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Dates
Occupied by the Men of the Mountains during the Second Age; part of Gondor through the Third Age and into the Fourth
Location
The valley of the river Morthond, which flowed out from the southern side of the White Mountains above Erech
Race
Culture
Settlements
Erech stood near the head of the valley; Morthond flowed into the Great Sea near Edhellond
Source
Morthond rose in the White Mountains beneath the Dwimorberg, northward of Erech
Tributaries
Morthond joined with Ringló near its mouth
Outflow
Into the Bay of Belfalas below Edhellond
Important peaks
The source of the Morthond lay beneath the Dwimorberg; the Hill of Erech stood within the northern Vale
Passes
The valley ran southward from the southern opening of the Paths of the Dead
Pronunciation
Morthond is pronounced 'mo'rthond'
Meaning
Morthond means 'Blackroot' (so named because its sources lay in the shadow of the White Mountains, and was asssociated with the Paths of the Dead)
Other names

Indexes:

About this entry:

  • Updated 12 June 2023
  • This entry is complete

Morthond Vale

The valley of the Blackroot

Map of the Morthond Vale

A wide, green and fertile valley in the southern White Mountains, carved out by the River Morthond, or Blackroot, on its way southward to meet the Sea. Lying directly to the west of Lamedon, the Morthond Vale was a populous area owing allegiance to Gondor, whose lord at the end of the Third Age was Duinhir. As rich as the vale's grasslands were, its people avoided its upper slopes, where the Morthond sprang from the Mountains near the Hill of Erech. There, the Shadow-men were said to gather, the cursed Dead that haunted the dark paths beneath the Mountains. During the War of the Ring, Aragorn emerged from the Paths of the Dead at the head of the valley, and led the Dead Men off into the eastern War, at last leaving the Morthond Vale free of the fear of the Shadow Host.


Indexes:

About this entry:

  • Updated 12 June 2023
  • This entry is complete

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