Tanaris Tanaris ( aka The Tanaris Desert ) is a desert located in Southern Kalimdor , east of Un ' Goro Crater and south of Thousand Needles . It is an arid land , covered in sand dunes and frequently exposed to dangerous sandstorms . The Steamwheedle Cartel goblins have established Steamwheedle Port and Gadgetzan as their main centers of operation . The dock in Steamwheedle Port is presumably used for transport to the outer islands of the Undermine , the goblin capital , but so far the goblins have proved unwilling to share the ships with the other races . Tanaris is one of the easiest regions to travel around , being mostly flat sands with a few rocky outcrops , but it is also monotonus , being sparsely populated due to its harsh environment . There are also no roads ( or even well - trodden paths ) and heavy reliance is placed on the guiding system . While mostly populated by Horde factions , the region is so barren that it is fairly safe for Alliance members too . In Cataclysm . In Cataclysm , Tanaris changed to a level 45 - 50 zone . In addition the Steamwheedle Port was destroyed although it ' s still inhabited by goblins . This will make Gadgetzan a port . Bornakk gave the hint that " Some Tanaris goblins wisely invested in desert real estate and reaped the benefits when it became beach - front property . " Areas affected : History . Tanaris has been an endless sea of sand for aeons . Nozdormu , the great dragon of time , was said to make this land his home since time immemorial , thriving in the solitude of oppressive heat and miles of sand . Tanaris is the ancestral home of the bronze dragonflight based out of the Caverns of Time . The titan s also have a holding here in the form of an entrance to the ancient land of Uldum , Whch was once guarded by elite Stone giants . found in the southern parts of the desert . It was here that Anachronos first discovered the full threat of the silithid , who had been making hives in the remote regions of Tanaris . The War of the Shifting Sands was consequently unleashed upon the western land of Silithus . Flooding . With Cataclysm , Steamwheedle Port and many parts of Tanaris were flooded making Gadgetzan a port . Some Tanaris goblins wisely invested in desert real estate and reaped the benefits when it became beach - front property . Getting there . There are portals in Dalaran ( The Violet Citadel ) and Shattrath ( World ' s End Tavern , by talking to Zephyr - requires with Keepers of Time ) which take you to the entry of the Caverns of Time . Geography . Tanaris covers a vast expanse of Southern Kalimdor , just south of Thousand Needles . It is a blazing hot expanse of rolling sand dunes under a cloudless sky . The southern region is more mountainous , with large cavern networks , with some extending deep beneath the surface . A vast realm , Tanaris holds many secrets . The land is mostly desert , and below ground are gigantic tunnel networks . They remain largely unexplored , for few have the fortitude to venture into such a harsh landscape . Still , rumors tell of all manner of creatures that hide within the tunnels and slaughter trespassers without hesitation . Although the sea of dunes does not look as if it would support a variety of wildlife , human s , Sandfury troll s , hyena s , scorpid s , basilisk s , and silithid bugs are quite common . Ocasionally , drake s are also seen soaring on the thermals that swirl over the great desert . Tanaris contains quite a few instances , including all the Caverns of Time instances , as well as Zul ' Farrak . In addition , there are several micro dungeons in this zone , but no battlegrounds . In Cataclysm , massive flooding created permanent incursions all the way to Gadgetzan that re - shaped the coastline and destroyed Steamwheedle Port , but the damage was limited to mostly the northeast . Gadgetzan is now a port , but with less capability . Maps and subregions . Topographic map of Tanaris Notable characters . Tanaris is home to several characters of note . At Gadgetzan , Mux Manascrambler seeks aid in obtaining ghostly ectoplasm from undead spirits , and Senior Surveyor Fizzledowser investigates the coming of the silithid . And at Steamwheedle Port , Yeh ' kinya attempts to learn more of the essence of an ancient god .