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The Tolkien Encyclopedia

Lauterbrunnen valley, Switzerland. Tolkien travelled in the Swiss Alps in 1911.
Lauterbrunnen valley, Switzerland. Tolkien travelled in the Swiss Alps in 1911. Ximonic (Simo Räsänen) / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 3.0 · Source

THE PUBLIC MIDDLE-EARTH ENCYCLOPEDIA

Explore Tolkien’s people, places, histories and ideas. Definitions remain free to read. Use a name or keyword, choose a topic, or browse by initial letter.

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Places and geography

Mordor

Mordor is Sauron’s principal realm in southeastern Middle-earth, enclosed on much of its perimeter by mountain ranges. Its most important sites include Barad-dûr, Mount Doom and the fortified northern approaches.

Peoples and creatures

Maiar

The Maiar are Ainur of the same broad order of being as the Valar, but of lesser degree. Within the history of Arda they assist the Valar in shaping and governing the…

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