Valley of Living Death

A valley that cut through Ephel Dúath, the Mountains of Shadow that formed the western fence of Mordor. At its mouth the ancient Gondorians had constructed Minas Ithil to guard that entrance into the Dark Land, but after the Nazgûl emerged from Mordor to capture it, that great tower became known as Minas Morgul, the Tower of Sorcery. The evil of the Ringwraiths infected the lands about the tower and the valley through the mountains. Because of this, and no doubt also because of the wraiths who had poisoned the vale, it became known as the Valley of Living Death.