Tiphares, known in Japan as Zalem (ザレム Zaremu?), is the great aerial city that is suspended via the orbital ring, Jacob's Ladder, over the Scrapyard. Supplying Tiphares is the sole function of the Scrapyard, which also processes and recycles the waste ejected from Tiphares. Although the nature of the relationship appears to be a parasitic one on Tiphares' part, the two cannot effectively coexist without each other. Tiphares' nature remained largely mysterious throughout Battle Angel Alita and was only revealed in more detail in Last Order. Desty Nova and Daisuke Ido, as well as the notorious Jean Vares, are all Tiphareans.