Whirl Islands

Whirl Islands うずまきじま Whirlpool Islands "Wild Missingno. appeared!"
Map description:	Four islands that are protected by whirlpools and are difficult to reach.
Location:	Route 41
Region:	Johto
Generations:	II, IV
Location of Whirl Islands in Johto.
Pokémon world locations

The Whirl Islands (Japanese: うずまきじま Whirlpool Islands) are a small archipelago located between the mainland of Johto and Cianwood City, on Route 41. Beneath the sea, a maze of dark caves sprawl, with explorers able to travel between the four islands with some amount of difficulty. Deep within these caves, Lugia can be found once the player has obtained the Silver Wing and Tidal Bell^SS.

Named after the dangerous whirlpools that surround them, some parts of the Whirl Islands are mysterious and largely inaccessible. Children in Olivine City are told that bad kids are sent to the islands.

As explained in Pokémon SoulSilver, the Whirl Islands used to be one large island. At some point in time, there were two countries fighting over the island. Lugia, the guardian of the island, got upset and cast lightning bolts to tear the island into four pieces. It then disappeared into the deep end of the waterfall basin, longing for the invisible trust between people and Pokémon to manifest once more.

Items

Item		Location	Games
	Guard Spec.	Southwestern island section	G  S
	Full Restore ×2	B1F; southeast of northwest island ladder B1F west; in the isolated boulder (hidden)	G  S  C
	Ultra Ball	B1F east; northeast of southeast island ladder (hidden)	G  S  C
	Rare Candy	B1F northeast; northeast of northeast island ladder (hidden)	G  S  C
	Carbos	B1F southwest; of northwest island ladder	G  S  C  HG  SS
	Nugget	B1F; near center of northern edge of room	G  S  C  HG  SS
	Ultra Ball	Northeastern island; next to southern ladder	G  S  C  HG  SS
	Calcium	B1F; northeast of southeast island ladder	G  S  C  HG  SS
	Escape Rope	B1F; east of southwest island ladder	G  S  C  HG  SS
	Max Revive	B2F; west of main ladder located at the top	G  S  C  HG  SS
	Max Elixir	B2F; southwest of ladder in enclosed section	G  S  C  HG  SS
	Full Restore	B2F; east of ladder in enclosed section	G  S
	Full Restore	B2F; northeast of ladder in enclosed section	C  HG  SS
	Ultra Ball	Southwest island; east section	C  HG  SS
	Rare Candy	Southeast island; in rock in northwest corner (hidden)	HG  SS
	Pearl	B1F; in rock east of northwest ladder (hidden)	HG  SS
	Full Restore	B1F; southeast of northwest ladder	HG  SS
	Revive	B1F; in a rock south of northeast ladder (hidden)	HG  SS
	Super Repel	B1F; on rock west of northeast ladder (hidden)	HG  SS
	Ultra Ball	B1F; in wall northwest of southeast ladder (hidden)	HG  SS
	Full Restore	B2F; in wall northwest of main ladder (hidden)	HG  SS
	Rare Candy	Ledge overlooking Lugia's chamber	HG  SS

Pokémon

Generation II

1F

Pokémon	Games						Location	Levels	Rate
Zubat	G		S		C		Cave	23	30%
Golbat	G		S		C		Cave	23	5%
Golbat	G		S		C		Cave	25	5%	5%	0%
Golbat	G		S		C		Cave	24-25	0%	0%	10%
Seel	G		S		C		Cave	22-24	15%
Seel	G		S		C		Cave	22-24	25%	25%	0%
Krabby	G		S		C		Cave	22-24	50%
Krabby	G		S		C		Cave	22-24	40%	40%	60%
Surfing
Tentacool	G		S		C		Surfing	20-24	60%
Tentacruel	G		S		C		Surfing	20-24	10%
Horsea	G		S		C		Surfing	15-19	30%
Fishing
Krabby	G		S		C		Fishing Old Rod	10	15%
Magikarp	G		S		C		Fishing Old Rod	10	85%
Krabby	G		S		C		Fishing Good Rod	20	55%
Horsea	G		S		C		Fishing Good Rod	20	10%
Magikarp	G		S		C		Fishing Good Rod	20	35%
Krabby	G		S		C		Fishing Super Rod	40	40%
Kingler	G		S		C		Fishing Super Rod	40	20%
Horsea	G		S		C		Fishing Super Rod	40	30%
Seadra	G		S		C		Fishing Super Rod	40	10%
A colored background means that the Pokémon can be found in this location in the specified game. A white background with a colored letter means that the Pokémon cannot be found here.

