An encyclopedia of Middle-earth and Numenor

Andrast

Andrast was inhabited by Men called the Druedain. The Druedain had at one time lived throughout the White Mountains, but they were driven out by evil Men. By the time Gondor was founded at the end of the Second Age, the Druedain survived only in the Druadan Forest and in the mountainous region called Druwaith Iaur which included Andrast.

Andrast was not part of Gondor. It lay west of the River Lefnui, which was the western border of Gondor. The Men of Gondor never made settlements in Andrast, though they maintained a coast guard and beacons at the far end of the cape.

Names & Etymology:
Andrast means "long cape." The element and means "long." The element rast means "cape" from ras meaning "horn." A cape is a point of land extending into water.

Andrast was also called Ras Morthil. The word morthil may mean "dark peaks" from mor meaning "black, dark" and thil from til meaning "point, peak." This may be a reference to the mountains on Andrast.

Sources:
Map of Middle-earth by Pauline Baynes
Unfinished Tales: "Aldarion and Erendis," p. 175, 214 note 6; "The History of Galadriel and Celeborn," p. 261, 263; "The Druedain," p. 383-84, 387 note 13
The Silmarillion: "Appendix - Elements in Quenya and Sindarin Names," entries for an(d), mor, ras, and til
The History of Middle-earth, vol. V, The Lost Road and Other Writings: "The Etymologies," entries for RAS and TIL
"The Rivers and Beacon-hills of Gondor," by J.R.R. Tolkien, edited by Carl F. Hostetter, commentary by Christopher Tolkien, in Vinyar Tengwar #42, July 2001, p. 14

The northwestern arm of the Bay of Belfalas was a long cape called Andrast. The lands of Anfalas and Belfalas were along the northern coast of the bay. Dol Amroth was the chief city of Belfalas and was an important port. It was built on a high promontory overlooking an inlet of the Bay of Belfalas called Cobas Haven.

Just north of Dol Amroth was the Elf-haven of Edhellond, at the mouth of the Blackroot River. A community of Elves lived at Edhellond from around the end of the First Age to the middle of the Third Age, and from there ships set sail to the Undying Lands. According to legend, the Elf-lord Amroth awaited his lover Nimrodel in a ship at Edhellond, but she became lost and never arrived. Amroth's ship was swept away from the shore by a storm and he leaped overboard into the Bay of Belfalas and was lost.

The Mouths of the Anduin opened onto the bay on its eastern coast. The island of Tolfalas was in the northeastern corner of the bay at the Mouths of the Anduin.

In addition to the Anduin, a number of rivers flowed into the Bay of Belfalas. On the northwest coast, the River Lefnui flowed south from the White Mountains into the bay. The rivers Blackroot, Ciril, and Ringlo also began in the White Mountains and merged before flowing into the bay near Dol Amroth. The River Gilrain was joined by the River Serni and emptied into the bay just north of the Anduin. On the east coast of the bay, the River Harnen flowed into the bay from the Mountains of Shadow.

South of the Anduin on the east coast of the bay was the region called South Gondor. Further south was the coastal region of Umbar in Harad. The Havens of Umbar were established there by the Men of Numenor in the Second Age. For much of the Third Age, the Corsairs used Umbar as a base of operations, and the city at the head of the inlet was called the City of the Corsairs.

Names & Etymology:
The meaning of Belfalas is uncertain. The word falas means "shore, coast" in Sindarin. In his unfinished Index to The Lord of the Rings, Tolkien defined the word bel as "steep, sheer" in Sindarin. (Reader's Companion, p. 18)

But in a later essay he wrote that Bêl was the name of the region in the language of the original inhabitants and that it meant "shore, coast" so that Belfalas was a combination of two words with the same meaning in different languages. ("Rivers & Beacon-hills," p. 15-16)

Also called Côf Belfalas, where côf means "bay" in Sindarin, and Côf gwaeren Bel, "the windy Bay of Bêl."

