Mata Nui
"Incredibly bright and hot sunlight poured down on them from an impossibly blue sky. A salty sea breeze set tropical trees to swaying, while brakas monkeys chased sea birds that flew too close to the branches. The air was alive with the sounds of Rahi and the crash of distant surf against the rocks."
— Narrator, Legacy of Evil
| Mata Nui | |
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| Island | |
| Status | Destroyed |
| Inhabitants | Matoran of Metru Nui (formerly) Toa Mata/Toa Nuva (formerly) Takanuva (formerly) 6 Turaga (formerly) Teridax (formerly) Various Rahi (formerly) |
| Population | Thousands of Matoran[1] (formerly) 7 Toa (formerly) 6 Turaga (formerly) 1 Makuta (formerly) Various Rahi (formerly) |
| Position | On Aqua Magna above Metru Nui |
| Pronunciation | MAH-tah NOO-ee |
Mata Nui was a large island on the surface of Aqua Magna, accidentally created by the Great Spirit Mata Nui's camouflage system. It was the home of the Matoran of Metru Nui for over a thousand years following the Great Cataclysm, and the site of several battles between the Toa Mata (later the Toa Nuva) and the forces of Makuta Teridax and the Bohrok swarms. It has since been destroyed by the re-awakening of Mata Nui.
History
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During the Great Cataclysm, the Great Spirit fell from space and crashed on his back onto Aqua Magna. This damaged his camouflage system and activated it, creating the island and leaking Energized Protodermis onto the surface. The leak caused a radical proliferation of vegetation to develop on the island's surface.[2] One of Mata Nui's other purposes was to be the landing spot for the Toa Mata, instead of a possibly more dangerous direct-assault on the dome of Metru Nui. They would have used Kini-Nui to get to Metru Nui, instead.
Following the Great Cataclysm, the Toa Metru landed on the shore of what would later be called Naho Bay. The island was named after the Great Spirit Mata Nui by Vakama. They scouted out the land to find areas for the Matoran of Metru Nui to live, and each chose their Wahi and village locations for their own reasons, with security in mind. Vakama had a vision of them one day losing their powers, and in response, they created six Toa Stones and chose locations to hide them. After they returned from the Great Rescue, they hid the Kanohi Avohkii in the Mangai Volcano.
They named several of the landmarks after the Toa Mangai, such as Naho Bay and the Mangai Volcano, or respected figures, such as in the case of Mount Ihu, or common myths like with the Tren Krom Break.
When the Matoran were awakened on Mata Nui during the Great Rescue they constructed villages in the designated spots on Mata Nui, under the instruction of the Toa Metru who had become Turaga.
For one thousand years afterwards, the island was plagued by Rahi attacks. These Rahi were controlled by Teridax and his Infected Kanohi. Once the Toa Mata arrived, they put an end to the attacks by confronting and defeating Teridax. However, he unleashed the Bohrok immediately afterwards, and the island was ravaged by their attempts to level it of everything that had come as a result of the Great Cataclysm. However, after the defeat of the Bahrag, Queens of the Bohrok, the Bohrok were reprogrammed and made to begin rebuilding the island.
When Takua found the Avohkii the island was once again badly damaged by the Rahkshi while they were searching for it. The villages Ta-Koro and Onu-Koro were destroyed in the process. After Takanuva defeated Teridax and rediscovered Metru Nui, the Matoran left the island of Mata Nui. When the Matoran departed, the island was believed to be inhabited only by Rahi.
The Toa Nuva later returned to Mata Nui to awaken the Bohrok swarms once more, as per their mission. When Gali Nuva later went back to look through the Great Telescope, she found that all of Mata Nui had been destroyed, save for the telescope itself. Though she did not see it, the foundations of the Kini-Nui also remain intact, for all things constructed by the Great Beings were not destroyed by the Bohrok.
When the Great Spirit Mata Nui finally awoke, his face penetrated the island, which was covering the face of his being. This destroyed the island in the process. The reason for the island's destruction, and why the Bohrok had to clean the island, was because the island itself was the result of a malfunction in Mata Nui's camouflage system that occurred when Teridax attacked the Great Spirit.
Alternate Universes
The Kingdom Alternate Universe
In an alternate timeline, Matoro hesitated on the decision to revive Mata Nui, thus the core was sealed off and Mata Nui remained dead. As a result, the inhabitants of the entire Matoran Universe migrated to Mata Nui except the Zyglak and Makuta. The Makuta attempted to migrate, but were forced back by the Toa and the Order of Mata Nui. Here, the Toa helped stabilize the land to prevent collapse, and extended the amount of land in order to house all its residents, and warded the ground so that if the Makuta dug through to the Kingdom, the residents would know about the action. The residents live in unexpected harmony, with different species working alongside each other without conflict. The Dark Hunters became the law enforcers, and Takanuva surrendered his Toa Power and created a new generation of Toa and formed a ruling council to oversee the Kingdom.
There was a diverse array of architecture around the island, ranging from simple huts to rebuilt landmarks such as the Coliseum and the Great Furnace.
The inhabitants of the Kingdom, however, are preparing to depart from the island, and take up residence among the stars.
Landscape
The island measured 486 kilometers in length and 285 kilometers wide, located in the ocean surface of Aqua Magna.[2] Its distinctive barred spiral shape was based on that of Metru Nui in the dome below; however, it was many times larger than its template so as to successfully cover the face of the Mata Nui Robot beneath it.[3]
Topographically, the island could be divided into thirds radiating out from the Mangai Volcano. To the south, the ground was very flat, whereas the northwestern third was extremely rugged and mountainous, containing many peaks, as well as jagged coastlines and canyons in the far north. The northeastern third was of intermediate terrain, comprised chiefly of the Motara Desert and the basin of Naho Bay. The south and northeast were separated by a large lava flow from the eastern side of the volcano to the sea.
