THE RIVERS OF MIDDLE EARTHThe Rivers of Middle Earth seem to indicate precipitation patterns dominated by westerly flow. The number of streams and rivers is greatest south of the White Mountains, but further southward the climate is desertic. Furthermore, the vegetation on the western margin of the continent is densely forested. Precipitation may be similar to that of western Washington and Oregon, USA, 30-50 inches per year (75-125 cm/yr). It would fall to 20-25 inches (50-65 cm) west of the Lhún, but snowfall is high (200-300 inches [500-750cm] / yr) in the northern Misty Mountains. The area of Middle Earth drained by its major rivers is approximately 1,540,000 square miles, about half that of western Europe; and the individual drainages of its major rivers are 100,000 - 150,000 square miles (cf. Danube 320,000 sq. mi., Mississippi 1,247,000). Thus the Anduin, Grayflood, and Brandywine are probably the size of the Rhine or smaller. The Anduin and Grayflood head in the Northern Misty Mountains, and are therefore likely fed by snowmelt. The Brandywine originates in Lake Evendim, and probably has a lower but less seasonally-variable flow. Adorn Anduin River Brandywine River Grayflood River River Celebrant Ciril Enchanted River Entwash Erui Forest River Gilrain Gladden Glanduin Grayflood River Greylin Harnen River River Hoarwell River Isen Kiril Langwell Lefnui River River Lhûn Limlight Loudwater River Midgewater River Morgulduin Morthond Nimrodel Onodl� Poros Redwater River Ringl� The River Running Serni Shirebourn Sirannon Sirith Snowbourn Stock-brook Thistle Brook The Water Withywindle | |
Adorn |
A small river flowing northward from the White Mountains to the Issen, through grasslands. It marks western border of Rohan. |
Anduin River |
Langflood
The Great River flowing southward from the Grey Mountains
and Forodwaith of northern Middle Earth, and thence between the
Misty Mountains and Mirkwood,
south to the sea at the Bay of Belfalas. Below it's great falls, Rauros,
it is navigable, except for portages at Caer Andros. Sailing ships could reach Osgiliath, the
capital of Gondor. Along it's length it passes the
Carrock and the Old Ford, and then receives the rivers Gladen, Nimrodel and Limlight
above Rauros. Below, it is joined by the Entwash, passes Cair Andros, and then
receives the rivers Morgul, Erui, Sirith, and Poros.
At it's mouth, the Anduin flows past the ancient city of Pelargir, and then
through a broad delta with many narrow courses (the Ethir Anduin),
before it reaches the Bay of Belfalas, protected by the barren
Island of Tolfalas, which is considered the southernmost point of
Gondor proper. |
Brandywine River |
Baranduin. Heading in Lake Evendim and flowing southward past the eastern margin of The Shire and then southwestward to the Great Sea along the western edge of The Black Woods (Eryn Vorn). Near its mouth it divides Lindon (to the north) from Minhiriath to the south. Crossed by the Great West Road at the Shire by the Brandywine Bridge (Bridge of Stonebows), and by the Great Southern Road at Sarn Ford. |
Grayflood River |
Agathurush. Gwathir. Gwathló. Flowing from the confluence of the Hoarwell (Mitheithel) and Loudwater (Bruinen) rivers southwestward to the Great Sea at the ancient Númenórian Port of Lond Daer. In the north it divides Eriador from Erigion (Hollin), and south of the mouth of the Glanduin River it divides Minhiriath from Enedwaith. It is crossed by the Great Southern Road at Tharbad, near the mouth of the Glanduin River west of the Swanfleet (Nin-in-Eliph) wetlands. |
River Celebrant |
Silverlode. The river flowing through Lórien from the valley of Nanduhirion in the Misty Mountians to the Anduin. |
Ciril |
River flowing southward from the White Mountains to the River Ringló in Lamedon in Gondor. |
Enchanted River |
a stream draining the Hills of Mirkwood northward to the Forest River. Filled with the evil of Sauron so that anyone who drank or even touched it fell into deep sleep. |
Entwash |
Sîr Angren (Onedlo) the primary river of Calahedron (Rohan) draining southern Fanghorn, and flowing southeastward to the Anduin between the falls of Rauros and the fords at Caer Andros. At its mouth the Entwash forms a broad delta and accross the Anduin are the Nindalf wetlands and the Dead Marshes. |
Erui |
a small river draining the White Mountains and flowing through Lossarnach, Gondor, joining the Anduin above Pelargir. |
Forest River |
a small river flowing southeastward from the Gray Mountains to the River Running, through northern Mirkwood. Near its mouth it is joined by the Enchanted River, from the south. |
Gilrain |
draining the western White Mountans, flowing southward into the Bay of Belfalas north of Tolfalas and the delta of the Anduin. It is the primary river of the rich agricultural area of Lebennin, Gondor. Where Nimrodel lived. |
Gladden |
Sîr Ninglor draining the Misty mountains eastward through the Gladden Fields to the Anduin. There Isildur was slain at the beginning of the third age, and the one ring lost, and there Sméagol took the ring from Déagol who found it in the Anduin. |
Glanduin |
heading the Misty Mountains near Mória and draining westward through the delta of Nîn-in-Eilph (Swanfleet) into the Grayflood above the crossing at Tharbad. The city of Ost-in-Edhil, capital of Eregion, was founded by Galadriel and Celeborn in II 750 where the Glanduin was joined by the Sirannon. In Ost-in-Edhil the rings of power were forged by Celebrimbor and the House of the Mírdain. The city was destroyed by Sauron in II 1697, and the 7 and 9 rings of power taken, but the 3 Elven rings were hidden from him by Celebrimbor. |
Greylin |
Flowing southwestard from the Gray Mountains to join the Langwell (which drains the Misty Mountains) and together to form the Anduin. |
