Sinnoh
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The Sinnoh region (Japanese: シンオウ地方 Sinnoh region), formerly known as Hisui (Japanese: ヒスイ地方 Hisui region), is a region of the Pokémon world. It is located north of Kanto,[1] Johto,[1] and Hoenn.[2] It is the setting of Pokémon Diamond, Pearl, Platinum, Brilliant Diamond, Shining Pearl, and Legends: Arceus; the latter explores the region's earlier history when it was still known as Hisui. It was the fourth core series region to be introduced.
Sinnoh is composed of the large mainland, the Battle Zone on another landmass to the northeast, and several smaller islands on both sides of the region. Most of Sinnoh's routes are on land, having very few water routes, in vast contrast to Hoenn. The region is divided by Mount Coronet, roughly comparable to how the continent that Kanto and Johto make up is essentially a contiguous region.
Etymology and design concept
Etymology
Junichi Masuda has stated that Sinnoh's name is derived from "神奥" ("mysterious and profound"),[3] possibly in reference to the various myths of the region.
Design concept
- Main article: Pokémon world in relation to the real world → Sinnoh
The geography of the Sinnoh region is based on the geography of the Japanese island of Hokkaido and the southern part of the Russian island Sakhalin, as well as Kunashir, which is claimed by Japan, but administered by Russia. Sinnoh has been said to be an island like Hoenn, rather than a peninsula.
Most of the cities and towns in Sinnoh are based on and positioned in the same way as the real cities and towns of Hokkaido. Jubilife City is Sinnoh's largest city, which is based on Sapporo, Hokkaido's largest city, while Veilstone City is based upon Abashiri, a major port city. The geographical features of Sinnoh are similar as well, with the large mountain ranges of Mount Coronet resembling the Ezo mountain chain, which is made up of the Teshio Mountains, the Kitami Mountains, the Ishikari Mountains, the Yubari Mountains, and the Hidaka Mountains. The three lakes of Sinnoh mimic Lake Tōya, Lake Kussharo and Lake Kutcharo. The fourth lake of Sinnoh is similar to Lake Mashū, which is also known as a mysterious spot that has a dense layer of fog hiding the surface most of the time.
The numbering of the routes in the Pokémon world may also be a reference to Japan's own national route system, which goes from 1 to 58, then skips directly to 101, and then skips several more numbers. Routes in Sinnoh do not run concurrent to routes in Hokkaido; instead starting over after the set of routes in Hoenn.
History
- Main article: Hisui → History
Sinnoh was originally known as the Hisui region.
According to several myths, this region was the first of all the regions in the Pokémon world to have been created. In a void of nothingness, a single Egg came into being, which then hatched into Arceus, the first Pokémon to be in existence. Arceus created Dialga, Palkia, and Giratina, then gave them the abilities to control time, space, and anti-matter respectively. Giratina was banished to another dimension for its violent behavior. Then, during the very early formation of the world, Arceus created Azelf, Uxie, and Mesprit to create willpower, knowledge, and emotion respectively, things that are in all modern humans and Pokémon. They dove to the bottom of present-day Lake Valor, Lake Acuity, and Lake Verity, an act which earned them the name "the lake trio". At that point, Arceus created the Hisui region and Mount Coronet divided the region into two sections. During this violent procedure, Stark Mountain was created and Heatran was formed in lava. Arceus finally created the Adamant, Lustrous, and Griseous Orbs before falling into a never-ending sleep at the Hall of Origin.
Human habitation of Hisui is estimated to have begun when Hisui was created, as said in myth. It is stated that Pokémon and humans led separate lives, but always helped each other. They supplied each other with goods, and supported each other. A Pokémon proposed to the others to always be ready to help humans, and that Pokémon be ready to appear before humans always. Thus, to this day, Pokémon appear to humans if they venture into tall grass.
According to Cogita, the earliest human inhabitants of Hisui lived one or two millennia before the events of Pokémon Legends: Arceus. This society, the Celestica people, worshiped Arceus and built the ancient ruins that can be found across Hisui and modern-day Sinnoh, such as the Solaceon Ruins and Snowpoint Temple. A legend states that around this time, an ancient hero befriended the island's Noble Pokémon, who had received Arceus's blessing, and gathered the Plates in order to find Arceus.
The next humans to arrive in Hisui came from across the sea. The Diamond Clan and Pearl Clan both worshiped a deity known as "almighty Sinnoh", with the Diamond Clan claiming it created time and the Pearl Clan claiming it created space. This disagreement set off a long-running feud between the two clans. Members of the clans also came to venerate the descendants of the ancient Noble Pokémon, and appointed themselves as Wardens to tend to the Nobles' needs.
The latest arrivals in Hisui were the Galaxy Expedition Team, comprising people from numerous other regions including Hoenn, Alola, and Galar. The Galaxy Expedition Team had been assembled to evaluate Hisui's viability for settlers, and to that end it embarked on an ecological study of the island. A significant part of this study involved the creation of the first complete Hisuian Pokédex at the direction of Professor Laventon. The expedition brought with it a newly-invented technology that allowed its members to conveniently capture and store Pokémon: Poké Balls. Two years after the establishment of Jubilife Village, a space-time rift appeared above Mount Coronet, followed sometime later by the emergence of a strange visitor.
Hisui was eventually renamed to Sinnoh after the deity worshiped by the native people.
