From WoWWiki
World of Warcraft consists of four continents currently, Eastern Kingdoms, Kalimdor, Northrend, and Outland, which are sometimes divided into other sections which are also called continents, and further divided into smaller sections in-game known as zones.WoWOSG 212
Zones are areas of the map with designated themes, mobs, and scenery. These areas have borders much like a state or country, and though invisible, they define areas.WoWOSG 9 They may contain subzones, cities, towns, villages, or instances. For example, the zone of Dun Morogh contains the subzone of Coldridge Valley, the city Ironforge, the town Kharanos, and the instance Gnomeregan.
In lore and the official web site, a zone is usually referred to as a "region" (however, the community has basically forced Blizzard to start using zone instead). Furthermore, lore regions and in-game zones do not always match up (what may be a region in lore may be reduced to a subzone in-game, or some subregions may become their own zones).
For a graphical list, see Zones by level.
Zones by continent
Eastern Kingdoms
Eastern Kingdoms
| Region | Level | PvP Status | Key Towns | Notes | Map
|
| Dun Morogh
| 1-12
| Alliance
|  Kharanos, (Ironforge)
| Dwarf and gnome starting, Gnomeregan instance
| WW
|
| Elwynn Forest
| 1-10
| Alliance
| Goldshire, (Stormwind City)
| Human starting, The Stockade instance, Darkmoon Faire site. Boats to Auberdine and Northrend  from Stormwind Harbor.
| WW
|
Eversong Woods 
| 1-10
| Horde
|  Falconwing Square, Fairbreeze Village, (Silvermoon City)
| Blood elf starting zone.
| WW
|
Gilneas 
| 1-15
| Alliance
| Duskhaven
| Worgen starting
| WW
|
| Tirisfal Glades
| 1-10
| Horde
| Brill, (Undercity)
| Undead starting, Scarlet Monastery instance, Ruins of Lordaeron Arena, zeppelins to Durotar, Stranglethorn Vale, and Howling Fjord
| WW
|
| Ghostlands
| 10-20
| Horde
| Tranquillien,  Hatchet Hills
| Blood elf favored, Zul'Aman instance entrance
| WW
|
| Loch Modan
| 10-20
| Alliance
| Thelsamar
| Dwarf and Gnome favored
| WW
|
| Silverpine Forest
| 10-20
| Horde
| The Sepulcher
| Undead favored, Shadowfang Keep instance
| WW
|
| Westfall
| 10-20
| Alliance
| Sentinel Hill
| Human favored, Deadmines instance
| WW
|
| Redridge Mountains
| 15-25
| Contested
| Lakeshire
| Alliance favored
| WW
|
| Duskwood
| 18-30
| Contested
| Darkshire
| Alliance favored, Twilight Grove - Emerald Dream portal
| WW
|
| Hillsbrad Foothills
| 20-30
| Contested
| Southshore, Tarren Mill
|
| WW
|
| Wetlands
| 20-30
| Contested
| Menethil Harbor
| Alliance favored, location of Grim Batol. Boats to Theramore Isle and Northrend from Menethil Harbor.
| WW
|
| Alterac Mountains
| 30-40
| Contested
|
| Alterac Valley battleground
| WW
|
| Arathi Highlands
| 30-40
| Contested
| Refuge Point, Hammerfall
| Arathi Basin battleground
| WW
|
| Stranglethorn Vale
| 31-45
| Contested
| Booty Bay, Grom'gol Base Camp, Rebel Camp
| Zul'Gurub instance. Boat to Ratchet and zeppelins to Durotar and Tirisfal Glades.
| WW
|
| Badlands
| 35-45
| Contested
| Kargath
| Uldaman instance
| WW
|
| Swamp of Sorrows
| 35-45
| Contested
| Stonard
| Horde favored, Temple of Atal'Hakkar instance
| WW
|
| The Hinterlands
| 40-50
| Contested
| Aerie Peak, Revantusk Village
| Seradane - Emerald Dream portal
| WW
|
| Searing Gorge
| 45-50
| Contested
| Thorium Point
| Several instances (in Blackrock Mountain)
| WW
|
| The Blasted Lands
| 45-55
| Contested
| Nethergarde Keep
| Dark Portal location - access to Outland
| WW
|
| Burning Steppes
| 50-58
| Contested
| Morgan's Vigil, Flame Crest
| Several instances (in Blackrock Mountain)
| WW
|
| Western Plaguelands
| 50-58
| Contested
| Chillwind Camp
| Scholomance instance
| WW
|
| Eastern Plaguelands
| 53-60
| Contested
(Sanctuary within Ebon Hold)
| Light's Hope Chapel, Ebon Hold
| Stratholme instance
| WW
|
| The Scarlet Enclave
| 55-58
| Contested
| Ebon Hold
| Instanced Death Knight starting. Becomes subzone of the Eastern Plaguelands after its destruction during the Death Knight starting quests.
