formations inside the Zora's caverns. That spike sticking out of the water in the picture above is whats known as a stalactite. It was formed when disolved rock minerals flowed in and built up on that spot to form a spire there.

Volcanism and Gorons

NOTE TO GEOG 1202 STUDENTS: This is an A- example blog

There are many things that make the land of Hyrule unique but none more that its solitary volcano: Death Mountain. As seen below, Death Mountain has the clearly defined tall steep shape of a composite volcano. The alternating colors down the slopes of the cone indicate different flows and eruptions that built the colossus it is today.

Death Mountain on a clear day. (in game shot)

Death Mountain is still growing and still very active. There are frequent eruptions in which pyroclastics such as tephra, cinders, and bombs assail the volcano's base and sides. These are small events but still very dangerous. The video below shows a resident shielding himself from a barrage of falling volcanic rock:

Pyroclastics falling from Death Mountain. (in game footage)

Despite its unruly behavior and daunting name Death Mountain is a vital source of life to its inhabitants: the Gorons. Gorons are a hardy people that live on the side of Death Mountain in a large cavern and system of tunnels presumably lava tubes. Examples of both are shown below.

Inside Goron City. The tiers show layers of development. (in game shot)

Entrance to Goron city. The arced tunnel is a characteristic of a lava tube. (in game shot)

These were created during a lava flow in which the outer shell cooled faster than the inner core which kept moving hollowing out the tunnels. This an odd occurrence since lava tubes are generally associated with fast moving flood basalt flows which are far less viscous than general composite volcanoes produce.

Introduction

This is a joint blog created by Casey Allen and Kaelin Groom.

Our chosen location is the fictional world of Hyrule from the Legend of Zelda video games. For simplicity's sake we will only focus on the Hyrule from Ocarina of Time.

We chose this location because I (Kaelin) have played the games a number of times and have always noticed interesting landforms and physical geography. Now that we will be learning more about those forms and the processes behind them we decided to revisit Hyrule as geographers. Also, by choosing a fictional location it will require a greater understanding of physical geography and we will benefit more from this class. We look forward to doing this project.

Image from http://coco.raceme.org