Later on came the events of Floaroma Town. According to the townspeople, Floaroma Town was once a barren and desolate hill. People started planting flowers around it to cheer up the place, but nothing would grow. Then, someone expressed thanks for a blessing of nature, and the whole hill burst into bloom. It is theorized that Shaymin was the cause of the sudden burst of flowers, given it being the Gratitude Pokémon, and its ability to "instantly transform ruined land into a lush field of flowers," according to its Pokédex entry.
Contemporary history
The contemporary history of Sinnoh changes based on the title of the game being played
The player character and their friend Barry, leave Twinleaf Town in an attempt to see a Pokémon similar to that of the Red Gyarados in the nearby Lake Verity. At the lake they encounter Professor Rowan and their Professor's assistant, Dawn or Lucas who end up leaving their briefcase in the grass. The player and Barry get attacked by a group of wild Starly and open the briefcase left behind, giving them access to their first partner Pokémon. Barry and the player return to Twinleaf Town and set out the next day to return the Pokémon that they had borrowed to Professor Rowan who lives in the neighboring Sandgem Town. Professor Rowan gives them not only a Pokédex but also the Pokémon they had borrowed, allowing the two, and Dawn/Lucas to set out on a journey across Sinnoh. The player and their friend, now rival, take on the Sinnoh's eight Gyms in attempt to become the champion. Along the way, the player comes across the villainous Team Galactic, who pursues to steal Pokémon and resources in order to complete Cyrus's goal of creating a new world in his image. In multiple conflicts with the organization and obtaining their seventh gym badge, the player defeats Saturn in Veilstone City who has captured the Lake guardians and created a Red Chain. They follow Cyrus up to the peak of Mount Coronet where the Spear Pillar lies. Cyrus summons the Legendary Pokémon of DialgaDBD or PalkiaPSP, who can distort time and space respectively, allowing him to recreate the world via usage of the Red Chain that Saturn had made in Veilstone. The player and Barry defeat the evil organization, with most of the group disbanding after Cyrus leaves. The player then leaves for Sunyshore City and eventually the Pokémon League where they defeat Cynthia and claim the title of champion.
After finding every Pokémon in Sinnoh's regional Pokédex and becoming champion, the player is contacted by Barry who they go with on a ship to the Battle Zone, home of the Battle Park. On this island, they explore the volcanic Stark Mountain after some Team Galactic members attempt to take the Magma Stone. With the help of Buck, they defeat the villains once again and bring peace to the location.
Platinum's contemporary history is slightly different from that of Diamond and Pearl.
The player character and their friend Barry, leave Twinleaf Town in order to find some wild Pokémon. At Route 201 they are stopped by Professor Rowan and their Professor's assistant, Dawn or Lucas who provides them with their first partner Pokémon. They go to Sandgem Town in order to learn more about Pokémon and taking a journey across Sinnoh, but not stop back home first and tell their mother about the road ahead. At Lake Verity the player meets Cyrus. The player and their friend, now rival, take on the Sinnoh's eight Gyms in attempt to become the champion. Over the course of their journey they meet Sinnoh's current champion, Cynthia, and a member of the International Police, Looker, who become helpful allies against the villainous Team Galactic, a group oddly dressed people who pursue the stealing of Pokémon and resources in order to complete Cyrus's goal of creating a new world in his image. In multiple conflicts with the organization and obtaining their seventh gym badge, the player defeats Saturn in Veilstone City, who has captured the Lake guardians and created a Red Chain. They follow Cyrus up to the peak of Mount Coronet where the Spear Pillar lies. The player, Barry and Cynthia all cooperate to help defeat Mars and Jupiter only for Cyrus to succeed in summoning both Dialga and Palkia with usage of the Red Chain, bending and warping the world to his desires. The three lake guardians and Giratina suddenly appear and pull Cyrus into the Distortion World, Giratina's world. The player and Cynthia follow into the portal and stop Cyrus from attempting to cause further harm. Cyrus disappears after defeat, with most of the group disbanding. The player then leaves for Sunyshore City and eventually the Pokémon League where they defeat Cynthia and claim the title of champion.
After finding every Pokémon in Sinnoh's regional Pokédex and becoming champion, the player is contacted by Barry who they go with on a ship to the Battle Zone, home of the Battle Frontier. On this island, the player explores the volcanic Stark Mountain with Buck. The two encounter Mars, Jupiter and Charon from Team Galactic who are attempting to take the Magma Stone. With the help of Looker, they defeat the villains once again and bring peace to the location.
Geography
Environment
Sinnoh features a broad range of new and classic environments for the player to explore including, for the first time in a Pokémon RPG, snowy routes. Its terrain is varied: some parts of the region are dry and mountainous; others are wet and swampy. The region is rich in water.
Due to its large size, the main region of Sinnoh can be broken into two sub-regions divided by Mount Coronet, roughly comparable to how the continent that Kanto and Johto make up is essentially a contiguous region. Due to this, Shellos and Gastrodon have developed an instance of regional speciation, with members of the species found on the eastern side being blue-colored and members on the western side being pink-colored.
The western half of Sinnoh features a variety of landscapes. Its coasts are notably more rocky than the eastern half, however, the land is far more fertile, and the towns, for the most part, are rural. A windswept canyon, carved out by a river that flows from Mount Coronet, is home to the Valley Windworks, which provides clean, wind-driven electricity to the nearby towns. This is not to say, however, that there is no importance to west Sinnoh, as Oreburgh City, Eterna City, and Canalave City are the locations of Pokémon Gyms, and Jubilife City, at the heart of the area, is the most technologically advanced city in the region.
