LOTR Misty Mountains

The Misty Mountains, running 795 miles (1,280 kilometres) from north to south between rivers and valleys, is home to creatures and stories that shaped the fate of Middle Earth.

Under this range, the dwarves established the great halls of Moria, where they unearthed the ancient demon Balrog - believed to be the last living Balrog during the time of the Fellowship of the Ring.

The Balrog came face to face with Gandalf the Grey, a fellow 'maia', on a battle to death atop the Silvertine Mountain for two days. Both of them perished, but Gandalf was brought back to life after 21 days.

The Fellowhip came across the many places of the Misty Mountains. From Rivendell, house of the High Elves at the foothills of the Western Pass, to Isengard around the Tower of Orthanc between the arms of Methedras, and the Fangorn Forest that reach up to the foothills of the southern end of the Misty Mountains where dark and deep dales can be found.

The Misty Mountains is also home to the Great Eagles, which are also believed to be 'maiar' themselves. The stone giants can also be found at the mountain sides, where they can be mistaken as an inseparable part of the mountain.

The Misty Mountains has never been empty of foul creatures as, aside from gollum, who resided on an island in an underground pool somewhere beneath the mountains for 500 years, the lord of the wraiths, the Witch-King of Angmar ruled over the north-western extremities of the range for several centuries before his destruction during the final battle in Gondor during the times of The return of the King.