Sources:
Map of Middle-earth by J.R.R. Tolkien
The Fellowship of the Ring: "Lothlorien," p. 354-55; "The Great River," p. 397
The Return of the King: "Minas Tirith," p. 38; "The Last Debate," p. 152
Appendix A of The Lord of the Rings: "Gondor and the Heirs of Anarion," p. 325, 327-29; "The Stewards," p. 334, 335
Appendix B of The Lord of the Rings: "The Tale of Years," p. 378
Unfinished Tales: "Aldarion and Erendis," p. 175, 214 note 6; "The History of Galadriel and Celeborn," p. 242-43, 245, 246-48
The History of Middle-earth, vol. V, The Lost Road and Other Writings: "The Etymologies," entries for BEL and PHAL, PHALAS
The History of Middle-earth, vol. VII, The Treason of Isengard: "The First Map," p. 312, 322 note 10 (Cobas Haven)
The Atlas of Middle-earth by Karen Wynn Fonstad: Map of the White Mountains, p. 88-89
"The Rivers and Beacon-hills of Gondor," by J.R.R. Tolkien, edited by Carl F. Hostetter, commentary by Christopher Tolkien, in Vinyar Tengwar #42, July 2001, p. 15-16
The Lord of the Rings: A Reader's Companion by Wayne G. Hammond and Christina Scull: "Prologue," p. 18-19

Cobas Haven

Fisherfolk originally lived around Cobas Haven, but they relocated to the White Mountains after Elves established the haven of Edhellond near the mouth of the Blackroot. Elves lived at Edhellond during the Second Age and the first half of the Third Age, and Elven-ships set sail from there to the Undying Lands. The last Elves departed from Edhellond in 1981 of the Third Age.

Names & Etymology:
The word Cobas means "haven, harbor, bay" from the Quenya kópa or its variant form hópa (Sindarin = hobas).

Sources:
The Book of Lost Tales, Part One: "Appendix - Names in The Lost Tales - Part One," p. 257
The History of Middle-earth, vol. V, The Lost Road and Other Writings: "The Etymologies," entries for KHOP and KOP
The History of Middle-earth, vol. VII, The Treason of Isengard: "The First Map," p. 312, 322 note 10
Unfinished Tales: "The History of Galadriel and Celeborn," p. 247

The River Lune flowed down from the Blue Mountains into the Gulf of Lune which opened onto the Sea. The harborage in the Gulf of Lune was good and held many ships. There was an inlet on the northern shore of the gulf called Forlond and one on the southern shore called Harlond. The Grey Havens were located where the river flowed into the gulf. The Great East Road ran from the Grey Havens across Eriador to Rivendell.

The Gulf of Lune was formed at the end of the First Age when the region of Beleriand in western Middle-earth was destroyed in the War of Wrath against Morgoth. The Blue Mountains were split by the new gulf and the River Lune changed its course to empty into it.

The Grey Havens were founded by the Elves in the year 1 of the Second Age. Cirdan the Shipwright was the Lord of the Havens and a number other Elves lived there with him including Galdor. Many Elves also dwelled in Lindon, a green land on the shores of the Sea on either side of the Gulf of Lune.

In the year 600 of the Second Age, the first ship of the Men of Numenor came to the Grey Havens captained by Veantur. Veantur brought his grandson Aldarion to the Grey Havens in 725. After that time many ships from Numenor sailed to the Grey Havens and were welcomed by the Elves.

During the War of the Elves and Sauron, Sauron overran Eriador and besieged the Grey Havens. In 1700, Admiral Ciryatur brought a fleet of ships from Numenor to the Gulf of Lune and Sauron's forces were driven back. After Numenor was destroyed in 3319, a group of survivors led by Elendil came to the Gulf of Lune and founded the North-kingdom of Arnor in Eriador west of the River Lune.

The Wizards came to Middle-earth from the Undying Lands around the year 1000 of the Third Age. When Gandalf the Grey arrived at the Grey Havens, Cirdan gave him Narya, one of the Three Rings of the Elves, for he perceived that the Wizard had an important and difficult task before him.

In 1975, Cirdan sent a ship from the Grey Havens to rescue King Arvedui, who had been forced to retreat to the Icebay of Forochel by the Witch-king of Angmar. But a great blizzard came from the north and despite the efforts of Cirdan's mariners the ship was driven against the ice and its hull was crushed. All aboard were killed including Arvedui.