Sinnoh's eastern half is home to a vast many more things, including Pokémon Super Contests in Hearthome City, a Department Store in Veilstone City, the Great Marsh of Pastoria City, and the awe-inspiring Vista Lighthouse of Sunyshore City. In each of these cities, as well, there is a Pokémon Gym, which is very important for League-bound Trainers. Unlike the halves of Sinnoh divided longitudinally by Mount Coronet, the northern area is sparsely populated, with Snowpoint City as the only major area. This is likely due to the cold climate and snowy terrain in the area. Despite this relative isolation, however, Snowpoint has a Pokémon Gym, making it another important stop for Trainers who wish to compete in the Pokémon League.
A third sub-region is the Battle Zone, which is on a large island to the northeast of the mainland. Much like how people from the Sevii Islands seem to consider their home to be a separate region from Kanto and Johto, people from the Battle Zone often refer to Sinnoh as a separate region. Several islands, including Newmoon Island, Fullmoon Island, and Iron Island, lie off the northwestern coast of Sinnoh as well, though these are far eclipsed in both size and importance by the mainland.
Separated from both the Battle Zone and the mainland of Sinnoh by several straits is the island on which the Pokémon League of Sinnoh is located, the only access to which is by way of Route 223. It is here where Sinnoh's Victory Road is located, which, unlike previous incarnations has not two, but three entrances: one of these, of course, is the southern entrance that Trainers from the mainland must navigate from, a second is the one that leads to the area in which the Elite Four can be challenged, and the third leads from a foggy area of Victory Road to Route 224, which is said to be a miniature version of Sinnoh. North from Route 224, the Seabreak Path leads to Shaymin's domain, the Flower Paradise.
Climate
The climate of Sinnoh varies widely, and most of the region is made of mountainous or hilly areas. Unlike Hoenn, which is located in the south where the climate is warmer, Sinnoh is located on the northern boundaries of the world where the temperature is cooler. It is so cold in the northern part of the region that snow falls constantly. The harsh snow that blows down from the mountain's peaks not only makes the area very cold, but makes the routes in the area perilous to travel on. Cities such as Snowpoint City are completely covered in snow, and Pokémon who live nearby have had to adapt to the climate. Recently, the southern side of the region has also become cooler; climate change is taking a toll. Areas such as Twinleaf Town and Route 201 now have small amounts of snow on the ground.
However, not all of the northern areas of Sinnoh are covered in snow. Due to the dry environments and mountainous areas such as Stark Mountain, the small island known as the Battle Zone is subject to warmer climates. A constant sandstorm rages on Route 228 due to the flow of wind down though the mountains. Some of the southern areas of the Battle Zone are very tropical and contain dense jungles. The mainland features full land geography, with only five water routes. Despite this lack of water routes, in contrast to the Hoenn region, Sinnoh is known to be rich in water. Rivers that originate from the highlands and mountains in the center of the landmass runs through the region passing many cities, towns, and routes and into the ocean. There are many lakes throughout the region such as Lake Acuity, Lake Valor, and Lake Verity. All these factors create a tropical climate throughout the mainland. Many large cities settle on or close to the seaside; some of them have large ports.
Further inland, there are many different climates. Due to the mountain zones, different inland areas are subject to rain. This rain creates wetlands. Such areas may also be covered partially or completely by shallow pools of water. The soil in the wetland area is permanently saturated with moisture, which creates swamps, marshes, and bogs. In fact, Pastoria City was founded on marshy soils that attracted wild Pokémon. Unlike other regions, Sinnoh is sometimes troubled by fog. Route 210 is often covered in a thick cloud that makes obstacles and Trainers difficult to see; fortunately for travelers, this can be easily cleared.
Energy sources
The Sinnoh region is famed for its energy production and conservation via natural resources. Different areas of Sinnoh use different sources of energy for the use of power generation, heating, and transport fuels. The Oreburgh Mine is one of the main features in Oreburgh City, as well as the city's leading energy source. Its energy is exported to many parts of the region, including its neighbor, Jubilife City, whose large population consumes a lot of energy. The mine is the livelihood of the town. Vents in the town allow steam to escape and fresh air to enter the mine, likely also clearing the mine of any poison gas (which is historically the bane of coal miners). The mine is operated with the utmost care to avoid causing damage to the natural habitats of wild Pokémon. The system of taking coal out of the mine is automated.
Another local energy source is the Valley Windworks. The Valley Windworks is a large wind farm situated in a windy valley close to Mount Coronet, so as to generate as much electricity as possible. It is located just off Route 205, a short walk east from Floaroma Town. In the area, there are eight tall wind turbines which generate energy that is in turn processed by the power plant in the center of the area. Many towns benefit from the natural renewable energy including Floaroma Town, and Eterna City.
The third and final renewable energy source Sinnoh has to offer is Sunyshore City's solar panels, which are ingeniously designed for the use of power and transportation. Because the city is on the coast and gets hit by a lot of sunlight, the solar panels were built to collect energy for little cost, no pollution, and convenience to the city's citizens. It was also built due to the lack of space. However, there is a disadvantage: the solar panel system is often broken, and the city will experience massive blackouts at times. Citizens of and visitors to the city are able to walk around the city on top of the solar panels.
Demographics
The Sinnoh region's towns, cities and other areas have a total population of 704 in Diamond and Pearl and 755 in Pokémon Platinum. Upon its introduction in Generation IV, it was the largest region by population, and is currently the fourth largest region by population.
