Standing tall, the Lanayru Tower is the epicenter of a geographically complex section of the Lanayru Region.
The tower rests on the peak of a modest rocky hillside, with the hillside found between the mouths of the Zora and Rutala Rivers. As with much of the landscape in the area, this land seems to have been cut and formed by thousands of years of water erosion. Most of the surface area is rock, grooves and small canyons carved into parts of the earth are evidence of floodwaters doing what it pleases with the terrain.
There are also colossal bones emerging from the ground. Perhaps the remains of a titan (or something even larger), these bones also demonstrate how the water had washed away much of the ground. Perhaps the process was sped up by Vah Ruta’s rampaging and flooding of the area, but there’s no way to know exactly when the erosion occurred.
The only thing to know for certain is that the land is now both stable and adequate for building upon. This is evident by all of the Bokoblins, Lizalfos, and Moblins who have taken refuge around the tower and created platforms to both live on and gain strategic advantage from. There are also the remnants of destroyed cabins. They are proof that Hylians at one point lived in the region as well, at least before either the Calamity, Vah Ruta, or the monsters made the area inhospitable.
There aren’t any friendly faces to find here, but Link can make the trip worthwhile by plundering the available resources and claiming prizes from fallen foes. The beasts have stowed various treasure chests in various, easy-to-spot locations, and they themselves always have something good on them. And as they aren’t that bright, many of the monsters make Link’s job easy by either hiding in canyons that he can shoot down into or by standing on flimsily made platforms that will crumble to splinters from the strike of a single arrow.
The geography wraps and ascends to the tower in a spiral shape. This means Link can start from either the top or the bottom and carve a circular path of destruction. Though sneaking his way to the top and working his way down is probably best, since he will then have the high ground in every encounter, reducing the beasts’ already slim chances.
As a bonus to the spoils of combat, there are plants to find and also many rocks to destroy, which offer Link many gems for his inventory. Lanayru Tower’s base offers up rewards along its entire pathway as if it was a resources buffet.
Once Link plunders the area, he can freely climb and explore the tower. There is not much to be done with it once it is activated, but the tower does offer a close and spectacular view of central Hyrule. From it, Link can see the Wetlands, Central Hyrule Field, and Hyrule Castle. And in the distance, he can see peaks of the Hebra, Gerudo, Necluda, and Eldin Providences. If he stands in the perfect spot, he can even see three of the Divine Beasts perched atop mountains, assuming he’s already freed them from Ganon’s control.
The Lanayru Tower stands at the entrance to the Lanayru Providence, like a beacon to all seeking the Zoras’ homeland. It doesn’t hide any great secrets or dangers, but it does allow Link to discover what kind of environment and monsters he can expect to deal with while exploring the water-logged region.
