======Natural Landmarks in the Wizarding World======
=====Introduction=====
Natural landmarks in the wizarding world are significant geographical or geological features that have not been constructed by wizards, such as forests, lakes, and caves. Unlike man-made locations like [[Hogwarts Castle]] or [[The Ministry of Magic]], these sites derive their importance from their inherent wildness and ancient magic. They frequently serve as crucial habitats for a wide variety of [[magical creatures]], are sources of rare ingredients for [[Potions]] and [[wandmaking]], and often function as ideal hiding places or locations for significant magical events due to their remoteness and natural defenses. Many of these areas are protected by powerful [[enchantments]] to conceal them from [[Muggles]] or to deter intruders.
=====Notable Natural Landmarks=====
  * **The [[Black Lake]]**
    * A large, deep, and extremely cold freshwater lake located on the grounds of [[Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry]] in Scotland. The [[Black Lake]] is home to a complex ecosystem of magical life, including a sentient colony of [[Merpeople]], a semi-domesticated [[Giant Squid]], and aggressive water demons known as [[Grindylows]]. The lake was the setting for the Second Task of the [[Triwizard Tournament]] in 1995, during which champions had to rescue hostages from the mer-village at the bottom of the lake.
  * **The [[Forbidden Forest]]**
    * A vast and ancient forest that borders the grounds of [[Hogwarts]]. It is named for being strictly off-limits to students, except during [[Care of Magical Creatures]] lessons or, infamously, for detentions. The forest is dense, dark, and filled with a diverse and often dangerous population of creatures, including herds of [[centaurs]], a colony of [[Acromantulas]] led by [[Aragog]], a flock of [[Thestrals]], and [[unicorns]]. It served as a critical location throughout the series, from [[Harry Potter]]'s first encounter with the wraith-like [[Lord Voldemort]] to the final, pivotal confrontation where [[Harry]] walked to his apparent death.
  * **The Sea Cave**
    * A desolate and foreboding cave located on a cliff face along the coast of Great Britain, which a young [[Tom Riddle]] discovered and used to terrorize two other children from his orphanage. As [[Lord Voldemort]], he returned to this cave to hide one of his most protected [[Horcruxes]], [[Salazar Slytherin's Locket]]. The cave was protected by layers of powerful [[Dark Magic]], including a blood-toll entrance, a magically hidden boat, a vast underground lake filled with [[Inferi]], and an enchanted basin containing the [[locket]] submerged in a [[Potion of Despair]].
  * **Forest of Dean**
    * An ancient woodland in Gloucestershire, England, notable for being one of the few locations in the series that is a real-world landmark. After escaping the attack at [[Godric's Hollow]], [[Harry Potter]] and [[Hermione Granger]] took refuge in this forest while hunting for [[Horcruxes]]. It is the site where [[Severus Snape]], using his doe [[Patronus]], guided [[Harry]] to the frozen pond where the [[Sword of Gryffindor]] lay hidden. It was also here that [[Ron Weasley]] returned to his friends and used the sword to destroy the [[locket]] [[Horcrux]].
  * **Albanian Forest**
    * A remote and largely uninhabited forest in Albania that served as a place of refuge for disgraced or weakened dark wizards. Following his first defeat, the disembodied spirit of [[Lord Voldemort]] fled to this forest, surviving by possessing small animals until he was found by [[Professor Quirrell]]. The forest is also the original hiding place of another [[Horcrux]], the [[Diadem of Ravenclaw]], which [[The Grey Lady|Helena Ravenclaw]] concealed within a hollow tree centuries earlier before being found there by [[Tom Riddle]].
=====Behind the Scenes=====
  * The use of forests as places of magic, danger, and transformation is a common trope in European folklore and fairy tales, a tradition J.K. Rowling draws upon heavily, particularly with the [[Forbidden Forest]].
  * The [[Forest of Dean]] is a real location in England, grounding the trio's journey in a tangible part of the UK.
  * The [[Black Lake]] on the [[Hogwarts]] grounds is likely inspired by the many deep, mysterious lochs of the Scottish Highlands, where the school is located.