Shortly afterwards, a great fleet arrived at the Grey Havens from Gondor led by Earnur. There were so many ships that there was hardly room for them all in the Gulf of Lune. The combined forces of the Elves and the Men of Gondor defeated the Witch-king in the Battle of Fornost and drove him from the North.

As the Third Age came to an end, many Elves left Middle-earth for the Undying Lands, never to return. Some of them passed through the Shire on their way to the Grey Havens to board the ships into the West.

On September 29, 3021, Gandalf returned to the Grey Havens. Cirdan was there to greet him and a ship was moored at the quay ready to set sail to the Undying Lands. Then the Last Riding of the Keepers of the Rings arrived at the Havens, including Elrond, the keeper of Vilya, and Galadriel, the keeper of Nenya, and a number of other Elves who were leaving Middle-earth including Gildor Inglorion.

With them were the Hobbits Bilbo Baggins and Frodo Baggins, who had both carried the One Ring. Mortals were not normally allowed to sail to the Undying Lands, but because of the great burden they had borne, Frodo and Bilbo were given special permission. It is thought that Gandalf, as an emissary of the Valar, may have granted this favor at the request of Arwen.

Sam Gamgee, Merry Brandybuck, and Pippin Took came to the Grey Havens to say goodbye to their friends.

Then Frodo kissed Merry and Pippin, and last of all Sam, and went aboard; and the sails were drawn up, and the wind blew, and slowly the ship slipped away down the long grey firth; and the light of the glass of Galadriel that Frodo bore glimmered and was lost. And the ship went out into the High Sea and passed on into the West, until at last on a night of rain Frodo smelled a sweet fragrance on the air and heard the sound of singing that came over the water. And then it seemed to him that as in his dream in the house of Bombadil, the grey rain-curtain turned all to silver glass and was rolled back, and he beheld white shores and beyond them a far green country under a swift sunrise.

But to Sam the evening deepened to darkness as he stood at the Haven; and as he looked at the grey sea he saw only a shadow on the waters that was soon lost in the West. There still he stood far into the night, hearing only the sigh and murmur of the waves on the shores of Middle-earth, and the sound of them sank deep into his heart. Beside him stood Merry and Pippin, and they were silent.
The Return of the King: "The Grey Havens," p. 310-11

Names & Etymology:
The Grey Havens are also called the Havens. A haven is a harbor or port. The Sindarin name is Mithlond which translates as "Grey Havens" from mith meaning "grey" and lond meaning "haven."

The Gulf of Lune is also written as the Gulf of Lhûn. Lune is a Common Speech adaptation of lhûn - an earlier version of the Sindarin word luin meaning "blue." The Gulf of Lune was fed by the River Lune which sprang from the Blue Mountains.

The inlets on the north and south sides of the Gulf of Lune were called Forlond - "North Haven" from for meaning "north" and lond meaning "haven" - and Harlond - "South Haven" from har meaning "south."

Sources:
The Fellowship of the Ring: "Prologue: Concerning Hobbits," p. 16; "Note on the Shire Records," p. 25; "The Shadow of the Past," p. 52-54; "The Council of Elrond," p. 253, 279-80; "The Ring Goes South," p. 297; "Lothlorien," p. 363
The Return of the King: "The Last Debate," p. 150; "Many Partings," p. 252-53; "The Grey Havens," passim
Appendix A of The Lord of the Rings: "The Numenorean Kings" p. 314-15; "Eriador, Arnor, and the Heirs of Isildur," p. 319-20; "The North-kingdom and the Dunedain," p. 322, 323; "Gondor and the Heirs of Anarion," p. 331; "The Tale of Aragorn and Arwen," p. 344
Appendix B of The Lord of the Rings: "The Tale of Years," p. 364, 364-65, 377-78
The Silmarillion: "Of the Rings of Power and the Third Age," p. 285-86, 289, 298-99, 304; "Appendix - Elements in Quenya and Sindarin Names," entries for formen, hyarmen, londe, luin, and mith
Unfinished Tales: "A Description of Numenor," p. 171; "Aldarion and Erendis," p. 174-75, 213 note 3; "The History of Galadriel and Celeborn," p. 239

Harlond (Minas Tirith)

The quays and landings of the Harlond were used by boats that came upriver to Minas Tirith from the southern provinces of Gondor. The Harlond was also a base for the King's Ships.