Notable locations
Sinnoh has fourteen cities and towns, as well as three "areas", and a Pokémon League. These sites act as settlements for people to live and work in a functioning society. The Fight Area, the Survival Area and the Resort Area all act as towns, however, they appear to be more of a tourist destination and are not considered cities or towns. These three "areas" are located off Sinnoh's mainland and on the Battle Zone, which is considered a sub-region of Sinnoh and is implied by some living on the island as a different region altogether, not unlike how the Sevii Islands are considered a separate region from Kanto and Johto. Thus, Sinnoh has a total of eighteen settlements all over Sinnoh.
The Sinnoh region has 30 different routes, which are passages permitting Trainers to travel from one location to the next with relative ease. Much like Hoenn before it, Sinnoh's routes are numbered so that they don't follow sequence directly from previously-known regions' routes. Routes in Sinnoh are numbered from 201 to 230. Compared to previous generations, there aren't many water routes; there are many land routes and mountains. There are also several routes with differing weather. Some of Sinnoh's routes have snow covering them. Another quirk about the routes in Sinnoh is that some of them do not go directly east/west or north/south, but actually turn before reaching their destination, most notably Route 212 and Route 210, which both have two limbs of equal length.
Although it has few water routes, Sinnoh is known to be rich in water, and has three lakes at the northernmost (Acuity), easternmost (Valor), and westernmost (Verity) ends of the main continent. These are home to the lake guardians. Near Lake Valor there is a hidden fourth lake, Sendoff Spring, which houses Turnback Cave. Some other significant locations that Sinnoh offers include Mount Coronet, the highest mountain in the Sinnoh region and part of a long mountain range that divides the region in half; the Eterna Forest, a large and mysterious forest; and the Great Marsh, a popular habitat for Pokémon and a Safari Zone for many Trainers.
In the anime, the Sinnoh region is far enough away to require going from Kanto to Sinnoh by either ship (as Ash, Pikachu, and Aipom did), or by truck (as evidenced by how Brock arrived in the region).
Settlements
| Map | Name | Population | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
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Twinleaf Town | 10 | A small town with the fresh scent of new leaves in the air. It feels like a place where adventures start. Your own home and your best friend's house are located here. |
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Sandgem Town | 25 | A sandy town that is located right next to a beach. It is redolent with the salty scent of the sea. Prof. Rowan's lab is the town's landmark. He conducts his studies on Pokémon here. |
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Jubilife City | 87DP 124Pt 88BDSP |
The most modernized city in the Sinnoh region. It is bustling with people on the go. The Pokétch Company, the developer and manufacturer of the Pokétch, is located here. Jubilife TV, Sinnoh's TV network, is located here. It is an entertaining place to visit. The Global Terminal is located here. It is your connection to the entire world. Located here is the Trainers' School. Drop in to study up on the basics of Pokémon. |
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Oreburgh City | 57DP 75Pt 56BDSP |
A vibrant and energetic mining town that is blessed with a precious natural resource. There is a Gym where mine workers take breaks in between their exhausting work shifts. There is a museum that specializes in exhibits related to the town's coal mine. Huge deposits of coal still sleep underneath the ground. The entrance to the Oreburgh Mine is here. |
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Floaroma Town | 29DP 30Pt 31BDSP |
A town of flower lovers, Floaroma Town is always perfumed with the sweet scent of flowers. A short, floral pathway opens up to a sprawling sea of flowers in bloom. In the center of town is the flower shop called Pick a Peck of Colors. |
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Eterna City | 51DP 50PtBDSP |
An old city that shows fading and almost-forgotten vestiges of ancient history. A Gym is indispensable in any town that has many people coming and going. This city is no exception. The Cycle Shop is located here. There is also a big building with a slightly sinister atmosphere. A statue of an ancient Pokémon is prominently and reverently displayed. |
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Hearthome City | 91DP 81Pt |
This friendly city started as a place where people and Pokémon gathered, then grew into a center of commerce. If you care about the looks of your Pokémon, head for the Contest Hall. For toughness, go to the Gym. The entrance to Amity Square is here. The square is a place where Trainers can stroll peacefully with some types of Pokémon. There is a building here that is symbolic of the city's status as a place where different cultures meet. A nice fountain with benches, as well as the Pokémon Fan Club, are among the city's amenities. |
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Solaceon Town | 28DP 31Pt 29BDSP |
The temperate climate makes this town a relaxed and casual place for people and Pokémon to live in. There is a Pokémon Day Care and a Pokémon Center here. Beyond a path hemmed by stands of trees, one can find the entrance to the Solaceon Ruins. |
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Veilstone City | 77DP 82Pt 70BDSP |
This city was made by carving out steep, rocky mountains. Its isolation limits its contact with other cities. The city puts effort into providing entertainment. Naturally, one can find a Gym here. Conveniently located right next door to the Game Corner is the Prize Exchange. At the highest point in the city is Team Galactic's headquarters. There are warehouses for storing a variety of goods. There is also a major department store. |
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Pastoria City | 47DP 44Pt 52BDSP |
This city was originally founded to protect the Great Marsh. It has grown naturally over the years. The Gym is a good example of the abundant water resources available to the city. There is a lookout that affords views of the Great Marsh. The gates to the Safari Zone are also here. |
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Celestic Town | 22 | A tiny town that preserves the history of Sinnoh and the old ways of life. In the center of the town is a small shrine that dates to ancient times. |
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Canalave City | 40 | A port city that is bisected by a canal. It has a distinctly exotic air of foreign culture. Head to the library if you want a workout for the mind. Head to the Gym if you just want to work out. Large ships can always be seen moored at the town's piers. |
