View source for Gwathló

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[[File:Gwathló.jpg|400px|center]] 
The river '''Gwathló''', widely known to the race of [[Men]] as the '''Greyflood''', is a river in middle [[Eriador]]. Its three main tributaries are the [[Hoarwell]] (''Mitheithel''), the [[Loudwater]] (''Bruinen''), and the [[Glanduin]] (''Borderstream''), feeding in from the north, northeast and east, respectively.

The [[Sindarin]] name Gwathló was adapted from the name '''Gwathir''', given to the river by the [[Númenórean]]s in the [[Second Age]]. Its name translates as ''Shadowy River'', and was given because over all its length it flowed through immense forests which covered [[Minhiriath]] to the north and [[Enedwaith]] to the south. It was one of the few rivers also given an [[Adûnaic]] name: '''Agathurush'''.

The Gwathló was wide enough that it could be sailed on all the way to where its tributary [[Glanduin]] met the river. Its was formed where the [[Mitheithel]] or Hoarwell met the [[Glanduin]], where a marshy area known as ''Nîn-in-Eilph'' or [[Swanfleet]] was formed.

When the Númenórean Ship Kings required more and more wood to build their ships, they set up a haven-fortress on the Gwathló called [[Lond Daer]] or ''Lond Daer Enedh'', Great (Middle) Haven. From there the lands were rapidly deforested, and by the [[Third Age]] all the forests except [[Eryn Vorn]] were gone.

In the late Second Age and early Third Age, the Gwathló formed the border between the Kingdoms of [[Arnor]] and [[Gondor]], and the great Gondorian northern outpost of [[Tharbad]] was built where the Great South Road crossed the river at its only crossing in the lower stream. However, by the late Third Age, Gondor had retreated far south and Arnor had been destroyed. Tharbad and its great bridge had been abandoned and ruined, and the river had to be crossed by the ruins of Tharbad in a dangerous ford, with servants of the Enemy stalking the nearby ruins.
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== Maps ==
[[File:Gwathló map.jpg|235px|Gwathló map]]
[[File:Bodies of Water.jpg|300px|Bodies of Water]]

== Gallery ==
<gallery mode="packed" heights="150px">
Glanduin End.jpg|As the Glanduin meets the [[Mitheithel]] just outside the toppled walls of [[Nimbarth]], they join together into one great flow - the Gwathló.
Gwathló Wide.jpg|Though much shorter than the [[Anduin]], the Greyflood is famed for its great size. Wider across than some lakes are long, it divides the land as it flows south.
Gwathló Wadewater.jpg|On the east bank north of [[Tharbad]] lies the [[Wadewater]] of [[Swanfleet]], teeming with life that rises when the [[Glanduin]] create numerous streams and islets.
Gwathló Lilies.jpg|The Greyflood too feeds into the Wadewater, creating pools and rivulets that nourish the wildlife and creatures of the wetlands.
Gwathló Sedgemead.jpg|On the west bank opposite Swanfleet lies the [[Sedgemead]] of [[Cardolan]], with its long-abandoned ruins and quiet beauty.
Gwathló Siderivers.jpg|Numerous nameless tributaries flow into the Greyflood here, adding to its massive flow.
Gwathló View.jpg|The wide river thus creates an impassable barrier through its length save by boat travel, or by swimming. 
Gwathló Tharbad.jpg|The river's only crossing has historically been at [[Tharbad]], where the great [[North-South Road]] used to pass through on stone bridges.
Gwathló Bridge.jpg|However, the city has long since fallen to flooding, war and plague, its once grand bridge now crumbled and impassable.
Gwathló Broken.jpg|The only way across here is either a dangerous swim across the strong current, or attempting to cross by jumping across bits of broken rubble.
Gwathló Weeds.jpg|The lake is overgrown with weeds and slick rocks, and orcs skulk the surrounding ruins. Tharbad is no longer a safe crossing.
Gwathló Exit.jpg|Passing through the fallen city, the Greyflood continues south, leaving the ruins behind.
Gwathló Border.jpg|From here, the river marks the border between [[Minhiriath]] to the west and [[Western Enedwaith]] to the east.
Gwathló south.jpg|Ominously, a ship of Corsairs can be seen having sailed up the river from the ocean, docked on the banks of Minhiriath.
</gallery>
{{Rivers}}

[[Category:Rivers]]