Esthar - Great Salt Lake

In Final Fantasy VIII, Esthar is a technologically advanced nation located on the eastern continent of the game world. Esthar City, the capital, is hidden from view using an Optical Camouflage System. The Great Salt Lake, situated on the western side of the Esthar continent, was once a beautiful lake, but experiments conducted by Esthar caused it to dry up, leaving behind a barren salt flat. In the story, Squall and his party pass through this location to enter Esthar in their quest to save Rinoa. The interior of the Great Salt Lake serves as a dungeon that cannot be revisited, where players battle enemies to reach Esthar City. This area not only shows the cruelty of Esthar's experiments but also serves as a key point in the story's progression. The area's background music is called "The Salt Flats", often confused with the lake's name. The desolate landscape of the Great Salt Lake contrasts sharply with the advanced technology of Esthar, illustrating the game's themes of environmental change and plot development.