Hithaeglir

The Misty Mountains.

Towers of Mist.

The Mountain-range raised by Melkor before the Days of day in Middle-Earth to prevent the ride of Oromë when he in those days hunted the fell beast and creatures of Melkor.

Existed in the Valian Years of the Trees and in the First, Second and Third age. The mountains was created in the Valian Years of the Trees by Melkor to prevent Oromë`s ride and stewardship of Middle-earth. We hear of those rides first time in the Valian Years of the Trees year 0-1000.

Those were the Mountains the Elves on their long journey from Cuiviénen into the West saw far away piercing the sky when they reached the river who was later known as Anduin the Great.

In Hithaeglir was later delved Moria and the highest peaks became known as Fanuidhol, Caradhras and Celebdil in the Second and Third Age. There was only three ways to cross this mountain-range. Walk through Moria, climb the Redhorn Pass or the High pass "Cirith Forn en Andrath." At the western side of Hithaeglir ran river Hoarwell down from the north of the mountains into Hoardale. Hundred miles further down near the High Pass was the wells of river Bruinen. ( See Merrill ) Also river Sirannon and Glanduin came from Hithaeglir and ran down to the west. Sirannon`s wells was near the Western Gate of Moria and ran along the only road to Moria from the west. River Glanduin had its well 30 miles further south in Hithaeglir.

In the northern end of Hithaeglir stretched two spurs out towards the east and west, these spurs had in ancient times been a part of Ered Engrin but after the great War of Wrath which ended the First age they now stood as spurs to Hithaeglir in the north.

The western spur was called the Mountains of Angmar and the eastern Ered Mithrin. In the angle between the Mountains of Angmar and northern Hithaeglir was the Ettenmoors, Hoardale and the Coldfells. Between the wells of the two rivers; Bruinen and Glanduin ( 275 miles north-south ), the 1/3 middlepart of Hithaeglir, were on the western side the land Eregion and from the mountains came a ridge, the Hollin Ridge which divided Eregion in north and south Eregion. South of the ridge in the Mountains was delved Moria and here were the peaks of Caradhras, Fanuidhol, Celebdil and the Redhorn Pass too. Further south, at the wood-cladded foothills of Hithaeglir beyond Glanduin was in the later Second and in the Third age Dunland.

At the southern end of Hithaeglir covered the great Southern Forest in the First age and into the Second age year 800-1700 huge areas of the land between Hithaeglir and Ered Nimrais up to Fangorn Forest. From Nan Curunír, the huge bowl-like valley between the two southern arms of Hithaeglir, ran Isen down into the Gap of Rohan.

At the east side of Hithaeglir (in the north) raised Mount Gundabad its peak in the conjunction with Ered Mithrin and the Mountains of Angmar. In the angle made by Hithaeglir and Ered Mithrin between the Hithaeglir river Langwell and Greylin from Ered Mithrin was the sheltered vales of the Éothéod ( Later Rohirrims ) and their main dwelling Framsburg.

Between river Langwell and Cirith Forn en Andrath (nearly 90 miles from each) flowed Rhimdath from its two wells to Anduin. South of Rhimdath but north of Cirith Forn en Andrath was the Goblin Town and a little east of that was the Eagles Eyrie.

About 300 miles south in the mountains were the wells (two) of the fast river Gladden running east to Anduin over Gladden Fields. Another 120 miles further south at the east side of the mountains, below the peak of Celebdil, Fanuidhol and Caradhras was Mirrormere in Dimrill Dale with river Celebrant and its tributary Nimrodel running towards Anduin passing, and as the southern boundry of, Lórien. Between river Celebrant and Limlight / Fangorn Forest 100 miles further south the land east of Hithaeglir was flat and grassy. It belonged entirely to no kingdom and in general it appeared unnamed though it were not, the whole land was named the same as that of the most eastern area before the brink's of Anduin; Parth Celebrant.

Related Links.: Battles : War of Wrath.