what is azkaban in harry potter

Azkaban is a high-security prison in the Harry Potter series, located on an island in the middle of the North Sea. It serves as a prison for convicted criminals within the magical community of Great Britain. The name "Azkaban" is derived from a mixture of the prison "Alcatraz," which is its closest Muggle equivalent, and "Abaddon". The fortress was initially built by a dark wizard named Ekrizdis, who performed dark magic and lured Muggle sailors to murder them in cold blood. Azkaban is guarded by Dementors, dark creatures that feed on human happiness and can induce despair with their presence. In the series, Azkaban is first mentioned when Rubeus Hagrid is taken there after being falsely accused. The prison is known for its harsh conditions and the use of Dementors as guards, which has been a subject of controversy within the wizarding community. However, under Kingsley Shacklebolt, Azkaban was purged of Dementors, and the guards are now Aurors who are regularly rotated from the mainland, resulting in no breakout since this new system was introduced.