Mordor.

The Black Land.

Mordor the Black Land, lying in Middle-earth East of Anduin and Ithilien, North of Near Harad and Khand, South of Wilderland, Rhovanion and the Sea of Rhûn.

The boundries were determent by the mountains of Ered Lithui in the North and Ephel Dúath in West and South. To the far East were no mountains. Intrance to Mordor were besides from the East through the Vale of Cirith Ungol some 110 Miles South in Western Ephel Dúath from Ithilien and pasing Minas Morgul and the Tower of Cirith Ungol or through the black gate Morannon between the Nelig Myrn from Dagorlad and Noman-Lands through Cirith Gorgor into Udûn. The Pass of Cirith Ungol lead into the Plateau of Gorgoroth where Barad-Dûr and Orodruin was. In the North of the plateau were Isenmouthe and along the inner mountainside ran Morgai. In the South were the great gap between outlayers of Ephel Dúath and Ered Lithui into Núrn, Lithlad and the Sea of Nurnen.

The size of Mordor North - South were some 370 Miles and East-West around 400 Miles.

Mordor had not always been. In the First age the Inland Sea of Helcar covered the area but the turmoils at the end of the age uplifted lands where none before had been and drowned others. The Sea of Helcar nearly vanished leaving only small parts left; the Sea of Nurnen and Sea of Rhûn, The mountains Ered Lithui and Ephel Dúath was raised and those became the boundries of Mordor. In the beginning of the Second age Mordor was a desolate land but it did not last. In Second age around the first millenium chooses Sauron, scared by the pover of the Númenorians, Mordor as the place to build his stronghold and he starts to build Barad-Dûr.

At the end of the Second age the Last Alliance managed to drive out Sauron and destroy Barad-Dûr, the fortress of Durthang and the Tower of Cirith Ungol and Nelig-Myrn was build in the mountains to keep watch upon Mordor but after the great plague ( Third age 1636 - 1640 ) the fortresses became unmanned and Mordor is unguarded. The Ringwraiths occupies Mordor between Third age 1975 - 1980 and takes Minas Ithil. Sauron returns to Mordor from Dol Guldur in Third age 2942 and begins to rebuild Barad-Dûr.

Related Links.: Battles.: War of the Last Alliance.