Gwathló

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 Númenóreans 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.

Maps

Gallery

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  As the Glanduin meets the Mitheithel just outside the toppled walls of Nimbarth, they join together into one great flow - the Gwathló.

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  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.

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  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.

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  The Greyflood too feeds into the Wadewater, creating pools and rivulets that nourish the wildlife and creatures of the wetlands.

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  On the west bank opposite Swanfleet lies the Sedgemead of Cardolan, with its long-abandoned ruins and quiet beauty.

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  Numerous nameless tributaries flow into the Greyflood here, adding to its massive flow.

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  The wide river thus creates an impassable barrier through its length save by boat travel, or by swimming.

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  The river's only crossing has historically been at Tharbad, where the great North-South Road used to pass through on stone bridges.

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  However, the city has long since fallen to flooding, war and plague, its once grand bridge now crumbled and impassable.

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  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.

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  The lake is overgrown with weeds and slick rocks, and orcs skulk the surrounding ruins. Tharbad is no longer a safe crossing.

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  Passing through the fallen city, the Greyflood continues south, leaving the ruins behind.

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  From here, the river marks the border between Minhiriath to the west and Western Enedwaith to the east.

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  Ominously, a ship of Corsairs can be seen having sailed up the river from the ocean, docked on the banks of Minhiriath.