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VIVI: We just crossed the Sandora River,
and docked here at the green city, Elumalu

LUFFY: The green city? But there isn’t anything green out here…

VIVI: Nowadays, yes…

VIVI: For ages past, the Sandora River nourished the lands of Alabasta, but in recent years, the river has lost its vigor and is now being driven inland by the ocean.

ZORO: Is that why this town dried up?

—

Vivi then explains that up until a few years ago, cities like Elumalu got by collecting rainwater to store and even had plantlife. This is where the rain powder is explained and the situation with Crocodile.

VIVI: This country’s peace, its trust in the King, the rain…People’s homes and even their lives…All of it was stripped away, because of one man!

—

So Alabasta is a kingdom that is 4000 years old as we know from the palace. What Vivi tells us here about the rivers history and modern politics is some good context for the arc, but for the overall epic-story, it’s important to know that river erosion isn’t something that would only have happened in recent years. That is something that builds up over time, hundreds of years to a thousand years. You wouldn’t call a city “the green city” because of some sparse plantlife.

According to Vivi these cities had already placed great value on rainwater and using it efficiently. That isn’t a culture that just springs up over a couple years! People that lived like this for generations…they would dream for rain.

VIVI: We just crossed the Sandora River,
and docked here at the green city, Elumalu

LUFFY: The green city? But there isn’t anything green out here…

VIVI: Nowadays, yes…

VIVI: For ages past, the Sandora River nourished the lands of Alabasta, but in recent years, the river has lost its vigor and is now being driven inland by the ocean.

ZORO: Is that why this town dried up?

—

Vivi then explains that up until a few years ago, cities like Elumalu got by collecting rainwater to store and even had plantlife. This is where the rain powder is explained and the situation with Crocodile.

VIVI: This country’s peace, its trust in the King, the rain…People’s homes and even their lives…All of it was stripped away, because of one man!

—

So Alabasta is a kingdom that is 4000 years old as we know from the palace. What Vivi tells us here about the rivers history and modern politics is some good context for the arc, but for the overall epic-story, it’s important to know that river erosion isn’t something that would only have happened in recent years. That is something that builds up over time, hundreds of years to a thousand years. You wouldn’t call a city “the green city” because of some sparse plantlife.

According to Vivi these cities had already placed great value on rainwater and using it efficiently. That isn’t a culture that just springs up over a couple years! People that lived like this for generations…they would dream for rain.

I’m warning you guys now, do not overvalue your Dragon stocks.