Great Sea

For the quest map, see Third Fleet shipwrecks.

Chron3 map of Azeroth after the Cataclysm

The Great Sea makes up the deep waters between the continents of Azeroth, with the Maelstrom located at its center. This stretch of sea is so vast you will die of fatigue before you can swim any significant distance. In order to cross it, the Horde primarily uses zeppelins while the Alliance prefers to use boats. Since the South Seas, the Frozen Sea, and the Coral Sea are found in between the continents, they are also part of this vast ocean.

This sea did not exist prior to the Great Sundering, thus, after the Well of Eternity was destroyed, and ancient Kalimdor was split asunder, the waters that filled in the void became known as the Great Sea.

When the Horde ravaged the kingdom of Stormwind and killed its advocate, King Llane, Anduin Lothar rallied his countrymen and charted their retreat across the Great Sea — and onto the shores of Lordaeron.^[1]

Since the war against the Lich King, the Great Sea has become more heavily traveled by both Horde and Alliance. The two have had numerous naval skirmishes.

The Cataclysm caused many changes in the Great Sea, and several new locations became accessible to players: The goblin isle of Kezan and the Lost Isles are located just southwest of the Maelstrom but are unreachable except during the goblin starting questlines. The Maelstrom itself, damaged by Deathwing, has opened a portal directly to the Elemental Plane of Earth, Deepholm, reachable only to those specially summoned there. The reef of Vashj'ir off the coast of the Eastern Kingdoms became accessible, and Horde and Alliance are recruiting seasoned soldiers to explore and claim the underwater territory. Off the coast of Gilneas, the island-prison of Tol Barad is another point of contention between the two main power, who are constantly fighting for control. In an unspecified location on the Great Sea lies Darkmoon Island, which hosts the mysterious and slightly sinister Darkmoon Faire on the first week of every month.

The Broken Isles are found between the Maelstrom and Lordaeron; they are part of the remains of the former central lands of ancient Kalimdor around the former night elven city of Suramar and they became the entrance point for the third invasion of the Burning Legion. Kul Tiras and Zandalar were major scenarios during the Fourth War, and around this time Nazjatar itself became a battlefield between the two main forces and Queen Azshara's naga. Other locations on the Great Sea, such as the Undermine and Tel'Abim, are largely unexplored, but may await travelers in the future. Third Fleet shipwrecks are also found on the bottom of the Great Sea.

Geography

Major locations

Island Expeditions

Minor locations (Eastern Kingdoms)

Minor locations (Kalimdor)

Minor locations (Others)

Lore locations

Coral Sea
Frozen Sea
South Seas
Balor
Baradin Bay (see also)
- Channel Islands
  - Zul'dare
Broken Isles
- Stormreaver Wreckage
Darkspear Islands (also described to be in the South Seas)
Ominous island^[3]
The Maelstrom
- Eye of the Maelstrom

Other

Northern islands

Regions adjacent to the Great Sea

Notes and trivia

According to Nyse, the South Seas poured into the Thousand Needles, flooding it. Traveler: The Spiral Path says it was the Great Sea.
Deep within the hungering chasms of the Great Sea, swarms of Fathom Dwellers sway like a great floating carpet, sightlessly in the dark.^[5]
In-game maps of Tanaris and Quel'Thalas have or had the Great Sea incorrectly attributed to the areas.
During the Third War, it took weeks for the Horde to cross the Great Sea, sailing from Southshore to the shores of the Barrens.^[6] It also took three weeks for Arthas Menethil to sail from northern Lordaeron to Northrend.^[7]