Middle-earth, the main setting of J. R. R. Tolkien's legendarium, contains many rivers. Those known to have existed in the Third Age are described below.
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
-
- Angren
-
B
- Baranduin
- Also called Brandywine, the fourth-longest river in Middle-earth behind the Anduin, the Celduin (or Running), and the Greyflood/Hoarwell (or Gwathló/Mitheithel). Originating from Nenuial (Lake Evendim) in northern Eriador, the river flowed through the easternmost reaches of the Shire, forming its eastern border except for Buckland which lay between it and the Old Forest. Its only major crossings in the Shire were the Brandywine Bridge (originally Bridge of Stonebows) on the East Road, Bucklebury Ferry, and Sarn Ford in the Southfarthing. Skirting the Old Forest to the south, the river then crossed Sarn Ford and flowed to the north of the depopulated region of Minhiriath before flowing into the Sundering Sea to the north of the forested region of Eryn Vorn. The name Baranduin was Sindarin for "golden-brown river". The Hobbits of the Shire originally gave it the punning name Branda-nîn, meaning "border water" in original Hobbitish Westron. This was later punned again as Bralda-hîm meaning "heady ale" (referring to the colour of its water), which Tolkien renders into English as Brandywine. To the Hobbits of the Shire, the Brandywine was the boundary between the known and unknown, and even those who lived in Buckland on the immediate opposite shore were considered "peculiar". No tributaries of the Baranduin are described except those near or in the Shire: The Water - central Shire, from the northwest; the Stockbrook, arising in the Woody End; the Shirebourne - rising in Green-Hill country with a tributary Thistle Brook; and Withywindle from the Old Forest. There is a Girdley Island in the river just above the Brandywine Bridge.
- Bruinen
- Also Loudwater, a major tributary of the Mitheithel or Hoarwell river. The Bruinen began with two tributaries in the Misty Mountains, one of them was begun at the High Pass where Goblin Town was later dug.The river formed the southern border of the Kingdom of Arnor and later the petty-realm of Rhudaur, south of it lay Eregion or Hollin. The southern arm of the Bruinen flowed through the deep valley where Elrond founded the refuge of Imladris or Rivendell. Elrond had some control over the river. The Bruinen had only one point where it could be passed, a ford near Rivendell. This ford, and by extension the river, was called the Edge of the Wild. When Thorin Oakenshield and company went to reclaim Erebor, they passed the Bruinen after their adventure with the Trolls, before they rested at Rivendell. At the beginning of the War of the Ring, Frodo Baggins was carried on Glorfindel's horse towards the Ford of Bruinen, with the Ringwraiths in hot pursuit. It was at the ford Frodo, poisoned by a deadly wound, made his stand, and defied the Witch-king of Angmar. This lured the Ringwraiths into the Bruinen, and Elrond and Gandalf the Grey released a great flood, which took the form of horses made out of water due to Gandalf's magic. This flood killed the horses of the Ringwraiths.
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 (400 km) 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
- 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
- Deeping Stream
- A river of Rohan flowing out of the Glittering Caves past the Hornburg and then through Deeping Coomb. The lower course is not referred to, but apparently it joined Isen.
E
- Enchanted River
- A dark running river under a sleeping spell in Mirkwood. Its 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.
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
- 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.
- 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 other Isildur's 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.[1]
- Glanhír
- See Mering Stream
- Greyflood
-
- Greylin
- One of the two sources of Anduin (together with Langwell), itself having two tributary branches that flowed from the Ered Mithrin.
- 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
-
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.
- Lhûn
- A river of northern Eriador emptying into the Gulf of Lune, that breaks through the line of the Blue Mountains, and thence into Belegaer. It had three tributaries: two of them arising in the Mountains, and one beginning in the Hills of Evendim north of Annúminas. It was not connected to Lake Nenuial, the origin of the Baranduin river.
- In the First Age, the river had a different, unknown course. The Gulf of Lune was not created until the War of Wrath so the river must have had a different lower course. Possibly it connected with the Baranduin further south.
- 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[2] and Limhîr.[3]
M
- Mering Stream
- The border river of Rohan and Gondor. The Mering Stream or (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.
- Mitheithel
- A great river of Eriador, also translated as 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.
N
- 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 streched 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
- Redwater
- See Carnen
- Rushdown
- An early tributary to the Anduin river flowing from the Misty Mountains. Early writings of Tolkien also gave its Sindarin name Rhimdath, which, however, could have been rejected.
- Ringló
- A river of Gondor arising as two smaller unnamed rivers in the White Mountains, on the southern arm that bent towards Belfalas. Flowing through the city Ethring, it passed north of Tarnost, where it was met by Ciril, and poured into the sea together with Morthond at Edhellond.
- 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.
- 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
- 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 Tom Bombadil's house in the Old Forest, and joins the Brandywine. The name is derived from Withy (willow), and Windle (basket).
References
- ^ Tolkien, J. R. R. (1980), Christopher Tolkien, ed., Unfinished Tales, Boston: Houghton Mifflin, History of Galadriel and Celeborn, Appendix D "The Port of Lond Daer", ISBN 0-395-29917-9
- ^ Unfinished Tales, note 46 to "Cirion and Eorl".
- ^ Tolkien, J. R. R. (1994), Christopher Tolkien, ed., The War of the Jewels, Boston: Houghton Mifflin, ISBN 0-395-71041-3
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