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Snowpoint City | 31DPPt 30BDSP |
A winter wonderland of a city where stout trees and buildings are blanketed in thick snow. The Gym is at the heart of the city. To the north is the Snowpoint Temple. |
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Sunyshore City | 47DP 48PtBDSP |
A port city that was built around the bay portion of the cape. It is criss-crossed by elevated walkways. The Gym is located atop a rocky outcropping. Down the beach is a festive bazaar. The Vista Lighthouse's bright beacon illuminates the Sinnoh region. |
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Pokémon League | ?? | Trainers seeking to be the best arrive here after a long and grueling journey. Victory Road is the last and toughest of the challenges leading up to the Pokémon League. The Pokémon League reception counter is located here. Only those who have beaten all the Gyms may enter. |
Battle Zone
| Map | Name | Population | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
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Fight Area | 31 | A tiny port city where Trainers who love battling more than eating gather. The gateway to the Battle Frontier is located here. Moored at the pier is the ferry to Snowpoint City. |
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Survival Area | 20 | A town where hot-blooded Trainers gather to work out and hone their battling skills. |
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Resort Area | 11 | A town that attracts Trainers who know there are other ways of enjoying Pokémon than battling. |
Landmarks
Sinnoh is home to many unique landmarks and areas of interest. These come in a range of tourist attractions such as the luxurious Hotel Grand Lake and the exciting Pal Park, to many natural phenomena such as the four deep, blue lakes and the vast, dense Eterna Forest. But the central landmark of the Sinnoh region is Mount Coronet. Standing in the middle of Sinnoh and extending from the northern wilderness to the southern tip of the region, Mount Coronet splits Sinnoh into two halves. It is best defined as a mountain range, with its highest peak shrouded in legend, perhaps being the highest mountain in the entire Pokémon world. The Spear Pillar is situated at the highest point, an ancient shrine to Pokémon which is in ruins. Several of its pillars are still standing, all pointing skyward. The legend of the Pokémon of Myth is deeply connected with the mountain, as is the plot of Team Galactic. A stained glass window in the Foreign Building in Hearthome City depicts the mountain with a bright shine, representing the Spear Pillar and possibly depicting the creation of Dialga, Palkia, and Giratina. Its place in Sinnoh has caused variation in the species of Shellos and Gastrodon, which have different shapes and coloration depending on the side of Sinnoh they are native to.
On the north part of the region in the Battle Zone, there is another mountain range, Stark Mountain, which consists of an active volcano. The volcano rains ash down upon some parts of the Battle Zone. Outside the cavern is a rugged, seemingly indestructible rock mountain that is thickly blanketed by the volcanic ash it spews. Inside the mountain, fissures in spilled and hardened lava form enormous caverns. Another important landmark of Sinnoh is Eterna Forest, a forest home to many Bug- and Grass-type Pokémon. The Eterna Forest has a reputation for being a mysterious place, from the abandoned Old Chateau to the strange Moss Rock. The Eterna Forest is a long and complex structure of trees that make it a natural maze, where a lot of people get lost. Eterna Forest has apparently been the location of numerous sightings of Team Galactic, for many unknown reasons.
Another major landmark is the Great Marsh. The Great Marsh is a giant wetland that is subject to frequent or continuous flood. It houses many different kinds of Pokémon, some of which are unique to this environment. Pastoria City was settled to protect the area. It has grown naturally over the years and there is now a lookout that affords views of the Great Marsh. An almost sacred area is the trinity of lakes mysteriously situated throughout the region to form the corners of a triangle. Lake Verity, Lake Valor, and Lake Acuity are tied to the myth of the creation of the Pokémon world, specifically the creation of spirit. The lakes are said to be inhabited by three guardians: Uxie, Mesprit, and Azelf. They are meant to represent knowledge, emotion, and willpower, respectively.
The UndergroundDPPt/Grand UndergroundBDSP is a famous attraction to the Sinnoh region, because of the fact that it is not located above the surface of the region, but below in a series of tunnels dug out by people. There are six independent sections of the labyrinth, each accessible from different places in Sinnoh. In terms of vendors and mining treasures, the areas are equivalent. One of the main attractions is the mining game in which rare items can be found. The Grand Underground also contains multiple caves called Pokémon Hideaways, which contain many kinds of Pokémon not found on the surface of Sinnoh.
The Sinnoh region is the only area where an extreme natural phenomenon has occurred; the gateway to another universe has opened due to the actions of Giratina. At first, Giratina uses Turnback Cave, a cave located in the depths of the mysterious and secret fourth lake of Sinnoh, Sendoff Spring, as a portal to the Distortion World. It is said that Turnback Cave is a weak point between dimensions, and that the ability to travel across to the Distortion World would be possible. The Distortion World is a mysterious place that disobeys the normal laws of physics: time does not flow and spatial relations are irregular, allowing the player to walk and surf on walls in any direction. Trees and rocks can simply grow out of the ground, and then disappear. The only Pokémon known to inhabit the Distortion World is Giratina.
In the anime, the Sinnohan people have been shown to preserve historical knowledge, which include the myths and legends passed on from generation to generation. The appreciation for the region's rich history has led them to produce a number of monuments and to erect many cultural heritage institutions that have become popular landmarks. Statues dedicated to the Legendary Pokémon Dialga and Palkia can be found inside the Lilypad Colosseum and at the entrance gates to the Eterna Historical Museum, and the Celestic Town Historical Research Center, presided by Champion Cynthia's grandmother, Professor Carolina, has staffers working to unveil the mysteries surrounding the region's past. The people living in Sinnoh also recognize the value of community traditions and civic commemorations. Small, local festivals, such as Pastoria City's Croagunk Festival and the Twinleaf Festival, are held annually to keep long-standing traditions alive.