B1F

Pokémon	Games						Location	Levels	Rate
Zubat	G		S		C		Cave	24	30%
Golbat	G		S		C		Cave	24	5%
Golbat	G		S		C		Cave	26	5%	5%	0%
Golbat	G		S		C		Cave	25-26	0%	0%	10%
Seel	G		S		C		Cave	23-25	15%
Seel	G		S		C		Cave	23-25	25%	25%	0%
Krabby	G		S		C		Cave	23-25	50%
Krabby	G		S		C		Cave	23-25	40%	40%	60%
A colored background means that the Pokémon can be found in this location in the specified game. A white background with a colored letter means that the Pokémon cannot be found here.

B2F

Pokémon	Games						Location	Levels	Rate
Zubat	G		S		C		Cave	24	30%
Zubat	G		S		C		Cave	25	30%
Golbat	G		S		C		Cave	24	5%
Golbat	G		S		C		Cave	27	5%	5%	0%
Golbat	G		S		C		Cave	26-27	0%	0%	10%
Seel	G		S		C		Cave	23-25	15%
Seel	G		S		C		Cave	24-26	25%	25%	0%
Krabby	G		S		C		Cave	23-25	50%
Krabby	G		S		C		Cave	24-26	40%	40%	60%
Surfing
Tentacool	G		S		C		Surfing	20-24	10%
Horsea	G		S		C		Surfing	15-24	90%
Fishing
Krabby	G		S		C		Fishing Old Rod	10	15%
Magikarp	G		S		C		Fishing Old Rod	10	85%
Krabby	G		S		C		Fishing Good Rod	20	55%
Horsea	G		S		C		Fishing Good Rod	20	10%
Magikarp	G		S		C		Fishing Good Rod	20	35%
Krabby	G		S		C		Fishing Super Rod	40	40%
Kingler	G		S		C		Fishing Super Rod	40	20%
Horsea	G		S		C		Fishing Super Rod	40	30%
Seadra	G		S		C		Fishing Super Rod	40	10%
A colored background means that the Pokémon can be found in this location in the specified game. A white background with a colored letter means that the Pokémon cannot be found here.

B2F (Inner Cave)

Pokémon	Games						Location	Levels	Rate
Zubat	G		S		C		Cave	25	30%
Zubat	G		S		C		Cave	26	30%
Golbat	G		S		C		Cave	25	5%
Golbat	G		S		C		Cave	28	5%	5%	0%
Golbat	G		S		C		Cave	27-28	0%	0%	10%
Seel	G		S		C		Cave	24-26	15%
Seel	G		S		C		Cave	25-27	25%	25%	0%
Krabby	G		S		C		Cave	24-26	50%
Krabby	G		S		C		Cave	25-27	40%	40%	60%
Surfing
Tentacruel	G		S		C		Surfing	20-24	30%
Horsea	G		S		C		Surfing	20-24	60%
Seadra	G		S		C		Surfing	20-24	10%
Fishing
Krabby	G		S		C		Fishing Old Rod	10	15%
Magikarp	G		S		C		Fishing Old Rod	10	85%
Krabby	G		S		C		Fishing Good Rod	20	55%
Horsea	G		S		C		Fishing Good Rod	20	10%
Magikarp	G		S		C		Fishing Good Rod	20	35%
Krabby	G		S		C		Fishing Super Rod	40	40%
Kingler	G		S		C		Fishing Super Rod	40	20%
Horsea	G		S		C		Fishing Super Rod	40	30%
Seadra	G		S		C		Fishing Super Rod	40	10%
Special Pokémon
Lugia	G		S		C		Only one	70	One
Lugia	G		S		C		Only one	40	One
Lugia	G		S		C		Only one	60	One
A colored background means that the Pokémon can be found in this location in the specified game. A white background with a colored letter means that the Pokémon cannot be found here.

