Dorthonion

Dorthonion
J. R. R. Tolkien's legendarium location
Other name(s)	Orod-na-Thôn, Taur-nu-Fuin, Mirkwood
Type	Highland region
Notable locations	Aeluin, Ladros, Rivil's Well, the Pass of Anach, the Ered Gorgoroth
Location	North of Beleriand
Lifespan	First Age
Founder	Angrod and Aegnor

In the fantasy world of J. R. R. Tolkien's Middle-earth, Dorthonion ("Land of Pines"), poetically Orod-na-Thôn ("Mountain under Pine"), was a highland region of the First Age, lying immediately to the north of Beleriand, and south of the plains of Ard-galen (later Anfauglith) that extended north to Morgoth's stronghold of Thangorodrim. Within the stories it later became known as Taur-nu-Fuin ("Forest under Night"), or Mirkwood.

Dorthonion is notable in its function as a dangerous stage and scene in the adventures of many major characters in several of Tolkien's books and other works such as The Silmarillion, The Lays of Beleriand, and most recently The Children of Húrin. Similar to the other great forests of Tolkien's legendarium such as Mirkwood, Fangorn and Lothlórien it provides a transitional device in the invented history of Tolkien's Middle-earth and important episodes in the heroic quests of his characters such as Beren, Lúthien, Beleg and Túrin.

Dorthonion was 60 leagues east to west. In the north it rose gradually from the plains, with extensive pine forests on these slopes, as well as on the western slopes above the Pass of Sirion. The majority of Dorthonion consisted of a high plateau with bare and rocky peaks rising to higher altitudes than the mountains of the nearby Ered Wethrin (the Shadowy Mountains). The Ered Gorgoroth (Mountains of Terror) formed the southern boundary of Dorthonion, bending to the north on the east side to create the Pass of Aglon between Dorthonion and Hills of Himring. To the south and west of Dorthonion were the Echoriath (Encircling Mountains), which surrounded the hidden kingdom of Gondolin. Between Dorthonion proper and the Echoriath lay the Pass of Anach.

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