Aloha Pokemon Trainers, over the course of the twenty-two-year history of the Pokemon
franchise we have seen regions inspired by many real-life locations. Including France,
Japan, and most recently Hawaii. These regions tend to have a strong geographic likeness
as well as a cultural and historical resemblance to their real-life counterparts. In this video,
I want to point out seven countries that I think would make fantastic Pokemon regions
based on their geography, culture, and history. But do keep in mind that list videos like
these are opinionated and opinions aren't always the same. So without further ado, let's
jump right into the video.
As my number seven I\rquote ve picked the central European nation of Poland. The history
of Poland is filled with highs and lows. One such high was the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth
which at its peak was one of the most powerful and diverse countries on the European Continent
that at one point hosted a multi-ethnic population of 11 million people. Poland has a rich history
and unique culture that makes it an amazing location for a potential Pokemon Region.
The city of Krak\'f3w on the southern end of Poland is well known for its preserved
medieval core, Jewish Quarter, and Main Square is known as the Rynek Glwny. The Main Square
is the principal urban space located at the center of the city. Its dominated by the Renaissance-era
Cloth Hall and home of St.Mary\rquote s Basilica. In contrast to Krakow, the modern Polish Capital
of Warsaw is marked by its vibrant and tumultuous past by its varied architecture ranging from
restored gothic work, Soviet-era blocks, and graceful modern glass and steel structures.
Warsaw is home to Wilanow Palace that serves as a reminder of Polish culture before the
18th century and is the location of many concerts and cultural events. For a taste of the sea,
the city of Gdansk would be wonderful for a hypothetical Polish region being situated
on the Baltic Sea with its own fantastic history.
Aside from its fantastic and vibrant cities, Poland also has its share of both man-made
and natural wonders. Errant Rocks is one such natural wonder, located right on the border
with Czechia. These twisting rocks and deep caverns were once a path for smugglers sneaking
out of the Czech Kingdom into modern-day Polish lands. In the game, Errant Rocks would be
a great location for a maze-like path for a mythical Pokemon or even an evil team hideout.
Another Polish marvel is Lake Sniardwy, located in the Masurian lake district. The lake itself
has eight islands within it making it a wonderful local for many water type Pokemon.
Culturally speaking Poland is positively overflowing. Being located at a center point between Slavic
countries to its east and Germanic countries to the west. Poland received a mix of the
two separate cultures resulting in a plethora of architecture, art, music, literature, and
cuisine. Due to this Polish mythology could be a fantastic source for Pokemon designs.
One possible design could derive from the giant shape-shifting woodland spirit known
as the Leshy. They are often known for leaving people alone but have been reported to have
lead travelers astray and abduct children, which sounds like a Grass/Ghost Pokemon with
Transform as a move if you ask me.
For number six, were heading to southern Europe for Italy. What was once the heart of the
Roman civilization and birthplace of the Renaissance is now a country that oozes from its cultural
legacy. After the fall of western Rome, the Italian peninsula slowly devolved into governance
by independent city-states. It was within these city-states that the Renaissance blossomed
and spread. Later in the 19th century through a period called Risorgimento or Italian unification,
the peninsula became the unified kingdom of Italy under the rule of Victor Emmanuel II.
As a Pokemon region, Italy could focus on its rich past with many ancient ruins scattered
about the region along with having very distinct cities with there own standout characteristics.
Speaking of cities, why not discuss one of the most internationally recognizable cities
of Italy, Venice. Once a powerful maritime republic; Venice is now famous for its Canal
network making it a favorite tourist destination. Aside from its canals, Venice is also the
home of Basilica di San Marco, a beautiful building that blends architectural styles
from the east and west. The Doges Palace is another site of Venice. With its beautiful
ornate gothic structure, it would make a wonderful location for a gym.
Leaving the canals of Venice behind. We head for the Italian countryside we find a nation
flush with many amazing natural and man-made wonders. The 250 million-year-old Dolomites
are famous for the hiking and skiing. The Dolomites would also be a great place for
Ice-type Pokemon to inhabit whilst giving the opportunity for a fun race down the mountain
mini-game. Another wonder is the Furore Fjord. Though the Fjord is actually a Ria, which
is formed by the submergence of the lower portions of a river valley. A small village
is tucked away here and earned the moniker The village that doesn't exist.
Being home to the Roman Empire and center of the Renaissance has resulted in a flourishing
culture throughout Italy. The family is especially important alongside religion, art, and cuisine.