Generation IV

Kimono Girls summoning Lugia inside the Whirl Islands in SoulSilver

1F-B1F

Pokémon	Games						Location	Levels	Rate
Zubat	HG			SS			Cave	23	30%
Golbat	HG			SS			Cave	23	5%
Seel	HG			SS			Cave	22-24	15%
Krabby	HG			SS			Cave	22-24	50%
Surfing
Tentacool	HG			SS			Surfing	15-25	60%
Tentacruel	HG			SS			Surfing	15-25	10%
Horsea	HG			SS			Surfing	10-20	30%
Fishing
Krabby	HG			SS			Fishing Old Rod	10	5%
Magikarp	HG			SS			Fishing Old Rod	10	95%
Krabby	HG			SS			Fishing Good Rod	20	37%
Horsea	HG			SS			Fishing Good Rod	20	3%
Magikarp	HG			SS			Fishing Good Rod	20	60%
Krabby	HG			SS			Fishing Super Rod	40	60%
Kingler	HG			SS			Fishing Super Rod	40	7%
Horsea	HG			SS			Fishing Super Rod	40	30%
Seadra	HG			SS			Fishing Super Rod	40	3%
Special Pokémon
Makuhita	HG			SS			Hoenn Sound	24	20%
Absol	HG			SS			Hoenn Sound	22-23	20%
Chingling	HG			SS			Sinnoh Sound	24	20%
Bronzor	HG			SS			Sinnoh Sound	22-23	20%
A colored background means that the Pokémon can be found in this location in the specified game. A white background with a colored letter means that the Pokémon cannot be found here.

B2F

Pokémon	Games						Location	Levels	Rate
Zubat	HG			SS			Cave	23	30%
Golbat	HG			SS			Cave	23	5%
Seel	HG			SS			Cave	22-24	15%
Krabby	HG			SS			Cave	22-24	50%
Surfing
Tentacruel	HG			SS			Surfing	15-25	30%
Horsea	HG			SS			Surfing	15-25	60%
Seadra	HG			SS			Surfing	10-30	10%
Fishing
Krabby	HG			SS			Fishing Old Rod	10	5%
Magikarp	HG			SS			Fishing Old Rod	10	95%
Krabby	HG			SS			Fishing Good Rod	20	37%
Horsea	HG			SS			Fishing Good Rod	20	3%
Magikarp	HG			SS			Fishing Good Rod	20	60%
Krabby	HG			SS			Fishing Super Rod	40	60%
Kingler	HG			SS			Fishing Super Rod	40	7%
Horsea	HG			SS			Fishing Super Rod	40	30%
Seadra	HG			SS			Fishing Super Rod	40	3%
Special Pokémon
Makuhita	HG			SS			Hoenn Sound	24	20%
Absol	HG			SS			Hoenn Sound	22-23	20%
Chingling	HG			SS			Sinnoh Sound	24	20%
Bronzor	HG			SS			Sinnoh Sound	22-23	20%
A colored background means that the Pokémon can be found in this location in the specified game. A white background with a colored letter means that the Pokémon cannot be found here.

B3F

Lugia in the Whirl Islands in Generation IV

Pokémon	Games						Location	Levels	Rate
Zubat	HG			SS			Cave	24	30%
Golbat	HG			SS			Cave	24	5%
Seel	HG			SS			Cave	23-25	15%
Krabby	HG			SS			Cave	23-25	50%
Special Pokémon
Lugia	HG			SS			Only one	70	One
Lugia	HG			SS			Only one	45	One
Makuhita	HG			SS			Hoenn Sound	25	20%
Absol	HG			SS			Hoenn Sound	23-24	20%
Chingling	HG			SS			Sinnoh Sound	25	20%
Bronzor	HG			SS			Sinnoh Sound	23-24	20%
A colored background means that the Pokémon can be found in this location in the specified game. A white background with a colored letter means that the Pokémon cannot be found here.

