Great Divide


 * This article is about the location. For the episode, see "The Great Divide".

The Great Divide is the largest canyon in the World of Avatar, located in the rocky regions of the central Earth Kingdom.

History
It is unclear how, exactly, the Great Divide was formed. Many locals believe that the canyon was formed by angry spirits; others will claim that its formation can be explained scientifically, and was simply the result of millions of years of erosion.

Thousands of years later, Avatar Aang and his companions crossed the Great Divide in the company of two feuding tribes, the Zhang and the Gan Jin, along with a knowledgeable canyon guide. The party became temporarily trapped when a canyon crawler attack resulted in the guide breaking his arms. However, Aang's clever thinking soon helped them escape, and united the tribes in doing so.

Description
‎The Great Divide can be crossed in about a full day if one has or is an expert guide. Although having a typically arid climate, the canyon is home to various insects and omnivorous arachnoid creatures, most notable being canyon crawlers. These creatures possess a superior sense of smell and will attack passerby if they are carrying food. The single way down the canyon is by a narrow path along the sheer cliff wall. The canyon itself is wrought with missing sections of wall and spontaneous avalanches. Therefore, the aid of an earthbending guide who is familiar with the secrets of the canyon, and able to reconstruct or deconstruct sections of the trail, is necessary when crossing this massive gorge. The canyon guide also makes the habit of destroying paths after crossing to deter possible thieves or Fire Nation soldiers, should they attempt to cross the canyon.

Canyon guide station
The canyon guide station is a dilapidated shack where the canyon guide resides. This is the last stop for visitors before descending into the Great Divide. It is also the last place to discard any food to avoid attracting canyon crawlers.

Notable figures

 * Canyon guide
 * Canyon crawlers

Trivia

 * The Great Divide bears resemblance to the Grand Canyon, located in northern Arizona in the United States.