Sinnoh
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The Sinnoh region (pronounced /ˈsɪnnoʊ/) (Japanese: シンオウ地方 Shin'ō-chihō) is a large area located north-east of Kanto. The region is broken up into two separate landmasses; a large mainland divided by the vast Mt. Coronet, and a small sub-region called the Battle Zone. The large mainland is the heart of the region featuring many human settlements, unique environment for different Pokémon, and vast forests, caves, and landmarks. It is the setting of the Generation IV games; introduced in Pokémon Diamond and Pearl, and later explored in Pokémon Platinum with slight changes in environment.
Much like in Hoenn, the names of most of the cities in Sinnoh are made of two words put together (Twin Leaf, Sand Gem, Veil Stone, Snow Point, etc.) rather than colors as Kanto and Johto had done. Professor Rowan is the resident Pokémon professor and gives Pokémon Trainers a choice between Turtwig, Chimchar, or Piplup as their starter Pokémon. In the games, the player begins his or her journey in Twinleaf Town and ends it at the Pokémon League.
It is based on the geography of the Japanese island of Hokkaido[1]and the southern part of the Russian island of Kunashir. The northeastern island nearby resembles part of the Russian island of Sakhalin, which is claimed by the Japanese government. The Japanese name Shin'ō possible comes from the Chinese name 深奥 which translates to "mysteries".
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. The region also features full-land geography, with only five water routes. Despite this lack of sea routes, a direct opposite of the Hoenn region, the Sinnoh region 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 that are home to the members of one of the legendary trios of Sinnoh. Near Lake Valor, as well, there is a hidden fourth lake, Sendoff Spring, which houses Turnback Cave.
Due to its large size, the main region of Sinnoh can be broken into two sub-regions divided by Mt. 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 Mt. 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, however, 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 Mt. Coronet, the northern area is sparsely populated, with Snowpoint City as the only major area, likely due to the harsh snows that blow down from the mountain's peak, making the area not only very cold, but as well making a trip northward very perilous. Despite this relative isolation, however, Snowpoint as well 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 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, through a special event, of course, leads the Seabreak Path to Shaymin's domain, the Flower Paradise.
Climate
The climate of the Sinnoh region varies widely, but by far the largest part of Sinnoh is mountain 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, it snows constantly. The harsh snows that blow down from the mountain's peaks, making the area not only very cold, but as well making a trip northward very perilous. At one point in Sinnoh, it is actually possible to travel on a route covered in snow. Cities such as Snowpoint City have been completely covered in snow, while Pokémon who live around the area have adapted to their new climate change. However recently, the region has become cooler on the southern side as climate change take part on the region. Areas such as Twinleaf Town and Route 201 have now been a subject to snow.
However, not all of the northern areas of Sinnoh are covered in snow, as seen in the Battle Zone. Due to the dry environments and mountainous areas such as Stark Mountain, the Sinnoh has been subject to minor desert climates. The constant desert areas of Route 228 is always raging with sandstorms due to the flow of wind down though the mountains. In fact, Stark Mountain is the reason why the Battle Zone is so dry and temped. However, some of the southern areas of the Battle Zone are very tropical and contain less dense jungles.
The mainland features full-land geography, with only five water routes. Despite this lack of sea routes, a direct opposite of the Hoenn region, the Sinnoh region 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, making the use of transportation to and from the region easier.
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 saturated with moisture permanently, and creates swamps, marshes, and bogs. In fact, Pastoria City was founded due to the marshy soils that attract wild Pokémon. Another new weather condition introduced was the fog condition, which can be found on Route 210 however can be cleared easily. The fog is like a thick blanket that makes obstacles and Trainers difficult to see.
Energy conversation
The Sinnoh Region is famed for its energy production and conversation 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 exports to many parts of the region, including its neighbor and the most energy consumptive city, Jubilife City. It 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 Mt. 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 provide is Sunyshore City's solar panels, which is 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.
