List of Middle-earth rivers

Middle-earth, the main setting of J. R. R. Tolkien's legendarium, contains many rivers, some of which are described below.

Contents:		A B C D E F G H I L M N O P R S T W    References   External links

A

Adorn

A river of Rohan, arising in the White Mountains. Together with the river Isen, it formed the western border of the Kingdom of Rohan. Adorn joined with the Isen about 150 miles (240 km) west of the Gap of Rohan.

The triangle of land between the Isen, Adorn, and the White Mountains was nominally part of the Kingdom of Rohan, but in the late Third Age it was a contested area between the Rohirrim and the Dunlendings.

Anduin

Main article: Anduin

Angren

Main article: Isen (Middle-earth)

Adurant

The sixth and most southerly tributary of Gelion, the others being Ascar, Thalos, Legolin, Brilthor and Duilwen. It was the last of the seven rivers that defined Ossiriand.

The name means double stream in Ilkorin, referring to a parting of the river about the isle of Tol Galen, and many more along its path due to its slow current.

Aros

The southern river of Doriath and northern tributary of Sirion. It rose in the northern lands around Himring and met Sirion in the south-west at Aelin-uial. It formed the southern border of the Kingdom of Doriath.

Ascar

A river in Ossiriand. The name means rushing, impetuous. It was the northern-most tributary of Gelion, and the second river of Ossiriand. After the Sack of Doriath by Dwarves, Beren Erchamion fought and killed the looters there. Doriath's treasure was lost in Ascar, and it was renamed Rathlóriel ('Goldenbed').

B

Brithon

A river of the Falas. Its name is Sindarin, probably meaning "pebbly", from brith "broken stones".

Brilthor

A tributary of Gelion. It was the fifth from the north of the seven rivers that defined Ossiriand.

C

Carnen

A river of Rhovanion, also called Redwater. Carnen flowed southward from the Iron Hills east of the Lonely Mountain until it met Celduin about 250 miles to the south. From there the rivers flowed as one to the Sea of Rhûn, past the land of Dorwinion.

The kingdom of Dale after its refounding extended into the angle between the Celduin and the Carnen. It is quite possible that the Men of Dale and Esgaroth and the Wood-elves traded along the rivers.

Celduin

A river of Rhovanion, also named the River Running. Celduin was a 600–miles long river that ran from the Lonely Mountain south through the Long Lake, where it was joined by the Forest River, and thence through the eastern outskirts of Mirkwood. Afterwards it flowed south east through the wide eastern plains of Rhovanion to its confluence with the Carnen, and finally in a long south-eastward loop to the great inland Sea of Rhûn, past the land of Dorwinion.

Celebrant

See Silverlode

Celebros

A tributary of Taeglin that flowed past Brethil forest. Glaurung was slain by Túrin near where this river met Taeglin, and Nienor Níniel committed suicide by jumping in it.

Celon

Flowed by Nan Elmoth in East Beleriand. It met up with the river Aros later in its course, eventually flowing into Sirion.

Celos

The Second of the Five Rivers of Lebennin in Gondor. It began in the White Mountains and became a tributary of Sirith.

Ciril

A river of Gondor, springing at an isolated peak in Lamedon. It flowed past Calembel and became a tributary of Ringló.

D

Dry River

The former river whose bed served as the hidden entrance to Gondolin.

Duilwen

A tributary of Gelion. It was the sixth from the north of the seven rivers that defined Ossiriand.

E

Enchanted River

A dark running river under a sleeping spell in Mirkwood. Its origin was in the Mountains of Mirkwood, and it met the Forest River near Thranduil's Caverns. In The Hobbit, this river forms an obstacle for the quest of Thorin Oakenshield.

In the First Age, Esgalduin was also called the Enchanted River.

Entwash

A river of Rohan. Its name is a translation of Sindarin Onodló. Its sources were the springs that arose beneath Methedras, the southernmost peak of the Misty Mountains, near Treebeard's home. Leaving the Fangorn forest, Entwash flowed past the Wold of Rohan and headed south, dividing Rohan into the West and East Emnets. At the latitude of Edoras it was joined by the river Snowbourn, and then ran east towards Anduin, joining it just south of the Falls of Rauros in the huge inland delta known as the Mouths of the Entwash. The Mering Stream met one of the Entwashes' arms there.

The Entwash river was named for the Ents (Onodrim) of Fangorn, but the origin of the name was largely forgotten by the Rohirrim at the end of the Third Age.

