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Contested{{#set:Faction=Contested}} Borean Tundra
Level Level range::68-72
Fail:Ss12-hires.jpg
Concept Art of the Tundra Coast
CapitalKaskala (12,500)
PopulationPopulation::28,500
RacesTuskarr Tuskarr (22,800)

Ice trollIce troll Ice troll, Drakkari (2,850)
NagaNaga Naga (2,280)
Blue dragonflightBlue dragonflightBlue dragonflightBlue dragonflightBlue dragonflight Blue dragonflight (285)
ScourgeScourgeScourgeScourgeScourge Scourge (285)
Fail:IconSmall Mechagnome.gif Mechagnome
HumanHuman Human
OrcOrc Orc
GnomeGnome Gnome
TaunkaTaunka Taunka

Murloc Murloc
GovernmentGovernment::Tribal
RulerTusklord Hrak'kar
Major settlementsRiplash Ruins (3,000)
AffiliationIndependent
LocationSouthwestern Northrend
Fail:Borean Tundra art.jpg

Artwork of the zone.

The Borean Tundra (pronounced BOHR-ian, not boh-REHH-an) is located in the far western edge of Northrend, and is the home of the tuskarr, Drakkari trolls, and blue dragons. The Undead Scourge and the naga also inhabit the zone. Important landmarks of the region include the tuskarr capital of Kaskala and the Riplash Ruins. Coldarra is an island just off the coast. Kaskala is currently under siege and the tuskarr have moved to Unu'pe.

Most of the Borean Tundra is empty ice. Tuskarr are the dominant presence in the Borean Tundra. However, they keep near their villages, and one can go for days without seeing another living creature. Tuskarr mainly care about fishing, whaling and protecting their villages. Tuskarr will fend off hungry Drakkari, and even fight wayward nerubians, and are formidable foes; but they never attack anyone without a good reason. Drakkari wander the tundra, but not in any significant numbers, most are content to roam alone or in small packs. They have no city in the tundra, but live in several camps, none big enough to have names. They harass the tuskarr from time to time, but every time the tuskarr gather their forces and send the Drakkari running. Nerubians wander about as well, but only in small packs. Naga live near the south end, in the Riplash Ruins. Blue dragons from Coldarra also fly over the tundra from time to time. Scourge scouts straggle over from the lake area.

The Borean Tundra is not an important part of Northrend. It’s too isolated and too barren to be desirable and has too much shoreline to be defensible. Tuskarr like it because of that expansive shore, and the Riplash Ruins gives the naga a perfect view of anyone approaching across the ocean from the south. Drakkari hunt here because they can and because the tundra provides little cover for wildlife. Most others stay well away, preferring the forested areas to the east.LoM 93

Borean Tundra contains bases of both factions, and does not have an emphasis for a specific faction.[1] There is a port between Borean Tundra and Howling Fjord that uses a giant turtle with a deck on its back as a quick means to travel between the 2 starting zones.[2] There is a murloc town that may be used after some quests for D.E.H.T.A.. The murlocs can actually talk and repair your equipment. They also have quests against an infected camp across the cove.[3]

History[]

The nerubians were in the Borean Tundra first, according to the ruins. However, the ruins may be parts of Azjol-Nerub that were thrust up from underground, unless it was an experiment to see if they could be comfortable living above ground. If the latter is the case it may have failed, since it is a ruin. The tuskarr were next — Kaskala's oldest village is at least several centuries old, and the rest grew up around it as family members split off to start their own smaller families. The Drakkari are more recent additions to the area and have no fixed settlement. The Scourge rarely appears, and its agents never stay longer than it takes to patrol and look for potential dangers or new recruits.LoM 94

In World of Warcraft: Wrath of the Lich King, the Horde has established the settlement of Warsong Hold under the command of the Mag'hari son of Grom, Garrosh Hellscream. The Horde has created a pact with the local and culturally similar tuskarr, who are under siege from naga based at the Riplash Ruins. These naga intend to use their generators to melt the surrounding ice caps (though these plans have been thrown off course by their defeat by the Kvaldir, a clan of Vrykul which are also raiding the tuskarr). Garrosh and his forces have also discovered the enigmatic taunka, an ancient offshoot of the tauren race thought to be lost forever.

Geography[]

Fail:Borean.JPG

Borean Tundra in Lands of Mystery.

The Borean Tundra is wide, flat, and cold. The landscape varies greatly. Hard but farmable soil in the south lead to nourishing steam pools in the middle. Along the west edge, nasty cliffs rise up and then shear off into the Westrift. The north is home to grasslands and an area of steep hills. The east is snow-covered and the most brutal this area has to offer.

