Emyn Muil
A bleak, rocky, roughly tongue-shaped plateau that rose out of the Brown Lands and ran to the southwest; ending abruptly above the Mouths of Entwash and the Nindalf.
The Western edges of the Emyn Muil were bound by two rocky ridges separated by a stony valley. The outer ridge was commonly referred to as The Wall of Rohan.
The Eastern edge of Emyn Muil was a hilly, nearly impassable, area where landslips left many fissures and ledges. Frodo and Sam crossed this area on their journey after the breakup of the Fellowship and at one point had to climb down a cliff that was more than 100 feet high.
The River Anduin cut through the Emyn Muil separating the southwestern portion from the rest of the plateau. On the river's path southwards, the gradual slopes on either side of the river got steeper and narrower, forcing the current to increase in speed. The river then reached the impassable rapids of Sarn Gebir. Beyond these rapids the banks rose into steep cliffs which suddenly opened up into the lake called Nen Hithoel.
Just before the river entered the lake stood the Argonath, the Pillars of the Kings, giant staues of Isildur and Anárion mounted on stone pedestals on either side of the river. The Argonath faced north and each had an axe in its right hand. The left arms were raised, palms outward in a gesture of warning. These statues were built under the orders of King Romendacil II of Gondor beginning in TA 1304 and marked the northern boundary of Gondor. At that time the power of Gondor was at its peak and no traveller was allowed to pass south of the statues without Gondor's approval.
Nen Hithoel was an oval-shaped lake about 20 miles long that ended suddenly at the Falls of Rauros. The Hills surrounding the lake were clad with trees in their lower reaches but their tops were grey and barren.
The southern edge of Emyn Muil was a steep cliff dominated by three peaks and the Falls of Rauros.
The easternmost of the three peaks was known as Amon Lhaw, the Hill of Hearing. The central peak sat as an island above the Falls of Rauros and was known as Tol Brandir. Its steep sides and the proximity to the falls meant that there was no place for a boat to land and Tol Brandir was never set foot upon.
The western peak was known as Amon Hen, the Hill of Seeing. For many years it was used as a watchtower for Gondor.
At the peaks of Amon Lhâw and Amon Hen, stone thrones were erected during the early years of Gondor. Amon Hen could be reached by the shore of the lake and also by the North Stair which had been carved into the cliffs near the base of the Falls of Rauros and was also used as a portage so that travellers could bypass the falls. When Frodo sat on the Seat of Amon Hen with the ring on his finger he was able to see for hundreds of miles in every direction.
At the base of Amon Hen was the lawn of Parth Galen. It was here that the Fellowship rested before it broke up.
The Western edges of the Emyn Muil were bound by two rocky ridges separated by a stony valley. The outer ridge was commonly referred to as The Wall of Rohan.
The Eastern edge of Emyn Muil was a hilly, nearly impassable, area where landslips left many fissures and ledges. Frodo and Sam crossed this area on their journey after the breakup of the Fellowship and at one point had to climb down a cliff that was more than 100 feet high.
The River Anduin cut through the Emyn Muil separating the southwestern portion from the rest of the plateau. On the river's path southwards, the gradual slopes on either side of the river got steeper and narrower, forcing the current to increase in speed. The river then reached the impassable rapids of Sarn Gebir. Beyond these rapids the banks rose into steep cliffs which suddenly opened up into the lake called Nen Hithoel.
Just before the river entered the lake stood the Argonath, the Pillars of the Kings, giant staues of Isildur and Anárion mounted on stone pedestals on either side of the river. The Argonath faced north and each had an axe in its right hand. The left arms were raised, palms outward in a gesture of warning. These statues were built under the orders of King Romendacil II of Gondor beginning in TA 1304 and marked the northern boundary of Gondor. At that time the power of Gondor was at its peak and no traveller was allowed to pass south of the statues without Gondor's approval.
Nen Hithoel was an oval-shaped lake about 20 miles long that ended suddenly at the Falls of Rauros. The Hills surrounding the lake were clad with trees in their lower reaches but their tops were grey and barren.
The southern edge of Emyn Muil was a steep cliff dominated by three peaks and the Falls of Rauros.
The easternmost of the three peaks was known as Amon Lhaw, the Hill of Hearing. The central peak sat as an island above the Falls of Rauros and was known as Tol Brandir. Its steep sides and the proximity to the falls meant that there was no place for a boat to land and Tol Brandir was never set foot upon.
The western peak was known as Amon Hen, the Hill of Seeing. For many years it was used as a watchtower for Gondor.
At the peaks of Amon Lhâw and Amon Hen, stone thrones were erected during the early years of Gondor. Amon Hen could be reached by the shore of the lake and also by the North Stair which had been carved into the cliffs near the base of the Falls of Rauros and was also used as a portage so that travellers could bypass the falls. When Frodo sat on the Seat of Amon Hen with the ring on his finger he was able to see for hundreds of miles in every direction.
At the base of Amon Hen was the lawn of Parth Galen. It was here that the Fellowship rested before it broke up.
Encyclopedia entry originally written by PotbellyHairyfoot