Before the Hundred Year War, the Misty Palms Oasis was an icy, refreshing spring. However, as time passed, the spring gradually melted away and the oasis was converted into a rest stop. Before making plans to find information about the Fire Nation, Team Avatar decided to take "mini-vacations". For hers, Katara chose to visit the Misty Palms Oasis, as it sounded refreshing. Aang stated that he had been to its "pristine natural ice spring" once before, commenting that it was "one of nature's wonders". However, much to their disappointment, the oasis had deteriorated into a state far less stimulating than it once was, with the ice spring having almost entirely melted away. Here, the group encountered Professor Zei before heading off into the desert in search of Wan Shi Tong's Library.