Atoll

*This article is about the type of settlement.
For the specific atoll featured in the film and novelisation, see Oasis Atoll.
For the residents of these settlements, see atollers.
For the YouTube channel, see The Atoll.*

    **Atolls** are the primary form of settlement of Waterworld. Although little more than villages in size, they tend to be among the largest settlements on Waterworld. Those that reside here are typically called atollers.

## History

Before the great flooding of the Earth, an atoll was a type of ring-shaped island, usually made of coral and surrounding a central lagoon. After the ice caps melted and the Earth became Waterworld, atoll came to mean a man-made island of a similar shape, usually composed of whatever junk and debris could be salvaged or found floating on the water. Settlements tend to be of this design as they offer more protection from the elements and from intruders.

Countless atolls sprung up during the flooding of the world, and were primarily a refuge of the poor and displaced. The wealthy and powerful resided on the last remaining peaks of land which still remained above water, such as around Lake Titicaca high in the Andes of Peru. These enclaves of Dryland were often raided by the atollers for resources, resulting in a war. Eventually all the land disappeared and all that was left were atolls.

Unfortunately, while many atolls used to exist, they have dwindled in number due to lack of resources, inbreeding caused by genetic bottlenecks, corruption or inadequacy of atoll elders, disease, fighting over resources with other atolls, and attacks by pirates. The Oasis Atoll had not made contact with another atoll in over a year.

The charts of the War Chief confirmed the existance of at least 100 atolls.

The Mariner sometimes salvaged derelict atolls.

## Atolls in the video games

There are several Waterworld video games, most of which let you visit a number of other atolls not mentioned elsewhere in the franchise. The player as the Mariner can explore the societies at them, although they do not differ from the more familiar Oasis Atoll aesthetically to a large extent.

They include Atoll Serina, Atoll Merylla, Atoll Corona, Atoll Terana, Atoll Alina, Atoll Hala, Atoll Carala, Atoll Sola, Atoll Azura, and Atoll Kora.

Some of these are specialised. For example, Atoll Terana trades mostly in paper, and will give you higher price for it. Similarly, Atoll Hala trades mostly in glass and bottles, and will give you a higher price for these goods. Atoll Kora trades mainly in fish hooks.

## Galleries

### Concept artwork

An early concept artwork for Oasis Atoll by Steve Burg showing a spiral entrance. This design was not used.Another concept artwork, this one much more similar to the final set seen in the filmConcept artwork of New Oasis, a much simpler atoll

### Video games

An atoll in the Sega Genesis / Mega Drive video gameThe Mariner clears out the interior of an atoll (Atoll Serina) from smokers in the Sega Genesis gameAn atoll in the SNES portA battle for an atoll (*Waterworld: The Quest for Dryland*)An unnamed yet typical atoll during a live-action cutscene (*Waterworld: The Quest for Dryland*)
### Board game

Atolls (rear left) among the pieces for the board game
## External links

* Atoll article on Wikipedia
* Artificial island article on Wikipedia
* Ocean colonization article on Wikipedia
* Seasteading article on Wikipedia

## References

1. ↑ Newspaper clippings in the manual for *Waterworld: The Quest for Dryland* describing the timeline of the The Great Deluge
2. ↑ Extended edition of film and film novelisation
3. ↑ Dialogue by Old Gregor in *Waterworld: The Quest for Dryland*
4. ↑ The Mariner's dialogue with the banker at Oasis Atoll in the film. He says that he obtained the dirt from there.