During the Battle of the Pelennor Fields on March 15, 3019, Aragorn brought reinforcements to the Harlond on ships captured from the Corsairs.

Names & Etymology:
The name Harlond means "South Haven" from har meaning "south" and lond meaning "haven." There was also an inlet on the Gulf of Lune named Harlond.

Sources:
The Return of the King: "Minas Tirith," p. 22; "The Battle of the Pelennor Fields," p. 123
The Silmarillion: "Appendix - Elements in Quenya and Sindarin Names," entries for hyarmen and londe
The History of Middle-earth, vol. XII, The Peoples of Middle-earth: "The New Shadow," p. 421

There were no ports on the Icebay of Forochel, and it was rarely used by ships. As its name suggests, the Icebay was in a cold climate and the waters froze during the winter months. A people called the Snowmen, or Lossoth, lived on the shores of the bay, particularly on the Cape of Forochel, though they also camped on the southern shore near the Blue Mountains. The Snowmen built homes out of ice and snow and used sleds and skis for transportation.

In 1975, King Arvedui of Arthedain fled to the shores of the Icebay to escape the Witch-king of Angmar. The Snowmen gave Arvedui and his men food and shelter. Cirdan of the Grey Havens sent a ship to rescue Arvedui in March, but the bay was still frozen far out from the shore. The leader of the Snowmen advised Arvedui to wait for the spring thaw, but Arvedui did not heed his advice. The Snowmen pulled Arvedui and his men across the ice in their sleds and a boat from the ship picked them up.

Before the ship exited the Icebay, a great blizzard came and drove the ship back against the ice. The hull was crushed and the ship sank. Everyone aboard was killed. Arvedui had been carrying two of the palantiri -  the Stone of Annuminas and the Stone of Amon Sul - and they sank to the bottom of the bay and were lost forever.

Names & Etymology:
Forochel means "northern ice" from for meaning "north" and heleg meaning "ice." The Icebay was also called the Bay of Forochel. A cape is a point of land extending into water.

Sources:
Appendix A of The Lord of the Rings: "The North-kingdom and the Dunedain," p. 321-22 and note 1
Unfinished Tales: "Introduction," p. 13
The Silmarillion: "Appendix - Elements in Quenya and Sindarin Names," entry for formen
The History of Middle-earth, vol. V, The Lost Road and Other Writings: "The Etymologies," entry for KHEL / KHELEK
The History of Middle-earth, vol. VII, The Treason of Isengard: "The First Map," p. 301 and maps I and IA
Ice Bay of Forochel

Lond Daer was originally named Vinyalonde. It was established between 750 and 800 of the Second Age by Aldarion, a great mariner and future King of Numenor. Aldarion foresaw that a haven on the coast of Middle-earth could be useful in the defense of Eriador and the Elvish realm of Lindon to the north.

Aldarion needed timber to build ships, and he chose the haven's location because there were vast forests on either side of the Gwathlo. Timber was brought downriver to the haven. Ships were built in the shipyards there, and timber was also sent on to Numenor.

The native inhabitants of the forests were awed by the Numenoreans but they became hostile as their homeland was gradually stripped of trees. In 843, Aldarion found that the haven had been damaged by the Sea and had been plundered by the forest-dwellers. He tried to rebuild, but on another visit between 863 and 869 he found the haven completely ruined.

Lond Daer was rebuilt after Aldarion's reign and was enlarged and fortified. The timber trade continued, and the regions of Enedwaith and Minhiriath around the Gwathlo were almost completely deforested by the Men of Numenor by the middle of the Second Age.

During the War of the Elves and Sauron from 1693 to 1701, many of the natives sided with Sauron against the Numenoreans. Admiral Ciryatur of Numenor sent ships to Lond Daer and the Numenoreans defeated Sauron's forces in the Battle of the Gwathlo in 1701.

