Everything we know about Pokémon Scarlet and Violet’s Paldea region

polygon.com:

Pokémon Scarlet and Violet’s Paldea region looks like it might be an island or a peninsula, modeled after the Iberian Peninsula, which is largely made up of Spain and Portugal. The Pokémon Company revealed a colorful, top-down map of the region during its Pokémon Presents broadcast on Wednesday — the first major look at the world we’ll explore in Pokémon Scarlet and Violet.

The region is centered around Mesagoza, Paldea’s big city, which is home to one of two schools for players to attend. Naranja Academy and Uva Academy, respective to Scarlet and Violet, are open to both children and adults looking to learn about — and with — Pokémon, according to the Scarlet and Violet website. Both schools — again, depending on the game — are located inside Mesagoza, described as the largest city in the region.

On the Pokémon Scarlet and Violet map, Mesagoza looks to be just south of center, underneath the big swirling hole in the center. From there, other cities and different biomes are linked by bridges, roads and trails, spanning all corners of the crowded peninsula.

The official site described the region as having “a land of vast open spaces dotted with lakes, towering peaks, wastelands, and perilous mountain ranges,” and you can see those different areas on the map. There’s one huge lake in the upper left corner, with a few small islands scattered on the water. Rivers flow into the lake from a snowy peak, where a bunch of cold-weather creatures presumably reside.

Some areas look barren, with little greenery, but most of the map looks lush, with lots of small lakes and rivers that transition into heavily forested areas with numerous trees. Between these wild areas, there’s more than a half dozen small settlements or cities, too.