| WW
|
| Blackrock Mountain
| 49-60
| Contested
|
| BRD, LBRS, UBRS, Molten Core, BWL instances
| -
|
| Deadwind Pass
| 55-70
| Contested
|
| Karazhan instance
| WW
|
| Isle of Quel'Danas
| 65-70+ *
| Contested
| Sun's Reach
| Magisters' Terrace and Sunwell Plateau instances
| -
|
| Twilight Highlands (NYI)
| 84-85
| Contested
| TBA
| Grim Batol instance
| NYI
|
* Based upon the flight path for Alliance characters becoming available at level 65 in Ironforge and the ability for level 65 characters to use it to travel to the island. (tested 6/25/2009) However, only level 70 characters can accept quests here.
Kalimdor
Kalimdor
| Region | Level | PvP Status | Key Towns | Notes | Map
|
| Azuremyst Isle
| 1-10
| Alliance
| Azure Watch, (The Exodar)
| Draenei starting. Boat to Auberdine.
| WW
|
| Durotar
| 1-10
| Horde
| Razor Hill, Sen'jin Village, (Orgrimmar)
| Orc and troll starting, (Ragefire Chasm instance), zeppelins to Tirisfal Glades, Stranglethorn Vale, and Borean Tundra .
| WW
|
| Mulgore
| 1-10
| Horde
| Bloodhoof Village, (Thunder Bluff)
| Tauren starting, Darkmoon Faire site
| WW
|
| Teldrassil
| 1-10
| Alliance
| Dolanaar, (Darnassus)
| Night elf starting. Boat to Auberdine.
| WW
|
| Bloodmyst Isle
| 10-20
| Alliance
| Blood Watch
| Draenei favored
| WW
|
| Darkshore
| 10-20
| Alliance
| Auberdine
| Night elf favored. Boats to Azuremyst Isle , Stormwind Harbor, Teldrassil from Auberdine.
| WW
|
| The Barrens
| 10-25
| Horde
| Crossroads, Camp Taurajo, Ratchet
| Wailing Caverns, Razorfen Kraul, and Razorfen Downs instances
| WW
|
| Stonetalon Mountains
| 15-27
| Contested
| Stonetalon Peak, Sun Rock Retreat
|
| WW
|
| Ashenvale
| 18-30
| Contested
| Astranaar, Forest Song, Splintertree Post, Zoram'gar Outpost
| Blackfathom Deeps instance,
Warsong Gulch battleground,
Bough Shadow - Emerald Dream portal
| WW
|
| Thousand Needles
| 25-35
| Contested
| Freewind Post
| Horde favored, contains the largest Grimtotem base in Kalimdor.
| WW
|
| Desolace
| 30-40
| Contested
| Nijel's Point, Shadowprey Village
| Horde favored, Maraudon instance
| WW
|
| Dustwallow Marsh
| 35-45
| Contested
| Theramore, Brackenwall Village, Mudsprocket
| Onyxia's Lair instance. Boat to Menethil Harbor from Theramore Isle.
| WW
|
| Feralas
| 40-50
| Contested
| Feathermoon Stronghold, Thalanaar, Camp Mojache
| Dire Maul instance, Dream Bough - Emerald Dream portal
| WW
|
| Tanaris
| 40-50
| Contested
| Gadgetzan
| Zul'Farrak and Caverns of Time instances, location of Uldum
| WW
|
| Azshara
| 45-55
| Contested
| Talrendis Point, Valormok
| Goblin secondary zone, retuned to 10-20. (NYI).
| WW
|
| Felwood
| 48-55
| Contested
| Talonbranch Glade, Bloodvenom Post, Emerald Sanctuary
|
| WW
|
| Un'goro Crater
| 48-55
| Contested
| Marshal's Refuge
|
| WW
|
| Winterspring
| 53-60
| Contested
| Everlook
| Blocked entrance to Hyjal
| WW
|
| Silithus
| 55-60
| Contested
| Cenarion Hold
| Ruins of Ahn'Qiraj and Temple of Ahn'Qiraj instances
| WW
|
| Moonglade
| N/A
| Contested
| Nighthaven
| Druid favored; almost mobless zone,
except Eranikus (summoned, with mobs) and Omen (Lunar Festival only)
| WW
|
| Hyjal (NYI)
| 78-82
| Contested
| To be announced
| Entrance to the Firelands, Location of the World Tree
| NYI
|
| Uldum (NYI)
| 80-84
| Contested
| To be announced
| Halls of Origination and Lost City of Tol'vir instances
| NYI
|
Outland
This section concerns content exclusive to The Burning Crusade.