Lond Daer eventually fell into ruin once more. Numenor was destroyed in 3319 and the survivors founded the Kingdoms of Gondor and Arnor. Ships travelling between the South-kingdom and the North-kingdom passed Lond Daer on their way up the Gwathlo to Tharbad, but the haven at Lond Daer was not restored.

Names & Etymology:
The name Lond Daer means "Great Haven" in Sindarin from lond meaning "haven" and daer meaning "great." It was also called Lond Daer Enedh meaning "Great Middle Haven" because it was located between the Grey Havens and Pelargir (though Pelargir was not established until 2350 S.A.).

The original name was Vinyalondë meaning "New Haven" in Quenya from vinya meaning "new" and londë meaning "haven."

Sources:
Unfinished Tales: "Aldarion and Erendis," p. 176, 180-81, 188, 200, 206; "The History of Galadriel and Celeborn," p. 239, 253 note 7; "Appendix D - The Port of Lond Daer," p. 261-65; Index entries for Lond Daer and Vinyalonde
The Quenya Corpus Wordlist
Hiswelókë's Sindarin Dictionary

The Numenoreans established a haven at Umbar in 2280 of the Second Age. It was used as a base by the King's Men - Numenoreans who had become estranged from the Elves and the Valar and who sought to expand their domains into Middle-earth. They oppressed the native inhabitants of Harad and demanded tribute from them.

Ar-Pharazon of Numenor landed at Umbar with a great fleet in 3261 of the Second Age. The people who lived near the coast fled before Ar-Pharazon as he marched north to confront Sauron. Sauron surrendered to Ar-Pharazon and allowed himself to be taken to Numenor. He later persuaded Ar-Pharazon to attack the Undying Lands, resulting in the destruction of Numenor in 3319.

The Numenoreans who lived in Umbar survived the Downfall. They were corrupted by Sauron and became known as the Black Numenoreans. Over time they intermarried with the Haradrim. Another group of survivors were the Faithful who had resisted Sauron. They founded the realms of Gondor and Arnor. The descendants of the Black Numenoreans and the descendants of the Faithful were enemies throughout the Third Age.

In 933 of the Third Age, King Earnil I of Gondor besieged Umbar by land and sea. He captured the Havens at great cost and drove away the lords of Umbar. Umbar became an important port of Gondor. Earnil perished at Sea in a storm off Umbar in 936.

At some point, the Men of Gondor built a tall white pillar topped with a crystal globe on a high hill on the headland overlooking the Havens of Umbar. The globe caught the light of the Sun and Moon and could been seen from far out at Sea. The pillar commemorated the landing of Ar-Pharazon who had humbled Sauron even though he had afterwards been corrupted by him. The pillar was later destroyed when Umbar fell into the hands of Men loyal to Sauron.

The lords of Umbar led the Haradrim in an attempt to retake the Havens in 1015. King Ciryandil of Gondor was killed, but Gondor's navy prevented the capture of Umbar. The siege lasted 35 years. In 1050, King Ciryaher led a force from the north by land and sea and broke the siege of Umbar. The Haradrim were subjugated and Gondor's territory extended south through Harad as far as Umbar. Ciryaher took the name Hyarmendacil, meaning "South-victor."

During the civil war of the Kin-strife in Gondor, the people of Umbar supported the rebel leader Castamir. In 1448, after the rightful king Eldacar killed Castamir the Usurper, Castamir's sons and their followers escaped to Umbar. They claimed the Havens as a stronghold for the enemies of Gondor.

The rebels merged with the inhabitants of Umbar. They took to the seas as Corsairs and raided Gondor's coasts and attacked its ships. The region called South Gondor that lay between Umbar and Ithilien was contested between the Corsairs and Gondor.

In 1540, the Corsairs of Umbar and the kings of Harad joined forces in battle against Gondor and King Aldamir of Gondor was killed. Aldamir's son retaliated against Umbar and Harad in 1551 and called himself Hyarmendacil II. In 1634, the Corsairs led by Angamaite and Sangahyando sacked Pelargir and killed King Minardil of Gondor.