Harnen River |
Flowing westward from southern Moria into the Bay of Belfalas, a traditional boarder between Gondor and Harad in the Third Age. Near here Ar-Pharazôn camped when he commanded Sauron to surrender, and then took him captive to Numenor, II 3261. |
River Hoarwell |
Mitheithel. Flowing from the Misty Mountains, just east of the Ettenmoors, southwestward to its confluence with the Loudwater, there forming the Grayflood . Crossed by the Great East Road by the Last Bridge. |
River Isen |
Sîr Angren Flowing from the southern Misty Mountains at Issengard westward to the Great Sea in Enedwaith. Joined by the River Adorn, which flows from the White Mountains, about half way along its 300 mile length. Dunland lies north of the Issen. It is crossed by the Great Southern Road at the Fords of Isen. |
Kiril |
A tributary of the river Ringló, draining the southern White Mountains. It is crossed by the road to Pelegar at the village of Calembel, Lamedon, Gondor. |
Langwell |
A river draining the northern Misty Mountains south of Mount Gundabad, flowing southeastward to join the Graylin at the origin of the Anduin. |
Lefnui River |
draining the western White Mountans, flowing southward into the Bay of Belfalas. Forming the border between Andrast and Anfalas of Gondor. |
River Lhûn |
Lune. Blue. River in northwestern Eriador, flowing southward from tributaries in the Blue Mountains and Hills of Evendim, southward and southwestward to the Gulf of Lhûn. The Gray Havens are at the mouth of the river. There it is crossed by the Dwarven Road to the Blue Mountains. |
Limlight |
Limlight River draining the northern Fanghorn into the Anduin, and forming the southern boundary of the Field Celebrant. |
Loudwater River |
Bruinen. Flowing from the Misty Mountains, near the High Pass, southwestward past Rivendell to its confluence with the Hoarwell, where the Grayflood is formed. It is crossed by the Great West Road near Rivendell. |
Midgwater Creek |
Stream draining the Midgewater River and flowing southwestward to the Brandywine, joining it between The Old Forest and Sarn Ford. It crosses the South Downs (dividing them from Barrow Downs) in a deep and narrow gorge that is rocky and impassible in its northern reach, but is followed by the North-South road to the south. Late in the Third Age, the southern Gorge was the most dangerous part of the road. Bandits living on the southern edge of the Old Forest ambushed travelers until they were finally dispelled by the Rangers. (Fan Fiction) |
Morgulduin |
Stream draining the Mountains of shadow through the valley of Minas Morgul, and thence into the Anduin. |
Morthond |
draining the central White Mountans, flowing southward into the Bay of Belfalas north of Dol Amroth. Joined by the Ringlo River above the town of Edhellon. The Morthond's waters raise in the "Paths of the Dead." |
Nimrodel |
Stream passing through Lothlórien, draining the Misty Mountains and flowing into the Anduin. |
Onodl� |
Mering Stream a tributary of the Endtash draining the northern White Mountains. The Onodl� froms part of the border of eastern border of Calenardhon (Rohan). |
Poros |
the river draining the Mountains of Shadow, flowing westward into the Anduin, and forming the border between Gondor (Ithilien) and South Gondor. |
Redwater River |
Carnen River originating in the Iron Hills and draining southward into the River Running. |
Ringl� |
The largest river draining the southern White Mountains in Gondor (Lamedn). Near its mouth (after being joined by the Ciril and the Morthond) is the ancient settlement of Edhellond, once an Elven harbor founded in the first age. |
The River Running |
The River Running (Celduin) flowing southeastward from The Lonley Mountain to the Sea of Rhún. It is joined by the forest river at the Long Lake, near it's source. |
Serni |
a tributary of the River Gilrain draining the White Mountains and flowing through Lebennin. At its confluence with the Gilrain it was crossed by the road to Pelargir at the village of Linhir. |
Shirebourn |
One of the three streams (Shirebourn, Thistle Brook and Stockbrook) draining the Green Hill country of the shire, joining the Thistle Brook at the town Willowbottom, which flowed into the Brandywine along the northern edge of the Overbourn Marsh. |
Sirannon |
Gate Stream Tributary of the River Glanduin, draining the Misty Mountains. The Sirannon joined the Glanduin at the Elven capital of Ost-in-Edhil, and headed at the gates of Mória. |
Sirith |
River draining the eastern White Mountains southward to the Anduin. At its mouth is the ancient port of Pelargir. |
Snowbourn |
Snowbourn River draining the northern White Mountans, heading near the town of Edoras and flowing eastward to the Entwash and thence to the Anduin. |
Stock-brook |
A stream draining the Green Hill country of the Shire eastward into the Brandywine River. Raising above Woody End, it flowed through the village of Stock in the joined the Brandywine just north of Bucklebury Ferry. |
Thistle Brook |
Large stream draining the southern Green Hill Country and draining southeastward past the Overbourn Marshes into the Brandywine. |
The Water |
Stream draining Bindbale Wood in Northfarthing, The Shire, and flowing eastward through The Shire to the Brandywine River, which it joins just above the Bridge of Stonebows. Its lower valley contains much of the newer farmland of the Shire, and many of its most prosperous villages. |
Withywindle |
A stream draining the Barrow Downs and flowing southwestward through the Old Forest to the Brandywine. At its mouth is the village of Hayend. |
| The Content of this page is Fan Fiction based on the works of J.R.R. Tolkein. Words such as "Gandalf" and "Eriador" are the creation of J.R.R. Tolkein. | |