- This article is for the location. For the village, see Makapu Village.
Mt. Makapu is a large stratovolcano located near Republic City. The eruption of the volcano in 100 AG threatened to cause significant damage to the nearby Makapu Village, though this was ultimately prevented through the intervention of Team Avatar and the local residents.[1]
History[]
By 305 BG, Makapu Valley was known for its "wild, volcanic abundance".[2] Due to the activity of the volcano, the inhabitants of Makapu Village once had a tradition of annually going up the volcano to check the lava level. However, after a fortuneteller, Aunt Wu, moved to the village, the tradition was discontinued in favor of her predictions.
When Team Avatar came to the village, Aunt Wu predicted that the village would not be destroyed by the volcano, and the villagers believed her despite Team Avatar's affirmation that it was on the brink of eruption. The volcano did erupt, but the lava was prevented from reaching the village due to the intervention of Team Avatar and the villagers. They dug a trench to direct the lava into the river, and when it was determined that the trench would overflow, Avatar Aang used airbending to blow the lava away from the settlement.[1]
After the Hundred Year War, Mt. Makapu became a territory of the United Republic of Nations.[3]
Geography[]
Mt. Makapu erupted in early 100 AG.
Mt. Makapu is located in the coastal mountain range of the northwestern Earth Kingdom and is notable for its very symmetrical, blunted cone. The base of the mountain is blanketed by dense, misty pine forests, which stop about halfway up the mountain. Very few plants grow near the summit; however, the combination of moisture from the sea and the heat produced in the heart of the mountain makes the volcano's crater one of the only known locations where the rare panda lily grows.[4]
Because the volcanic soil in the area is so rich, Mt. Makapu and its foothills, including Makapu Valley,[2] are dotted with several small farming villages, such as Makapu Village. At the base of the mountain, behind Makapu Village, is a moon gate which marks the entrance to the path up the volcano. The road leading to the gate is lined with two-faced stone totems representing the four elements. Each statue is carved with the elemental symbol and a relevant animal: a fish for water, a badger for earth, a dragon for fire, and an owl for air. Both the gate and the statues were destroyed by the lava flow from the volcano's eruption.[5]
Trivia[]
- The sculptures lining the path to Mt. Makapu resemble the two-faced Shinto statues seen at the beginning of Hayao Miyazaki's Spirited Away.
- The turtle statues on the path to Mt. Makapu were based on statues in South Korea.[6]
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Ehasz, Aaron, O'Bryan, John (writers) & Filoni, Dave (director). (September 23, 2005). "The Fortuneteller". Avatar: The Last Airbender. Season 1. Episode 14. Nickelodeon.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Yee, F. C. (author), DiMartino, Michael Dante (author). (July 16, 2019). Chapter One, "The Test". The Rise of Kyoshi. Amulet Books.
- ↑ Hedrick, Tim, Hamilton, Joshua (writers) & Heck, Colin, Zwyer, Melchior (directors). (June 27, 2014). "Rebirth". The Legend of Korra. Book Three: Change. Episode 2. Nickelodeon.
- ↑ From older Avatar: The Last Airbender official site, originally on Nick.com. Encyclopedia now broken, archived at The Lost Lore of Avatar Aang - Character: Meng.
- ↑ Avatar: The Last Airbender—The Art of the Animated Series, pages 64-65.
- ↑ Avatar: The Last Airbender—The Art of the Animated Series, pages 65.