Locations
Cities and Towns
| Map | City/Town | Population | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| File:Twinleaftown.PNG | Twinleaf Town | 8 | 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. |
| File:Sandgem Town.PNG | Sandgem Town | 18 | 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. |
| File:Jubilive City.PNG | Jubilife City | 68 | 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. |
| File:OreburghCity.PNG | Oreburgh City | 42 | 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. |
| File:Floarama Town.PNG | Floaroma Town | 20 | 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. |
| File:DPPt Eterna City.png | Eterna City | 40 | 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. |
| File:Heathome City.PNG | Hearthome City | 55 | 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 is a place where Trainers can stroll peacefully with 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. |
| File:Solaceon Town.PNG | Solaceon Town | 21 | 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. |
| File:Veilstone City.PNG | Veilstone City | 54 | 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. |
| File:Pastoria City.PNG | Pastoria City | 35 | 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. |
| File:Celestic Town.PNG | Celestic Town | 13 | 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. |
| File:Canalave City.PNG | Canalave City | 20 | 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. |
| File:Snowpoint City.PNG | Snowpoint City | 14 | 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. |
| File:Sunyshore City.PNG | Sunyshore City | 27 | 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. |
| File:Pokémon League.PNG | Pokémon League | 0 | 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. |
| File:Fight area.png | Fight Area | 19 | 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. |
|
Survival Area | 13 | A town where hot-blooded Trainers gather to work out and hone their battling skills. |
| File:Resort Area games.png | Resort Area | 11 | A town that attracts Trainers who know there are other ways of enjoying Pokémon than battling. |
- Western Sinnoh
- Eastern Sinnoh
- Northeastern Island (Battle Zone)
Areas of interest
- Amity Square
- Eterna Forest
- Flower Paradise
- Fullmoon Island
- Hall of Origin
- Iron Island
- Lake Acuity
- Lake Valor
- Lake Verity
- Mt. Coronet
- Newmoon Island
- Old Chateau
- Pal Park
- Sendoff Spring
- Sinnoh Underground
- Spear Pillar
- Stark Mountain
- Trophy Garden
- Turnback Cave
- Battle Park
- Distortion World (Entrance in Sinnoh)
Routes
Much like Hoenn before it, Sinnoh's routes are numbered so that they do not follow sequence directly from previously-known regions' routes. Routes in Sinnoh are numbered from 201 to 230. Compared to previous generations, there are not many sea routes, but there are many land routes and mountains. The idea of routes with differing weather conditions was also brought ahead from Generation III. For the first time ever in a Pokémon game, 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. While Hoenn's Route 114 did this on the Game Boy Advance, it was not to this scale, so one may presume that the GBA was limited in this sense.
Anime Locations
- Alamos Town
- Chocovine Town
- Emeragrove Town
- Gerbera Town
- Shelter Town
- Majolica Town
- Sage Town
- Sandalstraw Town
- Squallville
- Lilypad Town
- Michina Town
- Daybreak Town
- Neighborly Town
- Arrowroot Town
- Suzuran Island
League
- Main article: Sinnoh League
The Sinnoh League is the regional Pokémon League of the Sinnoh region. The Elite Four and the Champion are located at the Pokémon League.
Gym Leaders
| Sinnoh League | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Generation IV | 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
| Sinnoh League | |
|---|---|
| Generation IV | |
| 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 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| File:VSDarach and Caitlin.png Castle Valet Darach and Lady Caitlin キャッスルバトラー コクラン&カトレア Castle Butler Kokuran & Cattleya |
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
- Sinnoh's Gym Leaders each use a type that has previously been seen in another region's Gym. Four of them were first seen in Kanto; in fact, they are the same types as the first four Gyms of Kanto: Rock, Water, Electric, and Grass. Similarly, the other four were first seen in Johto, and are the same as the fourth through seventh Gyms of that region: Ghost, Fighting, Steel, and Ice.
- If one were to draw lines to connect the three lakes of Sinnoh, they form a big triangle with Mt. Coronet at the center. This is the same formation that Uxie, Mesprit, and Azelf make on the top of Spear Pillar with Dialga or Palkia in the middle. This formation is also repeated in many places having to do with Sinnoh myths.
- Sinnoh is the only region of the main series games that has more than five letters in its name.
- Unlike Hoenn, which is considered to be tropical, or the relatively temperate Kanto-Johto landmass, Sinnoh is shown to be farther north and much colder. This is shown by the cold weather around Snowpoint City and the routes leading to it, and the fact that Lucas, Dawn, and Barry all wear scarves, and in Platinum, much heavier jackets and clothes and scarves than have been seen by other player characters.
- In the games, Sinnoh is the largest region yet, not counting the Sevii Islands as part of Kanto, as seen in Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen.
- Sinnoh is also the only area traveled through where all the Gym Leaders that have been featured have appeared in an episode before Ash battled them.
- If a Pokémon hatches in an area exclusive to Platinum, then subsequently traded to Diamond and Pearl, its met location will display as "Faraway place" , despite the fact that these areas (with the exception of the Distortion World and the Battle Frontier) are all within the Sinnoh region.
- Sinnoh has introduced the largest amount of legendary Pokémon, introducing 14.
- Interestingly, 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, while coincidentally, Sinnoh's first games, Pokémon Diamond and Pearl, were released in Japan in that year. 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.
- Sinnoh is the only region so far which does not have any Pokémon Gyms on outlying islands, with all of them being on the main continent.
- Sinnoh is the only region so far to have all Pokémon Gyms in cities.
- Sinnoh, unlike the other three main regions, does not have a boat which has a name beginning with SS or on which the player can battle other Trainers.
- Sinnoh has the most places to fly out of all regions so far, the count being eighteen.
Names
| Language | Name | Origin |
|---|---|---|
| Japanese | シンオウ Shin'ō | Possibly from 深奥 "mysteries". |
| English | Sinnoh | From the Japanese name. |
| Korean | 신오 Sin'o | From the Japanese name. |
| Chinese (Taiwan) | 神奧 Shén'aò | Derived from 神 shin and 奧 ’ō. 神 (Shén) can refer to God, deity, or the supernatural, while 奧 (aò) means unfathomable, abstruse, or obscure. In addition, 神奧 shén'aò means mysterious, profound and subtle. |
References
See also
| Regions in the Pokémon world | ||
|---|---|---|
