Avatar: 10 Little Known Facts About The Water Tribes

Waterbender populations are largely concentrated in the polar regions of the Avatar: The Last Airbender world, and are therefore referred to as the Northern and Southern Water Tribes. Though there is constant conflict between the two sister societies, their differences are discarded in the face of greater threats, such as the Fire Nation in the Hundred Year War.

There is also the Foggy Swamp Tribe, but the strength of this community is mostly unknown due to their location and need for privacy. Katara and Korra, two of the most important characters in the Avatar universe, come from the Water Tribes. What else is this nation known for?

10 The Initial Change In Design

The Water Tribes’ general aesthetic is gradually altered from tropical-themed designs to Polar architecture, which is best seen in the monumental constructions of ice and snow that are part of both Northern and Southern cities.

The original Waterbenders actually resemble the Fire Nation in many ways. Over the past several thousand years, though, the Water Tribes have inculcated a rather specific and inimitable style that helps them stand out quite clearly.

9 The Outfits & Hairstyles

The members of the Polar Water Tribes are consistently dressed in varying shades of blue, with most of them generally outfitted in similar fur-lined clothing and boots.

Males occasionally don what are called “warrior’s wolf tails”, another name for Sokka’s hairstyle, and women often wear “hair loopies” like Katara. The overall appearance of the Water Tribes are based on the clothing styles of the Inuit peoples of the Arctic.

8 The Moon And The Ocean

The Ocean and Moon Spirits, La and Tui, have chosen to spend their immortal existences at the North Pole. Waterbending derives its very philosophy from the movement of the tides, and is therefore intricately linked to the two spirits.

As such, their emblem depicts both the moon and the ocean, which are said to work in flawless sync with each other. Tui perishes during Zhao’s assault on Agna Qel’a, but is brought back by Princess Yue.

7 The Rites Of Passage (And The Three Marks)

The Northern Water Tribe relationship ritual is dependent on women receiving a “betrothal necklace,” implying that their marriages have been decided, usually without any say of their own.

On the other hand, Southern Water Tribe tradition includes a rite of passage that involves “ice-dodging,” a popular Waterbender sporting event. Once this is finished, every successful teenager is granted one of three marks — The Trusted, The Wise, and The Brave.

6 The Creation Of The Foggy Swamp Tribe

The third Water Tribe is unknown to most of society for the longest time, only revealing themselves when Aang travels to their swamp. Known as the Foggy Swamp Tribe, this society is born when a group of Waterbenders discover the swamp and choose to remain there forever.

These Waterbenders employ techniques rather different from their Polar counterparts. For instance, they are capable of controlling plants by manipulating the water within them, a feat that all Waterbenders are technically capable of (but few know about.)

5 The Gender Bias In The Northern Water Tribe

In addition to betrothal ceremonies, women in the Northern Water Tribe endure various forms of gender bias for a long time. For instance, men tend to perform masculine roles like hunting or fighting, while women are expected to maintain the household.

The misogyny is so ingrained that Master Pakku, a supposedly wise man, refuses to teach Katara how to use Waterbending in combat, pompously telling her to take up healing classes instead.

4 The Importance Of The Spirit Oasis

The Spirit Oasis looks like a stereotypical meditation zone: a cozy nook with a koi pond and a garden, complete with a seating area. However, it is core to the spiritual balance of the entire world, because it is where La and Tui live, manifested as koi fish.

It is claimed that the pond in the Spirit Oasis is the gateway to the Spirit World. Most importantly, water taken from the Spirit Oasis has considerable restorative potential, since it manages to heal Aang’s injuries from Azula’s Lightningbending.

3 The Southern Reconstruction Project

The Southern Reconstruction Project starts, counterintuitively, in the Northern Water Tribe, when a few chosen Waterbenders decide to rebuild the destroyed Southern Water Tribe. Initially managed by Pakku, it continues to develop under the guidance of Maliq and Malina, with the architects working in tandem with Chief Hakoda, Sokka & Katara’s father.

After the project is complete, the Southern Water Tribe capital city is transformed beyond expectation, with, for instance, the creation of the grandiose Royal Palace that functions as the central government building.

2 The Differences In Government

The Northern and Southern Water Tribes are each led by a Chief, although the latter has been forcibly subjugated by the former on more than one occasion. The processes of justice and lawmaking share minor features between the tribes but are on the whole distinct.

Strangely or not, the Foggy Swamp Tribe doesn’t include a police organization equivalent. One bizarre fact that remains unexplained is that the child of the Northern Water Tribe chief is designated by a royal title (Princess Yue), but this custom is absent in the South.

1 The Building Of Agna Qel’a

The first Waterbenders emerged from the area around the equator, before deciding to travel to the North Pole and establish a settlement. These multiple factions band together and construct Agna Qel’a, a magnificent ice city that presently serves as the Northern Water Tribe capital.

Unfortunately, conflict remained, ultimately triggering the formation of a second tribe at the South Pole by people who prefer to secede than live under the North’s laws.

About The Author

Ajay Aravind
(429 Articles Published)

In real life, Ajay disguises himself as an academic, mainly writing textbooks for children — who all hate him for making their lives more miserable. He also writes about TV and film, strewing his opinions across the internet to see if people care (they don’t). You can find him @stain_dprinc_ss on Twitter.

More From Ajay Aravind