Gaia (Guy-uh), the spirit of Earth, is the protector of the planet. She brought the Planeteers to her home base on Hope Island to help her in the battle to save Earth.
Gaia's health is connected to the health of the planet and she feels anguish whenever damage is done to the planet, its seas, atmosphere, or any living creatures. When this occurs, Gaia spurs the Planeteers into action. In a sense, she is an "Eco-Alert Early Warning System."
Gaia is a source of wisdom and advice both for Captain Planet and the Planeteers. She helps the Planeteers to identify environmental problems via Planetvision, a series of crystalline screens located on Hope Island. These "monitors" track the events of the present and can predict their ultimate outcome by extrapolating current ecological trends and displaying the results if left unchecked.
Gaia is the archetypal mother. She loves Earth's children unconditionally. Though she is saddened by what they've done and worried about the future, she is eternally hopeful that all will turn out for the best.
Gaia always appears in her long flowing gown. While the Planeteers each represent a specific culture, Gaia represents all cultures and is protector of all life on the planet. Her appearance - swarthy skin, black hair and blue eyes - is ethnically ambiguous. She is unable to materialize in tangible form anywhere except Hope Island, appearing elsewhere only as an ethereal, translucent being who can interact verbally but not physically.
