Since our very first Zelda game, each of us has wondered just how big the land of Hyrule really is. Well, thanks to the efforts of a Reddit user by the name of DarnVisages, we may be a step closer to learning the true size of the world of Ocarina of Time. How did they figure this out? Just how large is Hyrule? Before we can answer this questions, let’s check out the method DarnVisages used.
The first thing DarnVisages did was determine the overall size of the land so he decided to only count the overworld map layout of Hyrule. Places like Lon Lon Ranch and Mask Shop would not be counted because DarnVisages would not be using indoor measurements for his overall final measurement. The only couple of exceptions that they made to that rule were Death Mountain Crater and that small area leading up to the Shadow Temple, as they considered it a part of the overall layout of Hyrule. Eventually he determined any part of the map space that you see is counted towards their overall size.
To help with their expedition DarnVisages created a map of Hyrule using a set of ground plans that they found that they found on VG Maps in order to accurately scale certain parts of the overworld, like the exit paths. In order to create the scale that they needed, they first compared Link to the diving scale in the Lakeside Lab pool in order to estimate his height. As shown in the picture to the right, they determined that the depth of the pool was approximately 9 meters.
By using that as their unit of measurement for Link’s height they determined that he is about 1.6 meters tall (or about 5’3″). Using a pixel measurement conversion (by resizing the map to make each pixel 1 sq. ft. and using a Lake Hylia bridge to get the measurement correct) DarnVisages determined that Link was 1050px tall by 1987px wide.
Now combining those measurements with the area of the land (which was determined by using a computer programming language called Python script), these were their results. Since there were two different theories on the measurement, there are actually two different results (I’ll be putting the images of both of the map measurements in the gallery below).The first measurement used was DarnVisages own theory that Link was 5’3″ and they determined that the land of Hyrule is approximately 4,453,887 sq. ft. big, or about the size of 77 American football fields. The second measurement they used was based on the theory that Link is 6 ft. tall and by using that measurement they determined that Hyrule was approximately 5,818,776.2 sq. ft. big, or about the size of 101 American football fields!
Who would have ever thought that Hyrule could be measured like that? I haven’t seen anything this ludicrous in measurement since that Game Theory episode on Link’s Hookshot! What did you guys think? Do you think Hyrule is bigger than what DarnVisages theorized or do you think it’s smaller? Sound off in the comments below and let us know what you think!
Source: Reddit
Kristen G. Rosario is an Editor who joined Zelda Dungeon back in September of 2015. His current goal is to become a full-time video game journalist, hoping to eventually gain a Bachelor’s Degree in Journalism. While he pursues that dream, he not only takes care of his adorable dachshund Angel, but also helps run a YouTube channel with his brother. The Zelda series is a quest he hasn’t fully completed yet, but hopes to get there one day.