Layout

Generation II

Version	1F Northwest	1F Northeast	1F Southwest	1F Southeast
Gold
Silver
Crystal

Version	B1F	B1F Middle	B2F	B2F Inner
Gold
Silver
Crystal

Generation IV

Version	1F Northwest	1F Northeast	1F Southwest	1F Southeast
HeartGold
SoulSilver

Version	B1F	B2F	B3F	B3F Lugia's Cave
HeartGold
SoulSilver

Preview

• 

  Morning (Seadra)

• 

  Day/Evening (Seel)

• 

  Night (Tentacool)

In the anime

Map of the Whirl Islands in the anime

The depiction of the islands is far different in the anime. Far from being deserted, it contains many towns and other inhabitable areas. The Whirl Islands are home to the Whirl Cup, a competition for Water Pokémon Trainers held once every three years.

Rumors circulate that families of Lugia reside there. A mother Lugia and her baby, Silver, were sought by Dr. Namba and did, in fact, reveal themselves.

There are four main islands, with many smaller ones scattered throughout. Together, the islands in the archipelago form a spiral shape.

The islands, from north to south:

• Ogi Isle
• Silver Rock Isle
• Red Rock Isle
• Yellow Rock Isle
• Blue Point Isle
• Pudgy Pidgey Isle

According to the Nurse Joy on Blue Point Isle, the climate varies from island to island.

In the manga

File:Whirl Islands HGSS Adventures.png

Silver flying over the Whirl Islands

In the Pokémon Adventures manga

The Whirl Islands first appeared in the Pokémon Adventures manga in Really Remoraid, where Morty was able to track the location of Gold and Silver at Lt. Surge's request. Having been nursed back to health by the Entei that had just left, the two awaken to find that Gold lost his backpack again (along with several of his other belongings), and Silver was missing the Red Gyarados he caught at the Lake of Rage. After fighting off a herd of Sandslash, the two come across Surge, who then returns them. However, there was a catch: before he could even inquire information regarding the Masked Man, the three were attacked by the wild Lugia that inhabited the islands, quite a berserk one that rampaged firing Aeroblasts left and right. After a tough battle during which they are joined by Crystal and their starters all evolve, they try to catch it in a Poké Ball, only to find out someone else, later revealed to be the Masked Man himself, did so before them.

After the incident, the three fail to track it down even with the Pokédexes' Area function, and soon Silver flies off on his own to the fourth and final island, in which Lance's hidden chamber resides. By using the three Water-type HM moves available at the time (Whirlpool, Waterfall, and Surf), he is able to enter it and acquire information from Lance, during which he returns the Tyranitar he borrowed.

Much later, in the HeartGold & SoulSilver arc, Silver returns to Lance's chamber again, only to be joined by an angry Clair who demanded to know what he did to her cousin, who had recently gone missing. They are soon attacked by Petrel's many Koffing.

Trivia

• The whirlpools are based on the real world Naruto whirlpools on the Naruto Strait. The islands are based on Awaji Island and its surrounding islands.
• In Diamond, Pearl, and Platinum Versions, a guest at Hotel Grand Lake by Lake Valor mentions a silver-colored Pokémon at Whirl Islands.
• Since the Waterfall HM is not required to go down waterfalls in Generation II, it is possible to get to Lugia without it. A series of ladders starting below the waterfall allows players to return to the entrance.

In other languages

Language Title Mandarin Chinese 漩渦列島 Xuánwō Lièdǎo French Tourb'Îles German Strudelinseln Italian Isole Vorticose Korean 소용돌이섬 Soyongdol-iseom Brazilian Portuguese Ilhas Redemoinho Spanish Islas Remolino Vietnamese Quần đảo Xoắn Ốc