At its northeast edge the tundra runs into the mountain range of Lake Wintergrasp, a vast frozen lake that effectively shields it from the Dragonblight and Icecrown Glacier. The only way to reach these areas overland is across the mountains bordering the Dragonblight or through the Sholazar Basin, neither which are easy. An army would be suicidal to attempt either. Not many plants can survive up here. Without any cover the wind is fierce enough to tear flesh, and people can barely hear themselves when they shout. A few trees manage to hang on, evergreens, but the small twisted kind rather than the tall proud ones out east. Wolves and rabbits and foxes and even bears, roam this area. However, most of the life is in the water. The zone is separated from the Dragonblight by the Borea River.

To the northwest, one can see the high plateau of Coldarra. It is high enough to be blanketed in snow year round. Lately, rumblings have shaken the earth around the lone island. Geologists are concerned with the appearance of rifts in the crust and worry that a massive earthquake could tear Coldarra apart. This would have massive repercussions on the stability of Borean Tundra and possibly Northrend itself.

This is the longest region in Northrend, running from its southwest tip up to Lake Wintergrasp. The ground here is more dirt than rock, and small trees and scrub dot the landscape. But everything is still frozen solid. The tundra avoided most of Northrend’s problems for awhile, but the Scourge have been sighted fortifying holdings in the northeast. Perhaps the Borean Tundra owes its fortune to its relative isolation. Access to the land can be found along its southern edge through the ocean.

Warsong Hold has a zeppelin tower connecting it to Durotar, and Valiance Keep has a dock connecting it to Stormwind City.

Maps and subregions[]

Fail:WorldMap-BoreanTundra.jpg

Borean Tundra Map from WoW.

Fail:WoW Icon 16x16.gif In-game

Frostbridge (RPG)

Instances[]

Instance Name Level Range Group Size Approximate Run Time
Instance portal The Nexus 71-73 5 45 min - 1 hour
Instance portal The Oculus 80 5 45 min - 1 hour
Instance portal Eye of Eternity 80 10-25 10 min

Travel hubs[]

Alliance Flight paths from Fizzcrank Airstrip
Alliance Flight paths and boats from Valiance Keep
Horde Flight paths from Bor'gorok Outpost
Horde Flight paths from Taunka'le Village
Horde Flight paths and zeppelins from Warsong Hold
Fail:Neutral 15.png Flight paths from Amber Ledge
Fail:Neutral 15.png Flight paths from Transitus Shield
  • AllianceValiance Keep, Borean Tundra
  • HordeWarsong Hold, Borean Tundra
  • Fail:Neutral 15.pngAmber Ledge, Borean Tundra
    • You must discover Amber Ledge before Transitus Shield connects to either Valiance Keep or Warsong Hold.
Fail:Neutral 15.png Flight paths and boats from Unu'pe

Adjacent regions[]

Zone Name Faction Level Range Direction Access
Dragonblight AllianceHorde 71-74 East By foot, by boat from Unu'pe, or by flight path
Sholazar Basin AllianceHorde 75-78 North By foot, or by flight path
Wintergrasp AllianceHorde PvP Northeast By flying mount only
Stormwind City Alliance Far to the southeast across the ocean By boat from Valiance Keep to Stormwind Harbor
Durotar Horde 1-10 To the west across the ocean By zeppelin from Warsong Hold to a tower west of Orgrimmar

Notable characters[]

See also: Borean Tundra NPCs

Horde[]

Alliance[]

  • Thassarian - The Wailing Ziggurat
  • General Arlos - Valiance Keep

Quests[]

Main article: Borean Tundra quests

The major questlines explore a variety of conflicts across the zone. The native tuskarr and taunka are being uprooted from their villages by the Kvaldir. Multiple sinkholes are disgorging crypt fiends around the recently established fortifications of Warsong Hold and Valiance Keep. Territorial aggression is being observed in the Magmothran magnataur. The Fizzcrank gnomes have awakened a flesh-hating terror, fused from abandoned Titan technology.

In the course of battling these threats, Warcraft's player heroes will also uncover a handful of political plots. The first sparks of the wolvar/Oracle conflict are evident as these groups also have their opponents in the Winterfin tribe of murlocs. An organization known as the Druids for the Ethical and Humane Treatment of Animals are conscripting everyone they can, to bring Nesingwary's poachers to justice. The wizards of Dalaran are investigating the kidnapping of magical talent from the areas surrounding the Amber Ledge.

Finally, after these many trials, the player will come to confront the subversive figure known as Prince Valanar, atop the floating necropolis of Naxxanar.

Resources[]

Wild creatures[]

Rare Elite NPCs associated with the Fail:Money achievement.png Northern Exposure achievement.

  • Fumblub Gearwind
  • Icehorn
  • Old Crystalbark

Gallery[]

More screenshots can be found on the various subzone pages.

References[]

External links[]


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