Where Exactly Is Dryland At The End Of Waterworld?

Kevin Reynolds' "Waterworld" is a post-apocalyptic action film set in the year 2500 and stars Kevin Costner as a mutant man named the Mariner, living in a world covered in water. Even though the movie was off to a rough start, with Reynolds walking off the set before he finished the movie, it's become a cult classic and a well-loved film.

In the movie's story, the polar ice caps have melted, and the world is covered in water, leaving humanity to survive on dilapidated boats. The Mariner, who escapes from a near-death experience, finds himself on the run with Helen (Jeanne Tripplehorn) and a little girl named Enola (Tina Majorino).

With pirates chasing them, the Mariner tries to get Helen and Enola to a mythical place called "Dryland." When they finally arrive at the end of the movie, Dryland's location is unclear, and for years, fans were left guessing where this area could be. Is it based on an actual piece of land? Let's find out.

When "Waterworld: The Ulysses Cut" came out, Dryland's location was confirmed: What viewers see in the film is the lush greenery on top of Mount Everest. As noted by Screen Rant, in an added scene, Helen and Enola come across a plaque that honors Mount Everest's first successful climbers, Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay. Arguably, this was one of the most prized scenes of the extended cut, as the location had remained a mystery for over 10 years. 

This isn't the only known location that shows up in the movie. The Mariner frequently visits an underwater city that is actually a digitally re-created version of Denver, Colorado. The famous Northwest Building, which looks like a cash register, can be seen in the background of a shot.

If you want to check it out for yourself, the theatrical cut of "Waterworld" is available to rent on Amazon Prime Video.