The Corsairs continued to raid the coasts of Gondor as far as Anfalas. In 1810, King Telumehtar of Gondor attacked Umbar and destroyed the stronghold of the Corsairs. The last descendants of Castamir were killed. Umbar was briefly held by Gondor, but in the troubled years that followed Gondor was unable to maintain control of the Havens.

Umbar once again became a base for the Corsairs. In 2746, the Corsairs killed the Prince of Dol Amroth. Three fleets from Umbar and Harad attacked the coasts of Gondor in 2758. They put troops ashore as far north as the Isen and aided the Men of Dunland in their invasion of Rohan. Frealaf of Rohan defeated the Dunlendings, and Beregond of Gondor drove the Corsairs back from the coasts.

The Corsairs of Umbar joined the forces of Sauron who returned to his realm in Mordor in 2942. Aragorn recognized the threat posed to Gondor by the Corsairs while he was in the service of Ecthelion, the Steward of Gondor. In 2980, Aragorn launched a surprise attack on Umbar and burned many of their ships and killed the Captain of the Haven.

During the War of the Ring, the Corsairs captured Pelargir with a fleet of 50 large ships and a number of smaller ships. Farther down the coast at Linhir, forces from Umbar and Harad fought with Angbor and the Men of Lamedon. These attacks prevented many of Gondor's southern forces from strengthening the defenses of Minas Tirith.

Aragorn summoned an army from the Paths of the Dead to fight the Corsairs. As the Army of the Dead came to Linhir, the Men of Umbar and Harad retreated before them. At Pelargir on March 13, 3019, the Dead boarded the Corsairs' ships and the mariners jumped overboard in terror. Aragorn freed the slaves who were chained to the oars, many of whom were Men of Gondor who had been captured by the Corsairs.

Aragorn sailed the ships of the Corsairs to Minas Tirith. Denethor, the Steward of Gondor, saw the fleet approaching via the palantir and killed himself in despair thinking Gondor's doom was at hand. Aragorn's arrival on March 15 turned the tide of the Battle of the Pelennor Fields and Sauron's army was defeated. Sauron himself perished when the One Ring was destroyed on March 25.

After the war, Aragorn became King of the Reunited Kingdom of Gondor and Arnor. He made peace with the peoples of Harad and the Corsairs of Umbar were subdued.

Names & Etymology:
The name Umbar was of forgotten origin from before the arrival of the Numenoreans, and its meaning is not known. Any relation to the Quenya word umbar meaning "fate" appears to be coincidental. Also called the Haven of Umbar or Havens of Umbar.

Sources:
Map of Middle-earth by Pauline Baynes
The Two Towers: "Of Herbs and Stewed Rabbit," p. 267
The Return of the King: "Minas Tirith," p. 38; "The Passing of the Grey Company," p. 54; "The Battle of the Pelennor Fields," p. 122; "The Last Debate," p. 151-52
Appendix A of The Lord of the Rings: "The Numenorean Kings," p. 317; "Gondor and the Heirs of Anarion," p. 325 and note 1, 327-29, 332; "The Stewards," p. 333-35; "The House of Eorl," p. 347
Appendix B of The Lord of the Rings: "The Tale of Years," p. 364, 366-67, 369
Appendix E of The Lord of the Rings: "Writing and Spelling," p. 401
Appendix F of The Lord of the Rings: "The Languages and Peoples of the Third Age," p. 405, 407
The Silmarillion: "Akallabeth," p. 266-67, 270
Unfinished Tales: "The History of Galadriel and Celeborn," p. 242; "Cirion and Eorl," p. 296, 312 notes 9 and 14; "The Istari," p. 398, 402 note 7
The History of Middle-earth, vol. XII, The Peoples of Middle-earth: "The History of the Akallabeth," p. 153, 155-56; "The Heirs of Elendil," p. 197-200, 205, 214, 222

Cair Andros

Cair Andros was fortified during the time of Turin II (2882-2914) in order to prevent Enemy forces from crossing the river there. The defenses of Cair Andros were maintained when the War of the Ring began, and horses were kept on the western side for the use of the Rangers of Ithilien.