Pokéwalker–exclusive
This area can only be found in the Pokéwalker:
Anime-exclusive
| Picture | Location | Description |
|---|---|---|
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Alamos Town | Alamos Town, based on Barcelona, Spain, is a thriving city home to the Space-Time Towers, as well as its own Pokémon Contest. It is located northwest of Oreburgh City and northeast of Jubilife City. Alamos Town is the setting of The Rise of Darkrai. |
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Amber Castle | Amber Castle is a cave located inside the Eterna Forest. It is said to be the home of Enchanted Honey. However, it is also home to a territorial Vespiquen and her Combee minions. |
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Arrowroot Town | Arrowroot Town is a small town with colorful buildings. It has its own Contest Hall and also a Palace. Arrowroot Palace is where Princess Salvia lives along with her servant Freesia and her butler. |
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B-Button League Headquarters | The headquarters of the B-Button League, an organization whose members aim to raise Pokémon to be incredibly strong and beautiful without undergoing Evolution. It is located in Jubilife City. |
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Bewilder Forest | Bewilder Forest is a forest located between Sandgem Town and Jubilife City. It is famous for the many Stantler that live there, who use Hypnosis to ward off and confuse intruders. |
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Brussel Town | Located between Mount Coronet and Sunyshore City, Zoey won her fifth Ribbon there. |
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Camellia Town | Located near Daybreak Town, this town hosted the first Pokéathlon in Sinnoh. |
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Celestic Town Historical Research Center | A research center in Celestic Town dedicated to Dialga, Palkia, and the Lake guardians' roles in Sinnoh myth. The Research Center was built near the ruins where the Lustrous Orb was discovered. The head of the center seems to be Cynthia's grandmother, Professor Carolina. |
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Chocovine Town | A town located near Snowpoint City. Many Phione migrate here every year. It was the location of a Pokémon Contest, which Dawn won, earning her her fourth Ribbon. |
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Crown City | Crown City, based on Amsterdam, Netherlands, is home to the Pokémon Baccer World Cup. It is also home to a Celebi, who is said have brought plant life back to the city 20 years ago, as well as Raikou, Entei, and Suicune, the city's guardians. Crown City is the setting of Zoroark: Master of Illusions. |
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Dandelion Island | Located near Lily of the Valley Island, Dandelion Island is a small island mainly used by boats as a means of restocking. The rest of the island is made up of mountainous and forest terrain. The Pokémon that live there are said to guard an ancient treasure. |
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Daybreak Town | Daybreak Town, like many other Sinnoh towns, is home to a Contest Hall. Uniquely, it is one of the two known place, along with Hearthome City, to use Double Performance rules. It is located near Sunyshore City. |
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Diablo's Ocean | Diablo's Ocean is a body of water north of Canalave City. Many meteors have fallen here, and the magnetic field they create cause the instrumentation of many ships to go haywire or break. On one of these islands, Water Pokémon work to restore the crystal of a Deoxys that landed there. |
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Emeragrove Town | Emeragrove Town is a small town located near Hearthome City. Gardenia is known to visit from time to time. |
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Eterna Historical Museum | A museum in Eterna City. Among the many artifacts inside the museum are a scale model of the Space-Time Towers and the Adamant Orb. |
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Gracidea | Gracidea is a secluded field home to the namesake flower, as well as a flock of Shaymin. Every once in a while, the Shaymin hold a "flower bearing" ritual, where they use the flower to change Forme and fly away to start a new Gracidea flower garden. It is the setting of Giratina and the Sky Warrior. |
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Greenstation Town | Located between Lake Acuity and Mount Coronet, it was home to a phony airing of Sinnoh Pokémon Hustle created by Team Rocket. |
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Lake Psyduck | As the name implies, Lake Psyduck is a small lake home to a group of Psyduck families. |
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Lily of the Valley Island | Lily of the Valley Island is the location of the Sinnoh Pokémon League in the anime. Since the original Sinnoh Pokémon League is given no name in the games, Lily of the Valley Island may be the same island, but its location is never specified. |
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Lilypad Town | A town close to Lake Acuity. On the outskirts lies an ancient Colosseum, used for Pokémon battles. Also, a Pokémon Contest was held here. |
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Lucario Kingdom | A location in an unspecified area of Sinnoh. The Aura Sphere Riolu hails from here. |
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Majolica Town | Majolica Town, located near Hearthome City, is a lakeside town home to its own Pokémon Contest. |
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Metagross Mountain | Metagross Mountain is a mountain well known for having a dangerous off-colored Metagross. Multiple people have vanished on Metagross Mountain trying to catch its namesake Metagross, despite a sign placed near the base of the mountain warning people of its dangers. The mountain's foothills are home to a town whose biggest attraction is the flagship location of a chain of ramen shops. |
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Michina Town | Michina Town, based on Meteora, Greece, is a riverside town surrounded by flourishing nature. The town's centerpiece is the Michīna Ruins.
