Sootopolis City (Japanese: ルネシティRune City) is one of the the sixteen cities of Hoenn, the land in which the games Ruby, Sapphire, and Emerald take place. It is based on Santorini of Greece.
Sootopolis City is located inside a crater formed by a volcano. Many years ago, an underwater volcano erupted and forced itself up from the depths creating a crater, the hollowed volcano. Its crater emerged from the sea and became filled with rainwater. People soon started to dwell in the crater for its warm, fresh water and a city soon came forth. To get around the city, people have to climb many flights of stairs and Dive under the sea. Because of this, many of the locals are in good shape. Sootopolis has a fantastic nighttime view, the stars peer in through the top of the crater.
In the Pokémon games, Sootopolis can only be reached by diving through an underwater cavern or by Flying. Sootopolis is surrounded by Route 126. Sootopolis plays a major part in the games, as it is the location where the player has their first encounter with a legendary Pokémon, and obtains their final Badge.
Barboach and Shroomish can be shown to a pair of residents, who will calculate their size and reward prizes of Ethers and Elixirs accordingly. In Pokémon Emerald, they will calculate the sizes of Seedot and Lotad instead.
In Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire, the population of Sootopolis City is 39. This is a large population considering the city being settled inside a dormant volcano and its isolation from the other Hoenn cities.
A colored background means that the Pokémon can be found in this location in the specified game. A white background with a colored letter means that the Pokémon cannot be found here.
In the anime
In the anime, the volcano Sootopolis is built in opens on one side so that ferries can reach it.
Trivia
The background music used in this city is a remix of a music from Pokémon Pinball.
In Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire, if the player goes to the highest house on the right side of the city (the side with the Pokémon Center), stands on the stairs outside, and hits the left button, it is possible to use a glitch to walk on part of the rock wall. This was corrected in Pokémon Emerald.
This is the only city in the Pokémon world in which it is required to dive in order to reach the city the first time.
Junichi Masuda named an NPC in Sootopolis after his new-born daughter, Kiri.
Sootopolis City is the most recent place where Groudon and Kyogre have battled each other in the wild.
In other languages
Language
Name
Origin
Japanese
ルネシティ Rune City
Possibly from ルネサンス, Renaissance. Can also be derived from 流 ru (flow), 琉璃 ruri (lapis lazuli or its blue color) and 熱 netsu (heat).
English
Sootopolis City
From soot, which is expelled when a volcano erupts, and polis, the Greek word for city.
French
Atalanopolis
From atlantis, an ancient island underwater, and polis, the Greek word for city.
German
Xeneroville
Italian
Ceneride
From cenere, meaning ash.
Spanish
Arrecípolis
From arrecife, coral reef, and polis, the Greek word for city.
Korean
루네시티 Rune City
Same as the Japanese name.
Chinese (Mandarin)
琉璃市 Liúlí Shì
Means "Colored glaze city". Alternatively, it can also mean "glass city".