Restwater

Restwater is the largest lake in all of Oz, a vast inland sea that marks a significant geographical and narrative boundary within the land. Its immense scale and the journey across it are noted when Elphaba, flying on her broom from the Vinkus to Munchkinland, takes an entire night to traverse its southern edge, with the water lapping endlessly in "blackoily silk waves" against the sedge and swamp. This crossing positions Restwater as a formidable natural obstacle that separates the western territories from the eastern provinces, a threshold that requires considerable time and effort to cross.

Geography and Setting

Restwater is fed by the Gillikin River, which flows from the north, and is drained by the Munchkin River on its eastern side. The lake's shores are characterized by sedge and swamp, creating a marshy, transitional landscape between the riverine systems and the open water. Its sheer size is emphasized by the duration of Elphaba's flight, which takes a full night to complete, underscoring the lake's role as a major geographical feature that divides the regions of Oz.

Narrative Significance

Restwater serves as a critical waypoint in Elphaba's journey from the Vinkus to Colwen Grounds in Munchkinland. After flying down the steep flanks of the Great Kells and following the Gillikin River, she reaches Restwater and must navigate its southern edge. The lake's presence marks the transition from the mountainous, isolated Vinkus into the more fertile and populated alluvial plains of the east. The journey across Restwater is a solitary and contemplative passage, a liminal space between the two distinct worlds of her past and her destination.

Associated Events and Characters

The lake is directly associated with Elphaba's flight to Colwen Grounds following the death of her sister, Nessarose. It is also mentioned in the context of the Gillikin River, which flows into it, and the Munchkin River, which drains it, connecting Restwater to the broader hydrological and geographical network of Oz. The lake's presence is a constant, silent witness to the vastness of the land and the distances that separate its key locations.