Thousands of years ago, Michina Town was a desolate place, which was nothing but a wasteland. But the Jewel of Life's power that Arceus gave Damos made the town's soil rich and fertile. Then Damos constructed the town's ruins in order to praise Arceus' kindness. Michina Town is the setting of Arceus and the Jewel of Life. |
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Mt. Shady | Mt. Shady is known for a wild Gible known for taking out the Pokémon of just about any Trainer who attempted to catch it. The Gible uses both Mt. Shady's grassy areas as well as its system of caverns in its attempts to evade capture. |
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Neighborly Town | Little is known about Neighborly Town, except that it has a Contest Hall. |
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Pokémon Summer Academy | The school is located on Route 210 and lasts for a week. Professor Rowan referred to this school as the Rowan research facility on Mount Coronet. It shares many elements in common with summer camps. These include activities and dormitories. It also appears to be a place where Trainers can enhance their skills and practice battles. The students are divided into three teams: red, blue and green. They add up points to their groups and at the end of the course the winner group is mentioned. |
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Pokémon Training Center | A facility located near Hearthome City, which specializes in the training beginning Trainers with Electric-type Pokémon. The graduated Electric types go onto work in the power generation industry. |
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Sandalstraw Town | Sandalstraw Town, located in northern Sinnoh, is home to a Pokémon Contest as well as the Pokémon Ping Pong Tournament. |
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Shelter Town | Located near Snowpoint City, Shelter Town is a snowy town in northern Sinnoh. |
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Space-Time Towers | The Space-Time Towers are the centerpiece of Alamos Town. Within the Space Tower are large spheres rotating on orbits. Within the Time Tower are large pendulums. A long and thin winding staircase leads up to the top of the tower. There lies a large machine that plays music by inserting special disks into a place-holder, and pulling a lever. The two towers together form the largest musical instrument in the Pokémon world. |
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Squallville | Squallville is the home to a local PokéRinger competition. The mountain town gets its name from the strong winds that frequently blow through the town. |
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Summit Ruins | The Summit Ruins are ruins that are located near the Pokémon Summer Academy. One of the school's activities involves the students pairing off in teams and retrieving a medal hidden in the ruins. |
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Sunyshore Tower | Sunyshore Tower is a tower in Sunyshore City. Its solar panels are what provides the required energy for the various technological machines in Sunyshore City. |
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Ten'i Village | Location in Giratina and the Sky Warrior. The village lies beside a lake, near the base of the glacier. Regigigas's temple is also located nearby. When Zero smashed the ice pillars in the Reverse World, the glacier became unstable, causing it to slide down towards the village. However, with the help of Regigigas and several Mamoswine, the glacier was stopped and the village was saved from the impending disaster. |
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Xatu's Forest | Xatu's Forest is a forest located near Twinleaf Town. It is home to a circus of Psychic Pokémon that allow visitors to relive an important moment in their past, present, or future. |
Mentioned only
| Name | Notes |
|---|---|
| Beach Rose Town | Mentioned in A Breed Stampede. |
| Dustox Flower Field | Mentioned in Crossing Paths. |
| Gerbera Town | Mentioned in A Breed Stampede. |
| Sage Town | Mentioned in Throwing the Track Switch. |
Appearance
Artwork
|
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| Artwork of Sinnoh from Pokémon Diamond and Pearl | Artwork of Sinnoh from Pokémon Platinum |
In-game
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| Sinnoh as seen in Platinum | Zoomed-in image of Sinnoh as seen in Pokémon Diamond, Pearl and Platinum |
Sinnoh as seen in Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl | Dawn's sync move mindscape from Pokémon Masters EX |
Sinnoh League
- Main article: Sinnoh League
The regional Pokémon League in the Sinnoh region is known as the Sinnoh League. The Sinnoh League is composed of eight Gym Leaders and four Elite Four members, along with the Champion. Pokémon Trainers who earn eight Badges by defeating the Gym Leaders of the Sinnoh League qualify to challenge the Elite Four located in the Pokémon League building. Gym Leaders are located in different cities and towns, each with their own specialty type. It is the Gym Leader's job to be the protector of their respective town or city, as they should be the strongest Trainer residing there. Once all Gym Leaders have been defeated, Trainers may face the Elite Four and its Champion. To defeat the Elite Four, all five Trainers must be defeated in succession.
Gym Leaders
In Pokémon Platinum, Fantina is the third Gym Leader fought, with the order otherwise remaining the same.