Outland
| Region | Level | PvP Status | Key Towns | Notes | Map
|
| Hellfire Peninsula
| 58-63
| Contested
(Sanctuary at Stair of Destiny)
| Honor Hold, Thrallmar, Temple of Telhamat, Falcon Watch
| Hellfire Citadel instances
| WW
|
| Zangarmarsh
| 60-64
| Contested
| Telredor, Zabra'jin, Orebor Harborage, Swamprat Post, Cenarion Refuge, Sporeggar
| Coilfang Reservoir instances
| WW
|
| Terokkar Forest
| 62-65
| Contested
(Sanctuary within Shattrath)
| Allerian Stronghold, Stonebreaker Hold, (Shattrath City)
| Auchindoun instances, Darkmoon Faire site
| WW
|
| Nagrand
| 64-67
| Contested
| Telaar, Garadar, Halaa
| Ring of Trials arena
| WW
|
| Blade's Edge Mountains
| 65-68
| Contested
| Sylvanaar, Thunderlord Stronghold, Toshley's Station, Mok'Nathal Village, Evergrove
| Gruul's Lair, Circle of Blood arena
| WW
|
| Netherstorm
| 67-70
| Contested
| Area 52, Stormspire, Cosmowrench
| Tempest Keep instances, Eye of the Storm battleground
| WW
|
| Shadowmoon Valley
| 67-70
| Contested
| Wildhammer Stronghold, Shadowmoon Village, Altar of Sha'tar (Aldor), Sanctum of the Stars (Scryer)
| Black Temple instance
| WW
|
Northrend
This section concerns content exclusive to Wrath of the Lich King.
Northrend
| Region | Level | PvP Status | Key Towns | Notes | Map
|
| Borean Tundra
| 68-72
| Contested
| Valiance Keep, Fizzcrank Airstrip, Warsong Hold, Bor'gorok Outpost,Taunka'le Village, Unu'pe, Amber Ledge, Transitus Shield
| The Nexus instances. Boat to Stormwind Harbor. Zeppelin to Durotar. Turtle boat to Dragonblight.
| WW
|
| Howling Fjord
| 68-72
| Contested
| Valgarde, New Agamand, Westguard Keep, Vengeance Landing, Camp Winterhoof, Apothecary Camp, Fort Wildervar, Kamagua
| Utgarde Keep instances. Boat to Menethil Harbor. Zeppelin to Tirisfal Glades. Turtle boat to Dragonblight.
| WW
|
| Dragonblight
| 71-74
| Contested
| Wintergarde Keep, Stars' Rest, Fordragon Hold, Moa'ki Harbor, Wyrmrest Temple, Agmar's Hammer, Kor'kron Vanguard, Venomspite
| Naxxramas, Azjol-Nerub and Chamber of Aspects instances, turtle boats to Borean Tundra and Howling Fjord.
| WW
|
| Grizzly Hills
| 73-75
| Contested
| Amberpine Lodge, Westfall Brigade Encampment, Conquest Hold, Camp Oneqwah
| Drak'Tharon Keep instance
| WW
|
| Zul'Drak
| 74-77
| Contested
| Ebon Watch, Light's Breach, The Argent Stand, Zim'Torga, Gundrak
| Gundrak instance
| WW
|
| Sholazar Basin
| 76-78
| Contested
| Nesingwary Base Camp, River's Heart
|
| WW
|
| Storm Peaks
| 76-80
| Contested
| K3, Bouldercrag's Refuge, Dun Niffelem, Ulduar, Grom'arsh Crash-Site, Camp Tunka'lo, Frosthold, Brann's Base-Camp
| Ulduar instances
| WW
|
| Crystalsong Forest
| 77-80
| Contested
(Sanctuary within Dalaran)
| Windrunner's Overlook, Sunreaver's Command, (Dalaran)
| Dalaran floats above the zone. Violet Hold instance in Dalaran.
| WW
|
| Hrothgar's Landing
| 77-80
| Contested
|
|
| WW
|
| Icecrown
| 77-80
| Contested
(Sanctuary at Argent Tournament Grounds)
| The Argent Vanguard, Death's Rise, The Shadow Vault, Crusaders' Pinnacle, Argent Tournament Grounds
| Crusaders' Coliseum and Icecrown Citadel instances
| WW
|
| Wintergrasp
| 77-80
| Combat zone
| Valiance Landing Camp, Warsong Camp
| Zone is a dedicated PvP zone, even on PvE realms. Accessible only by flying mount or portal. Contains Vault of Archavon raid instance.
| WW
|
The Great Sea
This section concerns content exclusive to Cataclysm.
External links
World of Warcraft Community Site Region Levels
