Location

Forming the western and southern borders of Mordor

Race

Primarily occupied by Orcs, though guarded by Men for much of the earlier Third Age

Settlements

Durthang, Minas Morgul (originally Minas Ithil), Narchost, The Tower of Cirith Ungol

Sources

The rivers Harnen and Poros, and the stream known as the Morgulduin, all had their sources in these mountains, as well as three other unnamed streams and rivers

Passes

Cirith Dúath, Cirith Ungol, Morgul Pass; the Haunted Pass and the Isenmouthe separated this range from the Ash Mountains to the north and east

Other names

East-mountains, Ephel Dúath, Shadowy Mountains

Note

These mountains are not to be confused with Ered Wethrin that bordered the land of Hithlum, north of Beleriand, and whose name is also translated into English as Mountains of Shadow

Indexes:

About this entry:

Updated 7 April 2017
This entry is complete

Mountains of Shadow

The western border of Mordor

A range of mountains that ran north to south between Ithilien and Mordor, forming the western border of Sauron's Dark Land. At the southern extent of Mordor's western border, the range turned eastward and ran for some four hundred miles to create a southern frontier for the Dark Land.

Also known by the Elvish name of Ephel Dúath, the main pass through the Mountains of Shadow was through the valley of Imlad Morgul, guarded (at the time of the War of the Ring) by the tower of Minas Morgul. In their northern parts, the mountains had a series of ridges and hills on their eastern side, known as the Morgai.

Mountains of Shadow

The western border of Mordor

See also...

Website services kindly sponsored by Axiom Discovery aptitude and skill testing.

Personality is one part of understanding a candidate's suitability for a role, but aptitude can also be crucial.