Erui

A river of Gondor, arising in the White Mountains. It was counted the first of the Five Rivers of Lebennin.

The river began near Mount Mindolluin and flowing south through the province of Lossarnach, where it met the Anduin about 100 miles (160 km) south of Minas Tirith. During the Kin-strife of Gondor, the Battle of the Crossings of Erui was fought at the Crossings of Erui on the road to Pelargir.

Esgalduin

The main river of Doriath. Doriathrin for River under Veil, the Esgalduin flowed from the hills of Dorthonion through Doriath past the caves of Menegroth, finally meeting up with the River Sirion.

The Esgalduin had two unnamed upper branches of its own in Ered Gorgoroth. One ran along the border between Dor Dínen and Nan Dungortheb, and the other ran west for about 20 miles from the mountains into Nan Dungortheb and further south-east until merging with the first.

F

Forest River

A river that flowed through northern Mirkwood. It began in the Ered Mithrin far to the north, and then flowed south-east, diverging at points, until it was met by the Enchanted River near Thranduil's caverns. From there it continued eastwards to the Long Lake of Esgaroth, which it met in the Long Marshes.

G

Gate Stream

See Sirannon

Gelion

The principal river of East Beleriand. Its two sources were the Hill of Himring, via the Little Gelion, and the Ered Luin, via the Greater Gelion. It then passed south, dividing Estolad to the west from Thargelion to the east, then was crossed by the old dwarf-road at Sarn Athrad ("Ford of Stones"). It then passed into Ossiriand, the Land of Seven Rivers, where it was fed by rivers Ascar, Thalos, Legolin, Brilthor, Duilwen, and Adurant, all rising in the Ered Luin.

Gelion then passed by Taur-im-Duinath (the Forest between the Rivers) and emptied into the Great Sea Belegaer.

Late in his life, Tolkien apparently decided to change the name "Gelion", as it did not fit the pattern of Sindarin. The possible replacements he recorded were "Gelduin", "Gevilon", "Gevelon", "Duin Daer", and "Duin Dhaer".^[1]

Gilrain

The last of the Five Rivers of Lebennin in Gondor. It started as two unnamed tributaries in the White Mountains, and flowed south meeting the Serni at Linhir.

Ginglith

A tributary of Narog. It had its wells in the woods of Núath, near the Ered Wethrin in northern West Beleriand. After passing by the lands of Tumhalad it met the Narog about 50 Númenórean miles north of Nargothrond.

Gladden

A river of Rhovanion, called Ninglor in Sindarin (also Sîr Ninglor, sîr = stream, ninglor = waterlily or gladden). Gladden was a short but important river of the Vales of Anduin. Beginning as two unnamed arms in the Misty Mountains, it flowed eastwards to the Great River Anduin, which it met in a series of marshes called the Gladden Fields.

After the Last Alliance of Elves and Men, Isildur, King of Arnor and bearer of the One Ring, was assailed by Orcs near the Gladden Fields, and the Ring was lost here in the river. Much later during the Third Age some Stoors lived near the streams of Gladden, and from them came Sméagol, who long held the Ring and eventually followed the stream up to its source, ending up in forgotten caves near Goblin Town. Saruman searched for the Ring extensively in the Gladden; he never found it since it was already in the possession of Gollum at that time, but he discovered Isildur's other garments.

Glanduin

A river of Eriador and one of the sources of Gwathló. The name means 'border-river' in Sindarin, as it had been the southern boundary of the Elven realm of Eregion and later of the Kingdom of Men Arnor.

Beginning in the Misty Mountains south of Moria, it ran west-north-west until it was met by the Sirannon near the old location of Ost-in-Edhil. Further downstream the Glanduin flowed into the Swanfleet, the vast marshland north-east of Tharbad, which issued into Gwathló.

On some maps of Middle-earth, the name Swanfleet river is erroneously placed against Glanduin or even against Isen, but properly Swanfleet was the name of the marshlands alone.^[2]

Glanhír

See Mering Stream

Glithui

A northern tributary to Taeglin.

Greyflood

Main article: Gwathló

Greylin

One of the two sources of Anduin (together with Langwell), itself having two tributary branches that flowed from the Ered Mithrin.

