- This article is about the geographic southermost point on Earth. For the southern landmass, see South Pole region.
The geographic South Pole is the southernmost point on Earth and serves as the spiritual center of the Southern Water Tribe. Located deep in the interior of the South Pole region, at the center of the pole is an ancient forest containing a portal to the Spirit World. This portal was reopened by Avatar Korra during the winter solstice in 171 AG.[1]
History[]
Avatar Wan closed the Southern spirit portal after Harmonic Convergence to prevent humans from physically traveling to the Spirit World and freeing Vaatu.
On the eve of Harmonic Convergence in 9,829 BG, Wan and Mula traveled to the South Pole together with Raava in order to cross over to the Spirit World and battle Vaatu for the fate of the world. After the battle ended in their favor, Wan oversaw the departure of all the spirits roaming the Spirit Wilds through this portal. After he said his goodbyes to the aye-aye spirit, whom he had befriended, he sealed the portal, preventing any human from physically traveling to the Spirit World and freeing Vaatu.[2]
Despite relief efforts by the Northern Water Tribe to rebuild its sister tribe, the Southern Water Tribe underwent gradual spiritual decay in the years following the Hundred Year War, causing a spiritual imbalance in the South Pole. As a result, dark spirits began to rampage in the Everstorm and ceased to dance in the southern lights. In addition, the dormant spirit portal became encased in ice, along with the forest itself.
The spirit forest in the South Pole was frozen due to the loss of the Southern Water Tribe's spiritual connection.
A small expedition consisting of Avatar Korra, Chief Unalaq, Tonraq, Mako, Bolin, Desna, and Eska visited the South Pole in 171 AG following the spirit attack during the Glacier Spirits Festival in an attempt to calm the angry spirits rampaging throughout the tribe. Although the group was attacked several times by hostile dark spirits, Korra managed to reopen the Southern spirit portal through the use of the Avatar State, restoring spiritual balance in the South. As a result of her actions, the Everstorm dissipated and the southern lights returned to the skies.[1]
Following the outbreak of the Water Tribe Civil War, the forest located in the center of the South Pole was barricaded by Unalaq's forces in order to protect the spirit portal against the Southern Water Tribe rebels.[3]
On the eve of Harmonic Convergence, Team Avatar, along with Bumi, Kya, and Tenzin, attempted to enter the Spirit World via the portal. Mako, Bolin, and Asami attempted to lay waste upon the encampment from a biplane to serve as a distraction, while Korra, Bumi, Kya, and Tenzin attempted to enter the Spirit World on Oogi. Despite causing significant damage to the encampment, they were ultimately defeated and captured, save for Bumi. Using a mecha tank, the retired United Forces commander inadvertently destroyed the entire encampment, freeing the others in the process and allowing them to enter the portal prior to Harmonic Convergence.[4]
In an attempt to keep Unalaq from merging with Vaatu, Korra extradited the Water Tribe chief from the Spirit World through the portal and asked Mako and Bolin to keep him out. The brothers subsequently returned to the physical plane, where they defended the access to the portal. However, after a brief skirmish in the surrounding forest, Desna and Eska were able to overpower them and allow Unalaq to reenter the Spirit World through the portal. The bending brothers regained consciousness not long after and overpowered the twins, running into the Southern portal after Unalaq, with Desna and Eska following in their wake.
Avatar Korra battled Dark Avatar Unalaq at the South Pole during Harmonic Convergence.
After failing to stop Unalaq from merging with Vaatu to become the Dark Avatar, Korra and Unalaq exited the Southern portal and continued their battle in the plains of the South Pole. It was there that Unalaq eventually managed to defeat Korra and destroy Raava, who was forcefully removed from Korra's body by Vaatu during the altercation. Mako and Bolin arrived shortly after to come to Korra's aid, but were quickly subdued by Unalaq. After defeating his opponents, Unalaq used his spiritual connection with Vaatu to grow to enormous proportions and touched the spirit lights to transport himself away from the South Pole.[5] The three benders were later found by Bumi, Kya, and Tenzin, who carried them back to the Spirit World.[6]
Description[]
The forest surrounding the Southern spirit portal became frozen in the Everstorm.
An ancient forest containing a portal to the Spirit World is located in the center of the South Pole, which can be opened during the solstices by the Avatar. In the past, when the spirits were in balance, a beam of light emanated from the portal, causing the celestial phenomenon known as the southern lights.
The damage wrought on the Southern Water Tribe by the Hundred Year War upset the pole's spiritual balance and caused the spirits to conjure an enormous, constant tempest known as the Everstorm, which surrounded the pole. This, in turn, led to the forest becoming encased in ice. The forest eventually turned into a series of glacial caverns, penetrated by roots and inhabited by small, dragon-like spirits.[1]
The Everstorm raged throughout the South Pole before dissipating following the reopening of the Southern spirit portal.
Following the spirit portal's reopening, the southern lights returned to the skies and the glacial formations began to disappear. By the time of Unalaq's occupation, a large wall was constructed around the spirit forest, with watchtowers located at every junction. In addition, small tents were pitched directly outside the forest for use by the Northern troops.[3]
Trivia[]
- Reference images of Antarctica were used in designing the South Pole, some of them being photos taken by sound designer Benjamin Wynn.[7]
- The first episode of both Avatar: The Last Airbender and The Legend of Korra open with scenes set in the South Pole.