Jan Mayen Island
Jan Mayen is a small island in the Arctic Ocean, a small dependancy of Norway. There is no resident population apart from small groups of meteorologists at three weather stations dotted around the island. It is here that Lara Croft finds the Norse otherworld of Valhalla in Tomb Raider: Underworld.
Appearance in Tomb Raider Underworld
Lara explores snowy chasms around the Beerenberg Volcano, the highest point on the island and the most northerly active volcano on earth. She discovers a huge gateway of similar design to the other proto-Norse ruins she has found under the Mediterranean Sea, in Thailand and in Mexico.
Through the arch is a huge spiral ramp around a central pillar. The pillar is covered in poles and ledges and is continually turning, different sections turning either clockwise and anti-clockwise and at different speeds.
Lara makes her way down the ramp, clearing her path of the various Viking Thralls that guard the path to Valhalla. She will then have to climb the central pillar at the bottom, pressing various runes on the way with Thor's Gauntlets. This will produce a succession of lights which shine on a groove in front of Valgrind. When all four are shining, Lara will be able to open the door. Inside is a network of corridors that lead eventually to the Hammer Hall. The corridors are guarded by a host of Viking Thralls.
The Hammer Hall is long cavern with a bridge over a huge chasm. The bridge and various other platforms are held up by gigantic pillars that stretch into the chasm. The bridge leads to the room where Mjolnir is located. However as Lara tries to cross, four large hammers swing across and rip apart the bridge, making a far more roundabout route necessary.
Lara must use ledges and get to upper rooms where the gears of the hammers are located, and use the hammers to cross to different sides of the hall. In some rooms she will also find pools of eitr, and even discover a Yeti Thrall. Eventually, she will find her way to the room where she can take her prize, Mjolnir.
Notes
- The first established discovery of Jan Mayen Island was in 1614, either by an English whaling ship, or by a ship of the Dutch East India Company. However, theorised discoveries go back to the 6th century by an Irish monk named Brendan. What is particularly interesting about this theorised discovery was that Brendan came back from a voyage saying he had discovered a black island that breathed fire and which was an entrance to hell.
- It is probable that the Vikings knew about the island, but with the disappearance of colonies on Greenland any isolated communities probably were also forgotten.
- Beerenberg is one of the tallest mountains in Scandanavia, as it is more than 2.2 kilometres high.