The Zelda series has entertained our imaginations with creative locations for the past 36 years. Many of these locations are as charming as they are dangerous, but that’s the fun of it all! And as it turns out, many of them are based on real life places, so I thought it would be fun to explore some of these locations. The possibilities are quite endless, so I’m going to choose three areas that I think are worth exploring.
The first real life location I’m thinking of reminds me greatly of the Rist Peninsula located in East Akkala from Breath of the Wild. If you’ve ever taken an art history course in college, you might already know what I’m going to say. Rist Peninsula is similar to the real life earthwork sculpture called Spiral Jetty, created by Robert Smithson in the 70s. The materials used to create Spiral Jetty are all from the Earth (rocks, mud, etc.), and it’s located in Utah. It’s a fantastic destination for those exploring the possibilities of wanderlust. I’m glad that Hyrule has its own version of this magnificent sculpture!
The second real life location is also from the Akkala area in Breath of the Wild. Whenever I’m in the Akkala region, I can’t help but notice the beautiful autumn trees and foliage. It reminds me so much of autumn on the East Coast, USA. During the fall months, the trees of the Eastern USA/North Eastern USA become brilliant shades of oranges, yellows, reds, purples, and browns. The states of Vermont, New Jersey, New Hampshire, and Massachusetts especially exhibit some of the most camera-worthy scenery, and some areas in Akkala represent that exceptionally. One real life area in particular named the Garden of the Gods, located in Illinois and shown in the image below, captures these brilliant colors and is incredibly reminiscent of the Akkala landscape.
This next location is from The Wind Waker. In The Wind Waker, you might have noticed that there are four giant head statues scattered throughout the Great Sea. These giant heads, called Stone Watchers, could only be moved with Power Bracelets; bombs do not work. They remind me greatly of the ancient Olmec giant heads found in Mexico. These ancient head statues, created by ancient people, are thought to have been sculpted to honor the rulers of the time. So far, seventeen heads have been discovered. Perhaps the four Stone Watchers in The Wind Waker each represent one of Hyrule’s many kings? If that’s the case, then Link probably shouldn’t have destroyed them.
These real life locations are certainly pretty magical, and it’s neat to see homages in some Zelda games. I only listed three areas in this article, but I’ll probably write a part two in the future. Have you ever been to any of these real life locations and, if so, do you agree or disagree with my comparisons? We would love to read your opinions! Happy traveling!