Gwathló

Main article: Gwathló

H

Harnen

A river that originally was the southern border of Gondor. The territory to the north of it, South Gondor, later became a debatable land. South of Harnen lay the land of Near Harad. It was some 600 miles (970 km) long, beginning in the mountains surrounding Mordor from the south and then flowing south-west for about 350 miles (560 km). There it bent west and speeds to Belegaer, which it enters in a wide delta. The Harad Road crossed Harnen shortly after it bent westwards.

Hoarwell

See Mitheithel

I

Isen

Main article: Isen (Middle-earth)

L

Langwell

A river of Rhovanion, flowing from the Misty Mountains and forming together with Greylin the beginnings of the Anduin river. On its northern bank was built the city of Framsburg, capital of the Éothéod.

Lefnui

A river of Gondor, beginning in the south-western valleys of the Starkhorn peak of the White Mountains and flowing south-west parallel to a mountain range. It entered the Bay of Belfalas near the long cape of Andrast. The name means fifth in Sindarin, with a reference to the position of the river if counting the mouths: Erui, Sirith, Serni, Morthond, Lefnui.

Legolin

A tributary of Gelion. It was the fourth from the north of the seven rivers that defined Ossiriand.

Limlight

A stream rising in the eastern Misty Mountains, with origins near Treebeard's dwellings. It then ran through northern Fangorn and emptied into Anduin. Limlight formed the southern boundary of the Field of Celebrant, and was claimed by people of Lothlórien as the southern boundary of their realm. It was also the historic northern border of Gondor, and later of Rohan.

The name is from an Elvish form, but Tolkien provided different explanations of the exact meaning and even languages used in the name, including Limlich, Limliht, Limlaith^[5] and Limhîr.^[6]

Lithir

A tributary of Sirion that joined it just to the south of the Pass of Sirion. The sources of Lithir were in Ered Wethrin.

M

Malduin

A northern tributary to Taeglin.

Mering Stream

The border river of Rohan and Gondor. The Mering Stream or in (Sindarin) Glanhír formed the border between the Gondorian province of Anórien and the Rohan province of Eastfold. It flowed through the Firien Wood, which grows about the hill of Halifirien.

Mindeb

A northern tributary of Sirion. It began in the Ered Gorgoroth near the Pass of Anach, and was met by an unnamed tributary coming from the Crissaegrim. It formed the boundary between Dimbar and Nan Dungortheb.

It formed the western border of the forest of Neldoreth in Doriath and was part of the Girdle of Melian. It is mentioned in Quenta Silmarillion chapter 14.

Mitheithel

A great river of Eriador, translated as Hoarwell in its upper stretches^[7] and Greyflood. The source lay in northern Misty Mountains, from where the river sped through the Ettenmoors to bend south after them. The East Road crossed it at the Last Bridge, after which it was met by the Bruinen, forming the Angle. From there Mitheithel formed the northern border of Eregion, until came to the Swanfleet, where Glanduin flowed, and became the Gwathló river.

Morgulduin

(S. 'river of sorcery') A river of Gondor that began at Cirith Ungol. It flowed past Minas Morgul towards Anduin, and was followed by the old Númenórean road from Osgiliath to Minas Morgul. It was crossed by the Harad Road with a bridge at the Crossroads.

Morthond

A river of Gondor beginning at the southern edges of the Dwimorberg at the end of the Paths of the Dead in the White Mountains. It then flowed past the ancient fortress of Erech and the Pinnath Gelin. After meeting its tributary Ringló it entered the Sea at Edhellond. Also translated as Blackroot.

N

Narog

The chief river of West Beleriand. The Narog rose from the Pools of Ivrin in the Ered Wethrin, flowed south and then southeast, flowing through a gorge in a series of rapids where it crossed the hills of the Andram or Long Wall, finally meeting Sirion in the Land of Willows Nan-tathren, not far above the Mouths of Sirion. Narog's tributaries were the Ginglith in the north and the Ringwil in the Taur-en-Faroth.

Into its western bank, just south of where Ringwil rushed into Narog, was carved the city of Nargothrond, stronghold of Finrod Felagund.

During his time in Nargothrond, Túrin Turambar persuaded Orodreth to build a bridge over Narog. He did, but it resulted in the downfall of Nargothrond as it provided a way for the dragon Glaurung to reach the city.

Nen Lalaith

A stream of Dor-lómin that rose near Amon Darthir in Ered Wethrin and ran past Húrin's house.

