High Pass (Middle-earth)

Misty Mountains
J. R. R. Tolkien's legendarium location
Other name(s)	Hithaeglir, Towers of Mist
Type	Mountain range
Notable locations	Caradhras, Eyrie, Goblin-town, Mount Gundabad, Khazad-dûm (Moria), Zirakzigil
Location	Between Eriador and Wilderland
Founder	Melkor

In J. R. R. Tolkien's fantasy world of Middle-earth, the Misty Mountains are a mountain range, and one of the most important features of Middle-earth's geography. The mountain-chain is less well known by its alternative names. One of these is Hithaeglir (meaning mist-peak-line in Sindarin, one of the languages invented by Tolkien); this was misspelled as Hithaiglin on the original Lord of the Rings map. Other alternative names are the Mountains of Mist or the Towers of Mist. The range stretched continuously for some 900 miles (1440 kilometres) across the continent of Middle-earth.

The Misty Mountains first appeared in print in Tolkien's 1937 book, The Hobbit. A vision of the mountains is invoked in the first chapter: "Far over the misty mountains cold..."; they are encountered directly in chapter 4. Further information about the mountains was added in Tolkien's subsequent publications.

The Misty Mountains stretched continuously for some 900 miles: from Carn Dûm in the north to Dol Baran in the south, and were a formidable barrier between the large Middle-earth regions of Eriador and Wilderland.

The northernmost section of the Misty Mountains ran from Carn Dûm to Mount Gundabad, and was known as the Mountains of Angmar. Mount Gundabad was where Durin awoke according to legend, though it was later an abode of Orcs. Mount Gram, another Orc nest, was not far away. Mount Gundabad was on the eastern side of the range, where it nearly joined the westernmost extremity of the Grey Mountains. The strategic gap was about 10 miles wide.

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Wikipedia