On March 10, 3019, the defenses of Cair Andros were overrun by an army from the Black Gate consisting of battalions of Orcs and companies of Men from Rhun. They used the island to launch an attack on Anorien, threatening Minas Tirith from the north and blocking the Great West Road in an attempt to prevent the Riders of Rohan from coming to the aid of Gondor.

After the Battle of the Pelennor Fields, Aragorn took pity on the men who were too afraid to march to the Black Gate. He sent them to retake Cair Andros from the Enemy and hold it in defense of Gondor and Rohan.

Names & Etymology:
Cair Andros means "ship of long foam," in reference to the island's shape and the foamy waters that broke on its northern end. The word cair means "ship." The element and means "long" and ros means "foam, spray."

Sources:
The Return of the King: "The Siege of Gondor," p. 85, 89-90, 92; "The Black Gate Opens," p. 159, 162; "The Field of Cormallen," p. 235; "The Steward and the King," p. 241-42
Appendix A of The Lord of the Rings: "The Stewards," p. 335
Appendix B of The Lord of the Rings: "The Tale of Years," p. 374
The History of Middle-earth, vol. V, The Lost Road and Other Writings: "The Etymologies," entries for ANAD/ANDA, KIR, and ROS

At the base of the Carrock on the eastern side there was a shallow cave with a pebbly floor. A flight of stone steps climbed up the Carrock to the top, where there was a small flat space.

The stairs were made by Beorn, who lived nearby on the eastern side of the Anduin. It was he who named the island the Carrock. Beorn sometimes visited the Carrock at night in the form of a bear.

In 2941, Bilbo Baggins was brought to the Carrock along with Gandalf and the Dwarves by the Great Eagles. They descended from the peak of the Carrock - where the Eagles had set them - and crossed to the east bank of the Anduin on the way to Beorn's house.

Names & Etymology:
The word carrock is derived from the Gaelic for "rock." In Old Welsh the word is carrecc; in modern Welsh it is careg; in Old Irish it is carric; and in modern Irish it is carraig. The word carrock can be found in the British place name Carrock Fell, a rocky summit in the Lake District.

Sources:
The Hobbit: "Queer Lodgings," p. 123-26, 135, 140-41, 144-45, 147
MacBain's Dictionary: An Etymological Dictionary of the Gaelic Language

Elvet-isle

Names & Etymology:
The word elvet is an old word meaning "swan" from the Old English elfetu or ilfetu.

Sources:
"The Adventures of Tom Bombadil" in A Tolkien Reader: "Bombadil Goes Boating," p. 205, 210
Old English Made Easy

Girdley Island

Names & Etymology:
Girdley Island was so called because it was "girdled" by the Brandywine. The element -ey is from the Old Norse meaning "island."

Source:
The Fellowship of the Ring: Map of a Part of the Shire
The Lord of the Rings: A Reader's Companion by Wayne G. Hammond and Christina Scull: "The Maps of The Lord of the Rings," p. lviii

Himling

Himling was once a hill named Himring in Beleriand where Maedhros, son of Feanor, had his fortress. Beleriand sank under the Sea after the War of Wrath at the end of the First Age, and the peak of Himring remained above the waves as the island of Himling.

Names & Etymology:
The name of the hill of Himring means "ever-cold" from him meaning "cool" and ring meaning "cold." An earlier version of the story of Maedhros used the name Himling for the hill instead of Himring. The reason for the use of the name Himling when it became an island is not clear.

Sources:
Map of Middle-earth by Christopher Tolkien
The Silmarillion: "Of Beleriand and Its Realms," p. 123; "Appendix - Elements in Quenya and Sindarin Names," entries for him and ring
Unfinished Tales: Introduction, p. 13-14
The History of Middle-earth, vol. V, The Lost Road and Other Writings: "The Lhammas," p. 189; "Quenta Silmarillion," p. 268 note 114
The History of Middle-earth, vol. VII, The Treason of Isengard: "The Council of Elrond (1)," p. 124, 137-38 note 18; "The First Map," p. 301 and Map I

Númenor

The Tindrock was a tall island with steep sides. Sheer cliffs rising out of the water formed its base. Farther up, the sides of the island sloped somewhat and trees grew there. At the top was a spire of grey stone. Birds circled around the Tindrock, but it was said that no man or beast had ever set foot on the island.