Nenning

A river of the Falas. Its wells were in the hills lying north-west in West Beleriand south of the Ered Wethrin, near the Woods of Núath. It ran to the bay of Eglarest where it met the sea Belegaer.

Nimrodel

A river of Lothlórien. It began in the foothills of the Misty Mountains under the Celebdil peak, and then flowed through Lothlórien until it met the Silverlode. The river was named after the Elven lady Nimrodel who dwelt beside the stream.

Ninglor

See Gladden

Norbourn

A river in the Northfarthing of the Shire. Between it and Brandywine River stretched the Greenfields, where the Battle of Greenfields was fought. Norbourn is only mentioned in the detailed index Tolkien was preparing for The Lord of the Rings, but which was eventually left unfinished. In the partial map of the Shire published within The Lord of the Rings an unnamed river flows from the north to the Bywater Pool, which might possibly be Norbourn.

O

Onodló

See Entwash

P

Poros

A river in the south of Gondor. It forms the northern border of the contested land of the South Gondor, and the southern border of Ithilien. During the later Third Age it was the effective southern border of Gondor.

About 400 miles (640 km) long, it began in the Ephel Dúath of Mordor and then flowed south-west for about 300 miles (480 km), when it bent north and met Anduin just before its delta. Poros was crossed by the Harad Road at the Crossings of Poros.

R

Rathlóriel

See Ascar.

Redwater

See Carnen

Ringwil

A tributary of Narog. It began in the hills about Nargothrond, and flowed north of the hidden city.

Where it met the Narog a secret door was built, which was used by Lúthien to escape from Nargothrond when Celegorm and Curufin held her prisoner.

Rivil

A tributary of Sirion. It began in Dorthonion, and then flowed north-west until it met with Sirion in the Fens of Serech.

The river is mentioned twice in The Silmarillion. The first mention is in the chapter concerning Beren and Lúthien. Rivil's Well was where a camp was made by the Orcs that had killed Barahir, father of Beren. Beren attacked them there, taking back the Ring of Barahir before escaping again.

The second mention is in the chapter concerning the Nírnaeth Arnoediad, where the valiant retreat of Húrin and Huor is described thus: "...foot by foot they withdrew, until they came behind the Fen of Serech, and had the stream of Rivil before them. There they stood and gave way no more."

Rushdown

An early tributary to the Anduin river flowing from the Misty Mountains. Early writings of Tolkien also gave its Sindarin name Rhimdath.

Running

See Celduin

S

Serni

The fourth of the Five Rivers of Lebennin in Gondor. It began in the plains of Lebennin and met the Bay of Belfalas north of the Mouths of Anduin at the city of Linhir.

The name is usually written Serni, although in the Preface to The Adventures of Tom Bombadil Tolkien spelt it Sernui.

Shirebourn

A river of the Shire with the source in the uplands of the Green Hill Country of the Eastfarthing. Thence it ran south and then southeast, meeting the Thistle Brook at Willowbottom and then flowing eastwards to Baranduin. There it formed the boggy region known as the Overbourn Marshes.

Silverlode

A river of Lothlórien rising in the eastern Misty Mountains near the East Gate of Moria. It then ran through Lothlórien where it met Nimrodel and emptied into Anduin. The Company of the Ring followed this river when they travelled from Moria to Lothlórien.

Silverlode was called Celebrant in Sindarin and Kibil-nâla in Dwarvish. It also formed the northern boundary of the Field of Celebrant.

Sirannon

The Gate Stream of Khazad-dûm. Beginning at the Silvertine, it flowed past the gates of Moria towards the river Glanduin. Sirannon encountered the Stair Falls under the gates of Moria, and its sound could have been heard from miles around.

During the War of the Ring, the Company of the Ring found that the Gate Stream had been dammed by someone or something, and before the gates of Moria there was a foul lake where the Watcher in the Water dwelt.

Sirion

A river of Middle-earth in the First Age, the principal river of Beleriand. During most of its course it was the border between East and West Beleriand. Karen Wynn Fonstad estimates its length as 390 miles in her Atlas of Middle-earth. Sirion flowed southwards along the border of the Ered Wethrin, passing through the Fens of Serech before entering the valley between the Ered Wethrin and the Pass of Sirion. It then continued south into Beleriand, with the Forest of Brethil to the west, and Dimbar and then Doriath to the east. After leaving Doriath it ran though Fens of Sirion before falling below ground in the Falls of Sirion at Andram (the Long Wall), where the ground fell steeply. Three leagues southwards the Sirion exited the underground caves at the Gates of Sirion. It then flowed southwards through Nan-Tathren until it reached the Bay of Balar, part of Belegaer, at the Ethir Sirion, Mouths of Sirion. Barad Eithel, at the source of the Sirion in the Ered Wethrin, was a chief fortress of Fingolfin and his son Fingon. Further south, in the Pass of Sirion, lay Tol Sirion in the centre of the river.

