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"There are added concerns like venomous snakes, rabid animals, and no real paths to follow."
Katniss Everdeen talking about the dangers of the woods[src]

The woods are an area that lies beyond the fence that surrounds District 12.[1]

Location[]

Like District 12, the woods are located in the region of Appalachia,[2] and they come between between District 12 and District 13. They're very wide and vast, though the exact area is unknown.

The fence[]

Main article: Fence

An electric fence separated the outskirts of District 12 from the woods, but it was rarely on due to power shortages. There were many holes across the length of it that could be used to gain access to the woods. One of the most accessible points was the one by the Meadow; Katniss Everdeen often used this entrance because it was so close to her home in the Seam.[1]

Supposedly, the Capitol placed the fence there to keep wild animals out and protect the streets of District 12, but Katniss suspected it was so they could ensure citizens were kept inside.[1] This seems to be supported by the fact that the fence did not exist at the time of The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes. It was later torn down by escaping refugees.[3]

Katniss and Gale's meeting place[]

Katniss-Gale-UHQ

Katniss and Gale talking.

Katniss and Gale Hawthorne usually met up at a special place: a rock ledge overlooking a valley, though they were well-hidden by a thicket of berry bushes. On reaping day for the 74th Hunger Games, Katniss stripped berries from the bushes, which they ate there along with bakery bread and goat cheese from Prim.[1]

The lake[]

Main article: Lake

A couple of hours into the woods, there is a lake with an old concrete house at its edge. This place was well-known to the Covey,[4] as well as to Mr. Everdeen many years later; he took Katniss there when she was young. According to her, he thought there used to be a lot of other buildings a long time ago, as the foundations were still visible, where people could come to play and fish.[5]

Katniss never took Gale to the lake before her Victory Tour,[6] but she led him there the Sunday after she returned.[5] After the bombing of District 12, Gale brought around 800 survivors to the lake, and he and a team of other able-bodied volunteers kept the group fed for three days, hunting and fishing until they were rescued.[3]

Resources[]

Katniss hunting

Katniss hunting by the lake in The Hunger Games: Catching Fire

The forest is a place some citizens of District 12 venture to hunt or gather food. In the fall, some “brave souls” would sneak into the woods to harvest apples. Katniss and Gale entered the forest far more regularly, hunting to provide for their families. Mr. Everdeen hid bows around the forest so that he could easily gain access to them. They hunted rabbits, squirrels, and the occasional deer, and then brought them back to sell or trade at the Hob. Katniss and Gale also collected plants, both edible and medicinal. Gale set up mesh nets around strawberry patches so wild animals couldn't eat them. People could also fish in the rivers and lakes, or collect katniss tubers from the shallows.[1]

Trivia[]

References[]

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 The Hunger Games, Chapter 1
  2. The Hunger Games, Chapter 3
  3. 3.0 3.1 Mockingjay, Chapter 1
  4. The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, Chapter 27
  5. 5.0 5.1 Catching Fire, Chapter 7
  6. Catching Fire, Chapter 3
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