Furthermore, the national animal of Italy the Italian wolf which is important to the
culture of the peninsula. According to myth, it was a she-wolf that suckled Romulus and
his twin brother Remus. Romulus would later found the city of Rome. Though we have quite
a few wolf-based Pokemon I think legendary Italian-wolf based Pokemon would be well suited
for an Italian region.
For my number 5, we're heading to the New World to the South American country of Peru.
Though various civilizations have risen and fallen in Peru including the Chavin, Moche,
and Nazca; none have compared to that of the Inca Empire. In just under a century the Inca's
expanded their empire to most of Peru, Chile, and parts of Ecuador, Bolivia, and northwest
Argentina. However, around 1532, Conquistadors under Francisco Pizarro conquered the once
mighty Incas leading to Spanish Colonial rule and eventual independence in 1824.
Peru has the potential to be a Pokemon region of the likes never seen before. The setting
of South America could grant us the experience of both old and new world cultures, Inca stonework
mixed with Spanish masonry, and a diverse climate. The former Incan capital city of
Cusco is a wonderful example of Spanish architecture built into Inca stonework. When conquered
during the 16th century the city had clearly defined areas for industrial, artisan, and
agricultural work which was preserved with the addition of Spanish Baroque Churches built
over the ruins.
Perus extensive history and diverse topography offers an abundance of wonders that would
be fantastic if incorporated into a Pokemon region. One of the more fascinating natural
wonders is The Boiling River which serves as a backdrop to extensive and rich amazonian
spirituality. The River flows blisteringly hot for over six kilometers and is five meters
deep at its deepest point. According to the local shamans, the river is home to many spirits
in its various locations and in one of the most sacred spots is where the Yacamama or
Mother of the Waters lives. She is depicted as a giant serpent that is reserved, ancient,
and a powerful teacher who is hesitant to interact with humans. There is a website dedicated
to the boiling river that host a large pool of information on the river and if you're
interested in checking it out there will be a link in the description
Peru has a mixture of both Hispanic and native cultures that could provide an interesting
and fun experience as a Pokemon Region. While discussing the boiling river a moment ago
I mentioned the Yacamama and personally, shed make a great legendary. However, I would also
like to add in an idea of a Jaguar legendary due to Jaguars being very important and common
in many South American cultures. The Jaguar represents various things including a symbol
of might and authority as well as spiritual companions to shamans. Having one represented
in a Peru based Pokemon region would worked wonderfully.
Coming in my number 4 spot is located in the southwestern Pacific ocean and \f0 the \f1
setting of the Lord of the Rings trilogy, New Zealand. Consisting of two main islands
and over 600 smaller islands New Zealand is a stunningly beautiful nation with a diverse
topography and distinct biodiversity give\f0 ing\f1 us a brief glimpse into a potentially
amazing Pokemon region. Being so remote, New Zealand was one of the last places settled
by humans, the first settlers where Polynesians that arrived sometime around 1250 and 1300.
Abel Tasman was the first European to sight New Zealand in 1642, however European contact
wouldn't resume for another 127 years.
the natives of new Zealand know as the Maori signed the
Treaty of Waitangi declaring British sovereignty over the islands. Thusly New Zealand
became a British colony in 1841, a dominion in 1907, and gained its full independence
in 1947. Its population of 4.6 million consists of 74% European descent and its largest minority
being Maori at 14.9%. Reflecting these statistics the culture of New Zealand derives primarily
from the Maori people and early British settlers. However, due to recent immigration increases
the culture of this humble nation has broadened.
Auckland is the most populous city in New
Zealand and is located on Northern tip of the Northern Island. Positioned between
two harbors and host to many other attractions Auckland has no shortage of amazing points-of-interest.
One such attraction is the Devonport, a suburb of Auckland, sporting a fantastic view of
the city of sails along with a naval base and colonial architecture makes Devonport
a fantastic retreat from the city. Aside from the quiet suburb Auckland sports the telecommunications
and observation tower known as sky tower. Which could make a great homage to the Radio
Tower in Johto.
A city is fancy an all but the real gems of New Zealand are its magnificent array of natural
wonders present. A living and bio-luminescent wonder can be found in the Waitomo caves home
to one of the best views of New Zealand Glowworms. Another stunning site is the Milford Sound.
Described as the 8th wonder of the world the Sound is host to glacial fjords that seem
to arise from the ocean and the darker water makes for a curious diving spot due to the
dark waters allowing depth-dwelling animals to be found closer to the surface.