Johto
Settlements New Bark Town • Cherrygrove City • Violet City • Azalea Town • Goldenrod City • Ecruteak City Olivine City • Cianwood City • Mahogany Town • Blackthorn City • Safari Zone Gate • Frontier Access Routes 29 • 30 • 31 • 32 • 33 • 34 • 35 • 36 • 37 • 38 • 39 • 40 • 41 • 42 • 43 • 44 • 45 • 46 • 47 • 48 Landmarks Dark Cave • Sprout Tower • Ruins of Alph • Union Cave • Slowpoke Well • Ilex Forest • Radio Tower • Global Terminal Goldenrod Tunnel • National Park • Pokéathlon Dome • Bell Tower • Bellchime Trail • Burned Tower • Moomoo Farm • Olivine Lighthouse Battle Tower (Crystal • HGSS)/Frontier • Cliff Edge Gate • Cliff Cave • Embedded Tower • Safari Zone • Whirl Islands Mt. Mortar • Lake of Rage • Team Rocket HQ • Ice Path • Dragon's Den • S.S. Aqua • Mt. Silver (Cave) Access to Sinjoh Ruins • Kanto

Game locations of Legendary and Mythical Pokémon

Kanto Seafoam Islands • Power Plant • Victory Road • Cerulean Cave Route 10 • Route 25 • Pewter City • Roaming Pokémon Sevii Islands Mt. Ember • Navel Rock • Birth Island Johto Ilex Forest • Bell Tower • Whirl Islands • Mt. Silver Cave Burned Tower • Embedded Tower • Roaming Pokémon Hoenn Desert Ruins • Island Cave • Ancient Tomb • Cave of Origin • Marine Cave Terra Cave • Sky Pillar • Southern Island • Sea Mauville • Scorched Slab Pathless Plain • Nameless Cavern • Fabled Cave • Gnarled Den Trackless Forest • Crescent Isle • Sky • Roaming Pokémon Sinnoh Acuity Cavern • Valor Cavern • Spear Pillar • Turnback Cave Rock Peak Ruins • Iceberg Ruins • Iron Ruins • Snowpoint Temple Stark Mountain • Newmoon Island • Flower Paradise • Hall of Origin Ramanas Park • Floaroma Town • Roaming Pokémon Unova Guidance Chamber • Trial Chamber • Rumination Field • N's Castle • Abundant Shrine Giant Chasm • Dragonspiral Tower • Liberty Garden • Route 11 • Route 13 • Route 22 Route 23 • Celestial Tower • Nacrene City • Underground Ruins • Twist Mountain Dreamyard • Marvelous Bridge • Reversal Mountain • Coastal Biome • Roaming Pokémon Kalos Sea Spirit's Den • Team Flare Secret HQ • Terminus Cave Unknown Dungeon • Roaming Pokémon Alola Route 16 • Altar of the Sunne • Altar of the Moone • Mount Lanakila • Mahalo Trail Ruins of Conflict • Ruins of Life • Ruins of Abundance • Ruins of Hope Aether Paradise • Ancient Poni Path • Lake of the Sunne • Lake of the Moone Ten Carat Hill • Resolution Cave Galar Tower summit • Battle Tower • Master Dojo • Crown Shrine • Max Lair Rock Peak Ruins • Iceberg Ruins • Iron Ruins • Split-Decision Ruins • Giant's Bed Frigid Sea • Lakeside Cave • Ballimere Lake • Freezington • Roaming Pokémon Hisui Seaside Hollow • Temple of Sinnoh • Acuity Cavern • Valor Cavern • Verity Cavern Lava Dome Sanctum • Moonview Arena • Snowpoint Temple • Turnback Cave • Bonechill Wastes Cobalt Coastlands • Ramanas Island • Scarlet Bog • Coronet Highlands • Floaro Gardens Paldea Grasswither Shrine • Icerend Shrine • Groundblight Shrine • Firescourge Shrine Poco Path • Area Zero • Area Zero Underdepths • Glaseado Mountain South Province (Area One) • Asado Desert • West Province (Area One) • East Province (Area Three) Casseroya Lake • North Paldean Sea • South Province (Area Four) • North Province (Area Two) Alfornada Cavern • Great Crater of Paldea • Tagtree Thicket • East Province (Area One) South Province (Area Five) • Dalizapa Passage • Pokémon League • Socarrat Trail Kitakami Paradise Barrens • Wistful Fields • Oni Mountain • Dreaded Den • Loyalty Plaza Other Faraway Island • Distortion World • Sinjoh Ruins • Ultra Space Wilds

This article is part of Project Locations, a Bulbapedia project that aims to write comprehensive articles on every location in the Pokémon world.