Metru Nui
In the
Bionicle storyline,
Metru Nui is a huge island city located far beneath the surface of the island of
Mata Nui; its name literally means "Great City" in the Matoran language. It was the original home of about a thousand
Matoran prior to their emigration to Mata Nui. The city is divided into six districts, or "Metru": Ta-Metru, Ga-Metru, Onu-Metru, Po-Metru, Le-Metru, and Ko-Metru. Each Metru's Matoran play a different role in the smooth running of the city. Metru Nui is ruled by
Turaga Dume, and was once protected by robotic order enforcement squads called
Vahki. Each Metru had a different type of Vahki, but all were highly efficient and relentless enforcers of the laws of the city.
The city of Metru Nui is actually underground, far below the island that came to be known as
Mata Nui. The Matoran living there are generally unaware of this, however; mists obscure the cavern walls (called "the Great Barrier") and give the appearance of a normal sky. Metru Nui's "suns" are actually holes in the planet's surface (specifically one under a glacier near Mt. Ihu, and one in or near Lake Naho). The nature of the "stars" is unknown, but the
Great Spirit Mata Nui can direct their movement to deliver prophesies. The city also stands in the center of a vast "Silver Sea" of liquid
protodermis.
The Coliseum
The Coliseum is at the center of the city of Metru Nui, where the borders of the six districts meet. It is where sporting events such as Akilini take place, as well as being the main power station for the city. It also serves as
Turaga Dume's home. When the
Visorak invaded the city, they made the Coliseum their main nesting grounds.
Ta-Metru
Ta-Metru is the place where
protodermis is molded and manufactured after it is rid of its impurities in Ga-Metru. Because of all the smoke and heat from the foundries and forges,
Matoran from other districts do not like to stay here long. A landmark here is the Great Furnace, where the
Morbuzakh's King Root lived before it was destroyed. The Matoran here work as mask-makers, monitors of Protodermis flows, and proto-smiths.
Ga-Metru
Ga-Metru is the center of learning in the city; where the schools and research labs are located. This is also the district where liquid
protodermis is taken from the Silver Sea and purifed so that it could be used elsewhere; there are canals for liquid protodermis everywhere. Ga-Metru is very peaceful, and is said to be the Metru most favored by
Mata Nui. Just offshore from Ga-Metru is the Great Temple, home to the Toa Suva shrine and other objects of power.
Le-Metru
Le-Metru is the transport hub of the city. Le-Matoran are in charge of the entire city's transport network, particularly the system of chutes that move people and things between Metru. The flurry of activity and the number of wires strung about give the district the feeling of an urban jungle and of (barely) controlled chaos. Le-Metru's Moto-Hub is the largest chute station in Metru Nui, as well as the administration building for chutes, where the main controls are located. There is also a Test Track, where new vehicle designs are made and tested by volunteer Matoran.
Po-Metru
Po-Metru is the most natural of all the city districts, as it is made up mainly of rocky mountains and canyons. Po-Matoran like to work outside, assembling goods and carving statues.
Rahi attacks and stampedes are somewhat common in this district. Po-Metru's claim to fame is the Sculpture Fields; a large expanse where Po-Matoran work to carve giant statues much too large for any building.
Onu-Metru
Onu-Metru is home to the Archives, an underground museum complex where Onu-Matoran archivists work hard to preserve artifacts of Metru Nui's history. The archives have actually expanded again and again, to the point where they stretch underneath the whole city. Besides just artifacts,
Rahi are also kept in the Archives; in stasis, if possible. This Metru is also home to lightstone and
protodermis mines, where lightstones to illuminate the city and protodermis to be sent to Ga-Metru for refining.
Ko-Metru
Ko-Metru is known best for its Knowledge Towers, which are crystalline structures that can reach so high that their rooftops are often covered with ice. Ko-Matoran are scholars and seers who study and analyze, trying to predict the future. The district is kept incredibly cold, in order to better preserve written documents. Ko-Metru is the quietest district in the city, as Ko-Matoran hate to have their work interrupted. The mythical
Rahi Keetongu also made his home in a Ko-Metru cave.
*
Metru Nui article at Bionicle Sector 01 Wiki