New Zealand, culturally speaking, is in a
curious spot because of the active revival and presence of the native Maori culture,
which alone could be significant in a region set in New Zealand flush with Maori myths,
literature, and beliefs. Instead of drawing from that rich pool for possible Pokemon inspiration.
Ive decided that it's time to finally mention New Zealand's most internationally
recognized animals, the bizarrely adorable flightless bird know as the Kiwi.
Finding its way into peoples hearts, the Kiwi is a symbol of national pride. Those native
to New Zealand are commonly referred to as Kiwis, the Royal New Zealand Air Force
h\f1 as a Kiwi center point in its insignia, and the national animal of New Zealand, of
course, is the Kiwi! What better way to have a New Zealand based region than to have a
Kiwi based Pokemon.
At number 3 is another island nation this time located in the North
Atlantic that, like New Zealand, comes packaged with its own stunning landscape and one of
my personal favorites, Iceland. With a surprisingly small population of only 334, 252 indivduals.\f1
This Nordic nation boasts a rich past and promising future. First settled in 878
CE Iceland was an independent commonwealth later ascending under Norwegian rule, and
then Danish rule. It wasnt until 1918 that Iceland achieved independence again and
only in 1944 did Iceland become a Republic. With the help of the Marshall plan and industrialization
of its fisheries, Iceland began to prosper as a wealthy and developed nation.
Reykjavik is the largest city and capital
of Iceland. Home to a population of less than 200,000 this lively city is thought to have
been the first permanent settlement on the island. During the summer solstice,
the sun sets just after midnight and rises again around three in the morning here,
which would be interesting if incorporated into Pokemon . Along with that Reykjavik
is known for its vibrant nightlife and music scene. Another attraction is the Harpa Concert
Hall know for its 714 light facade allowing the building to display moving artwork at
night and interactively using the building as a monitor for a game of Pong. Also, did
I mention that the Northern Lights are also visible? Yeah, Reykjavik is a beautiful city.
Iceland is suitably nicknamed the land of
fire and ice and is home to one of the most voluminous glaciers in Europe,
Vatnajkull. Covering 8% of Iceland's land mass this massive ice cap
is known, like may other Iceland glaciers, for having volcanoes underneath it. The eruptions
resulting from the volcanoes leads to large pockets of water underneath the Ice that may
burst through weaken parts in an event known as a sub-glacial outburst
flood. Another special wonder of Iceland is Dettifoss the most powerful waterfall in Europe.
The water that cascades over Dettifoss fall for over 44 meters resulting in a massive
spray.
The distance Iceland has from continental Europe has resulted in a very distinct and
vibrant Icelandic culture shaped by its Scandinavian heritage and geographical isolation. Icelandic
folklore is full of spirits, elves, trolls, and sea monsters all of which could make for
fantastic bases for Pokemon. However, Iceland is also home to some interesting wild and
domestic animals that play into Iceland's history and culture. One such animal is the
Icelandic Sheepdog that arrived alongside the early Norse settlers. As herders, their
role was to protect and heard livestock such as sheep and ponies.
This breed of dog would make a fantastic Ice type and another
great addition to the enduring and lovable dog-like Pokemon.
For number 2 is a country thats witnessed
many powerful empires including Persia, Eastern Rome, and the Ottomans , Turkey.
Consider as part of the Next Eleven, Turkey has a high potential
of becoming one of the world's largest economies in the 21st century. Turkeys national
hero Mustafa Kemal founded modern Turkey with the Anatolian remnants of the Ottoman empire.
He was later awarded the honorary title of Ataturk meaning Father of the Turks.
A Turkish city once known as Constantinople; Istanbul bears
the marks of empires. From a Roman-era Hippodrome used for chariot races, an
Ottoman-era Sultanahmet district home of the Sultan Ahmed Mosque,
and even Egyptian obelisks. By far the most famous attraction to Istanbul is the Hagia
Sophia. What was once a focal point of eastern-orthodox Christianity and considered the greatest church
of all Christendom for a millennia. It was converted in 1453 into a mosque by the Ottomans
and highly maintained. In 1931 it was closed to the public and opened four years later
a secularized Museum.
Aside from the majestic Sultan Ahmed Mosque and Hagia Sophia; Turkey is filled to the
brim with fantastic wonders from the burning rocks of Mt.Olympos to the waters of the Pamukkale
terraces that once served as a Roman Spa city. But by far my favorite is Cappadocia; dominated
by its fairy chimneys and bronze-age troglodyte homes. The area
is filled with its own unique history and was even once its own kingdom. In Pokemon,
it would make a great area for ground-types due to its semi-arid climate, but would still
be populated by both locals and tourist there to participate in the very popular hot-air
balloon rides across the fairytale landscape.
