Lanayru Gorge is a narrow, rocky canyon in The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword, located at the edge of the Lanayru Desert. It served as a major transportation and energy hub in the region, where Timeshift Stones were extracted and processed. The area is now characterized by its arid, desolate environment and ancient, broken-down machinery.
History
Lanayru Gorge was vital to the operations of the advanced Lanayru civilization. It provided access to rich veins of Timeshift Stones, which powered the region’s technologies and supported its robotic workforce. The gorge was also a key transit point for transporting the stones to other areas, likely including the Lanayru Mining Facility and Sand Sea.
Decline and Role in Skyward Sword
Following the collapse of the Lanayru civilization and the desertification of the region, the gorge became barren and nearly inaccessible. In Skyward Sword, Link visits the gorge to revive the Thunder Dragon Lanayru. The area features challenges that require the use of Timeshift Stones to activate ancient mechanisms, revealing the gorge’s former function as an industrial site. The restoration of the Thunder Dragon is a turning point in the game, emphasizing the gorge’s connection to both the ancient past and Link’s present quest.