Sirith

The third of the Five Rivers of Lebennin in Gondor. Celon was its tributary, while Sirith met Anduin at Pelargir.

Snowbourn

A river of Rohan arising in the White Mountains under the mountain Starkhorn. It flowed through Harrowdale where Edoras was built, and then flowed east until it met the river Entwash. It separated Rohan's Eastfold from the West Emnet.

T

Taeglin

A tributary of Sirion. It rose in the southern reaches of the Ered Wethrin, ran generally southeast, receiving the waters of Glithui and Malduin, then passed along the southern margin of the Forest of Brethil, where it ran through a gorge named Cabed-en-Aras and then received the Celebros. The Taeglin then ran eastward into Sirion at the borders of Doriath.

An important ford on the river was the Crossings of Teiglin, near the western border of Brethil. A road ran through it from Nargothrond to Minas Tirith. Minor tributaries were Celebros and Malduin. The river's banks near Celebros was the scene of the encounter between Túrin Turambar and the dragon Glaurung.

In the published Silmarillion and early writings, the river was called Teiglin. As revealed in The History of Middle-earth, the river name should actually have been spelt Taeglin. This was a relatively late change which was not adopted by Christopher Tolkien in his published Silmarillion.

Thalos

A tributary of Gelion. It was the third from the north of the seven rivers that defined Ossiriand. Thalos sprang from the Ered Luin and at its springs Finrod met the first Men to enter Beleriand.

Thistle Brook

A stream of the Eastfarthing of the Shire. It flowed southeast round the Woody End and through the village of Willowbottom before its waters emptied into Shirebourn.

W

The Water

A river in the Shire. It was a tributary of the river Brandywine that arose in the Westfarthing of the Shire, and flowed eastward to meet Brandywine just north of the Brandywine Bridge. Hobbiton and Bywater both stood on this river.

Withywindle

A river in the Old Forest and tributary of Baranduin. It has its origin in the Barrow-downs, flows past the house of Tom Bombadil and Goldberry in the Old Forest, and joins the Brandywine. The name is derived from Withy (willow), and Windle (basket).

See also

• Ulmo

References

External links

• Musings on Limlight by H. Martínez and J. Merino at Tengwestië
• Rivers and Lakes at the Encyclopedia of Arda

Rivers from J. R. R. Tolkien's legendarium during the Third Age Adorn · Anduin (The Great River) · Angren (Isen) · Baranduin (Brandywine) · Bruinen (Loudwater) · Carnen (Redwater) · Celduin (Running) · Celebrant (Silverlode) · Celos · Ciril · Deeping Stream · Enchanted River · Entwash (Onodló) · Erui · Forest River · Gilrain · Glanduin · Greylin · Gwathló (Greyflood) · Harnen · Langwell · Lefnui · Lhûn (Lune) · Limlight · Mering Stream (Glanhir) · Mitheithel (Hoarwell) · Morgulduin · Morthond (Blackroot) · Nimrodel · Norbourn · Ninglor (Gladden) · Poros · Ringló · Serni · Shirebourn · Sirith · Snowbourn · Thistle Brook · The Water · Withywindle

J. R. R. Tolkien's Middle-earth legendarium Published during his lifetime The Hobbit The Lord of the Rings The Fellowship of the Ring The Two Towers The Return of the King The Adventures of Tom Bombadil The Road Goes Ever On Posthumous publications The Silmarillion Unfinished Tales The Letters of J. R. R. Tolkien The History of Middle-earth (12 volumes) Bilbo's Last Song The Children of Húrin The History of The Hobbit Lists of articles By category By name Writings Characters Peoples Individual Dwarves Individual Elves Individual Hobbits Hobbit families Individual Númenoreans Individual Orcs Kings of Arnor Kings of Dale Kings of Gondor Rulers of Númenor Kings of Rohan Realms Ages Animals Plants Food and drink Inns Objects Weapons and armour Wars and battles Rivers Roads Languages