Turkey, especially Istanbul, is known as the crossroads of Europe and Asia. As a result,
Anatolia is a region of multiculturalism with influence from Central Asia, West Asian, and
Eastern European. Early in the years of the Republic; the government invested greatly
intro fine arts in order to modernize and form a unified cultural identity. Modern-day
Turkey has many inherited myths from its various peoples. However, none caught my eye as potential
Pokemon bases. Instead, Ive picked the extinct Caspian Tiger which inhabited
sparse forests and ravine corridors from eastern Turkey to Western China but fragmented due
to Human Influence. A Pokemon based on this could honor this now lost big-cat.
For number 1 where heading to a southeast
Asian country that has a long and complex recorded history
stretching as far back as the 3rd century BCE and includes imperial domination by China,
self-dynastic rule, French colonization, and Japanese occupation during WW2; mystical Vietnam.
Briefly speaking, we can begin with the first Indochina war where the Viet
Minh fought France against its efforts to recolonize Vietnam.
After the war, the
nation was split North to South at the 17th parallel. The North backed by the Soviets
and the South by the United States. The US intervened on behalf of the south in
order to contain communism and stop it from spreading to neighboring countries.
Viewed as a continuation of colonialism by the North the war drug on until
1973, when the US withdrew. However, Saigon fell in 1975
unifying Vietnam under a communist government.
Since 1986, after reforms were made,
Vietnam began to experiment with similar changes happening in the Soviet
Union which revived the economy and ever since the 2000s Vietnam has
entered a new era of economic development. Vietnam is expected to be a newly
industrialized country, regional power, and is considered , alongside Turkey,
to have the potential of becoming one of the world's largest economies in the 21st century.\par
Two cities in Vietnam that show the marks of history are Ho
Chi Minh City in the south and the capital of Hanoi in the North, the former of which
was formerly known as Saigon. Ho Chi Minh City is known for role in the Vietnam war,
French Colonial landmarks, and museums. On the other hand, Hanoi is known for its centuries-old
architecture and rich culture influenced by Southeast Asia, China, and France. Located
in Hanoi, the Buddhist Bach Ma temple is one of the cities oldest dating back to the 11th
century and was constructed by Emperor Ly Thai To in honor of a
white horse that guided him to the site.
Dotted across Vietnam are many man-made and natural formations that\rquote d work well
in a Vietnamese based region. One such formation is the Limestone pillars of Halong Bay. On
tours, the guide gives local opinions on what the pillars most resemble making the Bay a
great throwback and connection to the Parfum palace located in France based Kalos. Another
formation is the Terraced fields of Sa Pa, which shine a bright yellow around harvest
time in September. Also in the Sa Pa area is the Mt.Fansipan and is not only Vietnam's
highest summit but also Cambodia and Laos giving Mt.Fansipan the Moniker
the roof of Indochina.
Vietnamese culture, being one of southeast Asia's eldest,
is afflus with unique traditions, cuisine, and art forms like the distinctly Vietnamese
water puppetry. Much like other cultures across the world; Vietnam has its mystical and venerated
animals namely dragons, phoenix's, turtles, and unicorns. One of my favorites and considered
the most import of the four mythical creatures that symbolizes
power, immortality, and nobility the Vietnamese Dragon is an important symbol of emperors.
Legend has it that the people of Vietnam are descendants of the king of Dragons L\u7841?c
Lack Long Quan and this legend is painted in the proverb that the Vietnamese
are children of the dragon and grandchildren of the fairy. Due
to this prominence of dragons in Vietnam; a dragon pokemon based on the traditional
Vietnamese description of a dragon would make a fantastic addition to Pokemon.
I hope you enjoyed this countdown video! It
was really neat to dive into the history, cities, geography, and culture of the countries
on this list. Granted this list wasn\rquote t easy to make and many amazing nations were
left out of the running. So much so that I'm curious if you'd like to see Another
top 7 video similar to this one? If you d like to see another tell me in the comments.
Since it has been awhile since I\rquote ve uploaded and I\rquote ve changed a few things
on my channel Id like to suggest you watch my update video uploaded alongside this
one. It was made rather quickly and a week or so before this video so its a tad
bit barebones, but gets the information across.
If you haven't already why not consider subscribing to my channel and click the bell notification
to ensure you dont miss an upload. Engage in this video by giving it a like,
comment and a share. It helps out the channel significantly. Thank you for watching and
like always I'll catch you in the next one.
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