The Fellowship came in sight of the Tindrock on February 25, 3019. After the breaking of the Fellowship the next day, Frodo Baggins and Sam Gamgee rowed across Nen Hithoel around the southern side of the Tindrock, struggling against the strong current above the falls.

Names & Etymology:
The name Tindrock means "spiked rock." The word tind is Old English meaning "tine, spike, prong." Also called Tindrock Isle.

Called Tol Brandir in Sindarin. The word tol means "island with sheer sides." The word brandir is said to be a corruption of baradnir meaning "tower-steep" or "steep tower." Barad means "tower" and there is also an adjective baradh meaning "steep" but the meaning of nir is unclear.

Sources:
The Fellowship of the Ring: "Farewell to Lorien," p. 389; "The Great River," p. 396, 405-6, 410; "The Breaking of the Fellowship," 411-13, 417, 423
The Two Towers: "The Departure of Boromir," p. 19; "The Riders of Rohan," p. 28, 38, 43; "The Passage of the Marshes," p. 237; "The Window on the West," p. 275
The Silmarillion: "Appendix - Elements in Quenya and Sindarin Names," entries for barad and tol
The History of Middle-earth, vol. V, The Lost Road and Other Writings: "The Etymologies," entry for BARAD
"Nomenclature of The Lord of the Rings," entry for Tindrock
The Lord of the Rings: A Reader's Companion by Wayne G. Hammond and Christina Scull: "Farewell to Lorien," p. 333-34

Tolfalas

Names & Etymology:
Also written as Tol Falas. The name means "coastal island" from tol meaning "island with sheer sides" and falas meaning "shore, coast."

Sources:
Map of Middle-earth by Christopher Tolkien
The History of Middle-earth, vol. V, The Lost Road and Other Writings: "The Etymologies," entries for PHAL, PHALAS and TOL

Tol Fuin Island off the coast of northwestern Middle-earth. Tol Fuin was located just west of the smaller island of Himling. The two islands were in the Sea west of the northernmost part of Lindon. Tol Fuin was formed at the end of the First Age when Beleriand was ruined in the War of Wrath and much of the land sank beneath the Sea. The island of Tol Fuin was all that remained of the forested highlands of Taur-nu-Fuin, a place of fear and dread where Sauron once dwelled. Note: Only the island of Himling is shown on most maps of Middle-earth. Tol Fuin is shown on the maps in "The First Map" chapter of HoME VII, a portion of which is included here. Names & Etymology: Tol Fuin means "dark island." The word tol means "island with sheer sides" and fuin means "gloom, darkness." Taur-nu-Fuin means "forest under night." Sources: The History of Middle-earth, vol. VII, The Treason of Isengard: "The Council of Elrond (1)," p. 124, 137-38 note 18; "The First Map," p. 301 and Map I The Silmarillion: "Appendix - Elements in Quenya and Sindarin Names," entries for fuin and tol

Map showing Tol Fuin by J.R.R. Tolkien

Tol Uinen

Aldarion built the light-tower Calmindon on Tol Uinen. Off the coast of Tol Uinen, Aldarion anchored his ship Eambar which he used as a home and as the guildhouse for the Guild of Venturers.

Tol Uinen was presumably destroyed along with Numenor in 3319 of the Second Age.

Names & Etymology:
The word tol means "island." Uinen may contain the Quenya words uile meaning "long trailing plant, especially seaweed" and nen meaning "water," although in one source (HoME XI, p. 404) Tolkien states that Uinen is not Elvish but instead may come from the language of the Valar.

Sources:
Unfinished Tales: "Aldarion and Erendis," p. 176, 182
The Silmarillion: "Appendix - Elements in Quenya and Sindarin Names," entries for nen and tol
The History of Middle-earth, vol. V, The Lost Road and Other Writings: "The Etymologies," entry for UY
The History of Middle-earth, vol. XI, The War of the Jewels: "Quendi and Eldar," p. 404
The Quenya Corpus Wordlist

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