Mata Nui was originally a barren, desertic land, since no one was ever planned to live there. After the Energized Protodermis leak, however, its landscape was greatly changed, with new physiographical features and flora causing the island to develop into six distinct regions, or Wahi, as well as the Kini-Nui located in the center-west of the island.[2] After being leveled by the Bohrok, the island resumed its barren state.[4]
Ta-Wahi
The volcanic region of Fire in the southeast, and the former location of the now destroyed Ta-Koro. Rivers and other bodies of liquid containing lava could be found throughout the region. It also housed the Ta-Kini.
Ga-Wahi
The oceanic region of Water in the northeast, and the former location of the now destroyed Ga-Koro. The region was dominated by Naho Bay and its watershed. It housed a wide variety of plants, above and under the sea. It also housed the Ga-Kini.
Le-Wahi
The forested region of Air in the south, and the former location of the now destroyed Le-Koro. Le-Wahi held a vast variety of trees, wildlife, and other life. The swampy area below the canopy housed many dangerous wildlife and was easy to get lost in. Le-Koro was built inside the treetops, safe from most creatures. It also housed the Le-Kini.
Po-Wahi
The arid region of Stone in the north, and the former location of the now destroyed Po-Koro. It was a large desert, filled with many canyons and other natural landforms. It proved an adept work station for carvers. Po-Wahi housed many Rahi, some dangerous. It also housed the Po-Kini.
Onu-Wahi
The dark and cavernous region of Earth, and the former location of the now destroyed Onu-Koro. It was primarily underground, and most inhabitants had adapted anatomies, such as enhanced night vision. Onu-Wahi did include land above ground in the northwestern corner of the island, although very little of it was ever colonized. It also housed the Onu-Kini.
Ko-Wahi
The frozen region of Ice in the west, and the former location of the now destroyed Ko-Koro. Ko-Wahi was largely covered in a deep layer of ice and snow. It was home to little plant life, and only the most durable of creatures could withstand the harsh weather. It also housed the Ko-Kini.
Other Locations
Major Landmarks
- Wall of History (Destroyed)
- Great Mine (Destroyed)
- Cavern of Light (Destroyed)
- Sanctum (Destroyed)
- Wall of Prophecy (Destroyed)
- Gate of Ice (Destroyed)
- Kini-Nui (Retracted)
Major Landforms
- Mangai Volcano (Destroyed)
- Lake of Fire (Destroyed)
- Charred Jungle (Destroyed)
- Tren Krom Break (Destroyed)
- Naho Bay (Merged with surrounding sea)
- Hura-Mafa River (Destroyed)
- East Garden (Destroyed)
- Lake Kanae (Destroyed)
- Kanae Bay (Merged with surrounding sea)
- Kumu Islets (Destroyed)
- Motara Desert (Destroyed)
- Leva Bay (Merged with surrounding sea)
- Tiro Canyon (Destroyed)
- Papa Nihu Reef (Destroyed)
- Mount Ihu (Destroyed)
- The Drifts (Destroyed)
Inhabitants
Matoran
The Matoran were the primary residents on Mata Nui before they returned to Metru Nui. Due to the effects of the Matoran Spheres, the Matoran of Mata Nui were slightly smaller and weaker than their Metru Nui forms. However, they were eventually rebuilt into a stronger form.
Rahi and Creatures
Many types of Rahi resided on Mata Nui, many of which came from Metru Nui, fleeing the Visorak swarms. Mata Nui was also the home to organic creatures that were native to Aqua Magna prior to the arrival of the Mata Nui robot. When the Toa Metru first arrived, they noted organic birds in the skies overhead and organic sea life on the island's shores.
Absolutely no species are native to Mata Nui. All Rahi and Matoran migrated to Mata Nui from mainly Metru Nui or somewhere else. All or most of the Rahi retreated back to Metru Nui as a result of the reawakening of the Bohrok swarms.
These Rahi were known to inhabit the island of Mata Nui:
Quotes
"Do you ever get the feeling there's a lot more to this island than we know about?"
"Yes. It is not a comforting thought."
— The Toa Mata, What Lurks Below
Trivia
- The phrase "Mata Nui" means "big face" in Māori, an early hint to the true nature of the island covering the face of the Mata Nui Robot.[5]
- The camouflage systems which created the island could be used to manipulate its environment. During the Great War, Teridax learned how to access and control this system, and used it to make the natural forces of the island attack the Matoran and the Toa Mata.[6]
Appearances
References
See also
| Mata Nui |
| Ta-Wahi (Ta-Koro) | Ga-Wahi (Ga-Koro) | Le-Wahi (Le-Koro) | Po-Wahi (Po-Koro) | Onu-Wahi (Onu-Koro) | Ko-Wahi (Ko-Koro) | Kini-Nui |
| Locations | ||
| Solis Magna | Spherus Magna (Aqua Magna | Bara Magna | Bota Magna) | Red Star | |
| Matoran Universe (Mata Nui) |
Metru Nui (Maze of Shadows) | Karzahni | Zakaz | Xia (The Mountain) | Northern Continent (Tren Krom Peninsula) | Artakha | Stelt | Odina | Southern Continent (Voya Nui, Mahri Nui) | Karda Nui | The Pit | Destral | Nynrah | Tren Krom's Island | Visorak | Daxia | Southern Islands (Artidax) | |
| Alternate Locations |
Pocket Dimensions |
Zone of Darkness | City of Silver |
| Alternate Universes |
The Melding | Spherus Magna | Toa Empire | The Kingdom | |
| Other Locations | ||
| Navigation |
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