Sirion

2006-06-26T03:14:52Z

217.146.220.251: /* Crossing Points */

'''Sirion''' was a river of [[Middle-earth]] in the [[First Age]], the principal river of [[Beleriand]]. During most of its course it was the border between East and West Beleriand. [[Karen Wynn Fonstad]] estimates its length as 390 miles in her [[The Atlas of Middle-earth|Atlas of Middle-earth]].

==Source==

The Sirion's source was at [[Eithel Sirion]] on the eastern side of the [[Ered Wethrin]], which lay in between [[Ard-galen]] (later Anfauglith) and [[Mithrim]] and [[Hithlum]]. It was guarded by the tower of Barad Eithel.

==Course==

Sirion flowed southwards along the border of the Ered Wethrin, passing through the Fen of Serech before entering the narrow steep-sided valley between the Ered Wethrin and the [[Echoriath]] named the '''Pass of Sirion'''. Sirion then continued south into Beleriand, with the [[Forest of Brethil]] to the west, and [[Dimbar]] and then [[Doriath]] to the east. After leaving Doriath at Aelin-uial (the Fens of Sirion) it plunged below ground in the Falls of Sirion at [[Andram]] (the Long Wall), where the ground fell steeply. Three leagues southwards the Sirion exited the underground caves at the '''Gates of Sirion'''. It then flowed southwards through '''Nan-Tathren''' until it reached the [[Bay of Balar]], part of [[Belegaer]], at the [[Mouths of Sirion]].

==Tributaries==

In order from north to south, the principal tributaries of the Sirion were the Rivil, flowing from Dorthonion until it met Sirion in the Fen of Serech; the Mindeb, which had its source in [[Nan Dungortheb]] and the [[Ered Gorgoroth]], the [[Teiglin]], the [[Esgalduin]] of Doriath; the [[Aros]] flowing south from Dorthonion (and also containing the waters of the [[Celon]] from the [[Hills of Himring]] and [[Himlad]]) which met at Aelin-uial, and the [[Narog]], which joined Sirion in Nan-Tathren.

==Crossing Points==

The main crossing points mentioned in the Silmarillion were [[Brithiach]] where the road from Himlad which crossed the Esgalduin at [[Iant Iaur]] crossed Sirion, and the Ferries of Doriath.
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==Settlements==

Barad Eithel, at the source of the Sirion in the Ered Wethrin, was a chief fortress of [[Fingolfin]] and his son [[Fingon]], probably guarding a pass into their realm of Mithrim. Further south, in the Pass of Sirion, lay Tol Sirion (see below). After the Coming of Men, the [[Edain]] of the [[House of Haleth]] made their home in the Forest of Brethil, and the [[Sindar]] ruled by [[Thingol]] lay secure within the Girdle of [[Melian]] in their realm of Doriath. At the outflow of Sirion into Belegaer, after the destruction of [[Eglarest]] and [[Brithombar]], the Havens of Sirion were built by [[Círdan]] and his people.

==Islands==

The most important island in Sirion was Tol Sirion. The original [[Minas Tirith]] was built here by [[Finrod Felagund]] in the strategic location controlling the Pass of Sirion where it entered Beleriand between the Ered Wethrin and the Echoriath. Shortly after [[Dagor Bragollach]] it was captured by Sauron and the island became known as Tol-in-Gaurhoth.

[[Category:Rivers]]

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Sirion