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Location
Flowing northward out of the Mountains of Mirkwood
Source
In the northern foothills of the Mountains of Mirkwood
Tributaries
None
Outflow
Into the Forest River west of the Elvenking's Halls

Indexes:

About this entry:

  • Updated 26 May 2013
  • This entry is complete

Enchanted River

The black river of northern Mirkwood

Map of the Enchanted River

The dark river that rose in the Mountains of Mirkwood, and flowed northwards in a great loop to meet the Forest River under the canopy of the trees of Mirkwood. Its water was black, and carried a curse that gave the river its name - any person coming into contact with its enchanted water immediately fell into a long, deep sleep and lost months' worth of memories.1

About halfway along its length, the Enchanted River flowed across the Elf-path that led west to east through Mirkwood to Thranduil's halls, and it seems that a ferry was maintained there, presumably for the use of the Wood-elves. At least, Bilbo and the Dwarves found a boat kept on the eastern bank of the River, which they used to cross it on their journey to Erebor.


Notes

1

The source of this strange curse is never explained, but it may be connected to the giant spiders that inhabited northern Mirkwood. During the First Age, we're told that the offspring of Ungoliant defiled the waters that flowed out of Ered Gorgoroth, so that those drinking from them would be '...filled with shadows of madness and despair' (Quenta Silmarillion 14, Of Beleriand and its Realms). Though this effect isn't identical to that of the Enchanted River, the connection seems telling, especially as the spiders of Mirkwood were also descendants of Ungoliant.

See also...

Dark Mountains, Emyn Duir, Thorin and Company

Indexes:

About this entry:

  • Updated 26 May 2013
  • This entry is complete

For acknowledgements and references, see the Disclaimer & Bibliography page.

Original content © copyright Mark Fisher 2001, 2011, 2013. All rights reserved. For conditions of reuse, see the Site FAQ.

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Enchanted River

The black river of northern Mirkwood

Location
Flowing northward out of the Mountains of Mirkwood
Source
In the northern foothills of the Mountains of Mirkwood
Tributaries
None
Outflow
Into the Forest River west of the Elvenking's Halls

Indexes:

About this entry:

  • Updated 26 May 2013
  • This entry is complete

Enchanted River

The black river of northern Mirkwood

Map of the Enchanted River

The dark river that rose in the Mountains of Mirkwood, and flowed northwards in a great loop to meet the Forest River under the canopy of the trees of Mirkwood. Its water was black, and carried a curse that gave the river its name - any person coming into contact with its enchanted water immediately fell into a long, deep sleep and lost months' worth of memories.1

About halfway along its length, the Enchanted River flowed across the Elf-path that led west to east through Mirkwood to Thranduil's halls, and it seems that a ferry was maintained there, presumably for the use of the Wood-elves. At least, Bilbo and the Dwarves found a boat kept on the eastern bank of the River, which they used to cross it on their journey to Erebor.


Notes

1

The source of this strange curse is never explained, but it may be connected to the giant spiders that inhabited northern Mirkwood. During the First Age, we're told that the offspring of Ungoliant defiled the waters that flowed out of Ered Gorgoroth, so that those drinking from them would be '...filled with shadows of madness and despair' (Quenta Silmarillion 14, Of Beleriand and its Realms). Though this effect isn't identical to that of the Enchanted River, the connection seems telling, especially as the spiders of Mirkwood were also descendants of Ungoliant.

See also...

Dark Mountains, Emyn Duir, Thorin and Company

Indexes:

About this entry:

  • Updated 26 May 2013
  • This entry is complete

For acknowledgements and references, see the Disclaimer & Bibliography page.

Original content © copyright Mark Fisher 2001, 2011, 2013. All rights reserved. For conditions of reuse, see the Site FAQ.

Website services kindly sponsored by myDISCprofile, the free online personality test.
How do your personal strengths fit in with career matching? How can you identify them? Try a free personality test from myDISCprofile.