River Isen

Location

The Fords of Isen in the Heathfells ^{[87.9S, 3.1W]} between The Gap of Rohan and the Westfold of West Rohan.

Lore

The River Isen (or Angren in Sindarin) began in the southern Misty Mountains,

first flowing south through the fortress of Isengard (or Angrenost) to the White Mountains, where it abruptly bent west and flowed to the sea of Belegaer, the Great Sea.

Its length is about 430 Númenórean miles, making it the eighth-longest known river of Middle-earth.

Isen means Iron (cf. German eisen and Old English isærn = iron), Isengard meaning Iron fortress.

At a distance of about 150 miles west of the Gap of Rohan, the Isen was joined by its only known tributary, the River Adorn.

The Isen and Adorn formed the boundary of the Kingdom of Rohan, but the triangle of land between Isen, Adorn, and the White Mountains was a contested land, claimed by the Rohirrim as well as the Dunlendings.

The Isen formed a natural boundary in the Gap of Rohan, and was only crossable at Isengard or at the Fords of Isen,

where the Rohirrim fought a number of great battles against the Dunlendings and Saruman's Orcs in the late Third Age.

External links

• Isen at the Encyclopedia of Arda

Maps

Gallery

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  The Isen pours down from the Misty Mountains, close to the edge of Fangorn Forest.

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  The river then starts its course through Nan Curunír, its first ford leading between Isengard and Quickbeam's Grove.

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  As the valley is surrounded on three sides by mountains, the river's only possible course is to the south.

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  The second crossing of the Isen is the bridge leading to Blackmarch Fort. This is the only known bridge to cross the river.

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  As it heads south, the river comes into contact with its first still-standing trees, Saruman's orcs having decimated the rest of the vale's greenery.

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  The evil Wizard's tower of Orthanc can spy the river directly even as it heads into the Gap of Rohan.

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  The Isen's last and most famous crossing are the Fords of Isen, where prince Théodred of Rohan fell in battle.

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  The Isen then becomes impassably deep as it falls into the gorge lining the north side of the White Mountains.

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  The river forms the contested border between lands controlled by the Dunlendings and the Rohirrim.

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  The river also marks the northern border of Gondor, though Gondorian holdings, such as this tower, have long been abandoned this far north.

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  As the Dunlendings amass for war, we catch the last look of the river Isen. It continues west for many miles before reaching the ocean, through lands not accessible in-game.