Mountains of Gondor

A name for the long range of mountains that ran east-to-west through Gondor, more commonly called the White Mountains. The name 'Mountains of Gondor' seems to have applied especially to that part of the range that rose at their eastern end, where the great peak of Mindolluin reared above Minas Tirith. Behind Mindolluin, the Mountains of Gondor ran on for some four hundred miles, reaching their end in the western provinces of the land. Numerous rivers had their sources in these mountains, especially along their southern flanks, from which many streams flowed down southwards through the lands of Gondor to reach the Great Sea.

The old boundaries of Gondor meant that, for most of the Third Age, these mountains had run through the central regions of the realm, but in III 2510 Steward Cirion gifted the region known as Calenardhon to the people who would become known as the Rohirrim. This region represented most of Gondor's holdings northward of the mountains, and so after this date, apart from a small area at their eastern end, they effectively divided Gondor from its new neighbour and ally to the north, the land that would become known as Rohan. To aid communication a series of Beacons was established through the Mountains of Gondor, with one set running along their northern hills to connect Minas Tirith with Rohan, and another set along their southern side, allowing the capital to communicate with its outlying western fiefs.