The Southern Water Tribe is the southern division of the Water Tribes. Its people are concentrated in its capital, a large harbor city at the coast of the South Pole, but many also live in small settlements throughout the pole. The Southern Water Tribe is a confederation of several smaller tribes, led by chieftains and elders, who form a council that jointly govern the South Pole. Since achieving independence from the Northern Water Tribe in 171 ASC, the South has its own chief as the official head of state.
The Southern Water Tribe has an eventful history, and saw times of prosperity and freedom as well as decline and genocide. Before the Hundred Year War, the Southern Water Tribe was not a great power like its sister tribe, but was still thriving. It had a unique culture and waterbending style. While not a united state but rather an alliance of small chiefdoms, the tribe was centered in one large inland city. However, the Hundred Year War reached the Southern Water Tribe in 40 ASC. In order to eliminate a possible threat to its war efforts, the Fire Nation initiated a series of brutal raids, devastating the South Pole and killing or capturing all waterbenders. In the end, the Southern Water Tribe was on the brink of extinction, with its culture shattered, its main city largely abandoned, and its unique waterbending style effectively erased.