| Sinnoh League | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Generations IV and VIII | Region: Sinnoh | ||
| Gym Leader Japanese |
Location Japanese |
Type | Badge |
 Roark ヒョウタ Hyouta |
Oreburgh City クロガネシティ Kurogane City |
Rock |  Coal Badge |
 Gardenia ナタネ Natane |
Eterna City ハクタイシティ Hakutai City |
Grass |  Forest Badge |
 Maylene スモモ Sumomo |
Veilstone City トバリシティ Tobari City |
Fighting |  Cobble Badge |
 Crasher Wake マキシマム仮面 Maximum Mask |
Pastoria City ノモセシティ Nomose City |
Water |  Fen Badge |
 Fantina メリッサ Melissa |
Hearthome City ヨスガシティ Yosuga City |
Ghost |  Relic Badge |
 Byron トウガン Tougan |
Canalave City ミオシティ Mio City |
Steel |  Mine Badge |
 Candice スズナ Suzuna |
Snowpoint City キッサキシティ Kissaki City |
Ice |  Icicle Badge |
 Volkner デンジ Denzi |
Sunyshore City ナギサシティ Nagisa City |
Electric |  Beacon Badge |
Elite Four and Champion
| Sinnoh League | |
|---|---|
| Generation IV and VIII | |
| Member Japanese |
Type |
 Aaron リョウ Ryou |
Bug |
 Bertha キクノ Kikuno |
Ground |
 Flint オーバ Ōba |
Fire |
 Lucian ゴヨウ Goyō |
Psychic |
 Champion Cynthia シロナ Shirona |
Various |
Battle Frontier
- Main article: Battle Frontier (Generation IV)
Frontier Brains
| Sinnoh Battle Frontier | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Generation IV | Region: Sinnoh | ||
| Frontier Brain Japanese |
Facility Japanese |
Prints | |
 Tower Tycoon Palmer タワータイクーン クロツグ Tower Tycoon Kurotsugu |
Battle Tower バトルタワー Battle Tower |
  Silver Tower Prints |
  Gold Tower Prints |
 Factory Head Thorton ファクトリーヘッド ネジキ Factory Head Nejiki |
Battle Factory バトルファクトリー Battle Factory |
  Silver Factory Prints |
  Gold Factory Prints |
 Arcade Star Dahlia ルーレットゴーデス ダリア Roulette Goddess Dahlia |
Battle Arcade バトルルーレット Battle Roulette |
  Silver Arcade Prints |
  Gold Arcade Prints |
 Castle Valet Darach キャッスルバトラー コクラン Castle Butler Kokuran |
Battle Castle バトルキャッスル Battle Castle |
  Silver Castle Prints |
  Gold Castle Prints |
 Hall Matron Argenta ステージマドンナ ケイト Stage Madonna Kate |
Battle Hall バトルステージ Battle Stage |
  Silver Hall Prints |
  Gold Hall Prints |
Trivia
- If one were to draw lines to connect the three lakes of Sinnoh, they form a big triangle with Mount Coronet at the center. This is the same formation that Uxie, Mesprit, and Azelf make on the top of the Spear Pillar with Dialga or Palkia in the middle, as well as the same formation put in areas relating to the Sinnoh myths.
- Only the southern part of the now-Russian island of Sakhalin is referenced in the region. In the 1855 Treaty of Shimoda, Russia and Japan agreed to split the island, with Japan receiving the southern end. While Japan gave Russia full control of Sakhalin in 1875 in exchange for the Kuril Islands, Japan was again given the southern 2/5ths of the island after the Russo-Japanese War in 1905 and would retain control until 1945.
- Sinnoh is the only region of the core series games to not have a notable Dragon-type expert.
- Sinnoh is the first region of the core series games to contain caves with side-facing entrances. In Kanto, Johto, and Hoenn, all cave portals were front-facing.
- Sinnoh has the most locations with special magnetic fields of all regions, with a total of three: Mount Coronet, Spear Pillar, and Hall of Origin.
- Sinnoh is the only known region to have once been known by another name earlier in its history.
- Sinnoh has an index number location programmed into Generation IV for it, despite the fact that all Sinnoh locations are programmed into the games already. This index location is at #2006, which coincidentally, was the Japanese release of Sinnoh's first games, Pokémon Diamond and Pearl. This does not happen for the other three regions programmed in (i.e. Kanto is 2003, not 1996; Johto is 2004, not 1999; and Hoenn is 2005, not 2002). This data is unused during normal gameplay (i.e. without hacking); Pokémon from Sinnoh traded to a game taking place in Johto display their normal "met at" area, much like Pokémon from Kanto do when traded to Emerald.
- In the anime, Sinnoh features the most Shiny Pokémon seen in a region, with a total of seven: Dustox, Metagross, Ditto, Raikou, Entei, Suicune, and Ariados.
- The Fiore region is confirmed to be somewhat far from the Sinnoh region, since in the in-game Manaphy event, Professor Hastings suggests sending the Manaphy Egg to Sinnoh as a response to the term "somewhere far away."
- The adjectival form of Sinnoh is "Sinnohan", as shown in the description for an assortment of Poffins being sold by Thrifty Megamart in Pokémon Sun, Moon, Ultra Sun, and Ultra Moon.
In other languages
| Language | Name | Origin |
|---|---|---|
| German, Spanish, French, Italian, Indonesian, Turkish, Vietnamese |
Sinnoh | From its Japanese and English name |
| Korean | 신오 Sin'o | From 신오 (神奧) Sin'o (mysterious) |
| Chinese (Mandarin) | 神奧 / 神奥 Shén'ào | From 神奧 / 神奥 shén'ào / sàhn'ou (mysterious) |
| Chinese (Cantonese) | 神奧 Sàhn'ou | |
| Arabic | سينو Sino | Transcription of its English name |
| Bulgarian | Сино Sino | Transcription of its English name |
| Greek | Σίνοχ Sínoch Σινο Sino |
Transcription of its English name |
| Hebrew | סינו Sino | Transcription of its English name |
| Hindi | सिनोह Sinnoh | Transcription of its English name |
| Russian | Синно Sinno | Transcription of its English name |
| Serbian | Sinoh | From its English name |
| Tamil | ஸின்னொஹ் Sinnoh | Transcription of its English name |
| Telugu | సిన్నోహ్ Sinnoh | Transcription of its English name |
| Thai | ชินโอ chino | Transcription of its Japanese name |
| Ukrainian | Сінно Sinno | Transcription of its English name |
See also
- Pokémon Diamond and Pearl
- Pokémon Platinum
- Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl
- Hisui
- Pokémon Legends: Arceus
References
| Regions in the Pokémon world | ||
|---|---|---|
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This article is part of Project Locations, a Bulbapedia project that aims to write comprehensive articles on every location in the Pokémon world. |
