Blue Mountains

The Blue Mountains are the last range before the Sea. They run down the western edge of the Middle-earth map, with Lindon and the Grey Havens on their far side and the Shire about a hundred and eighty miles to the east. The Gulf of Lune cuts straight through them, so the range shows as two arms: one climbing north toward Forlindon, one dropping south behind Harlindon. The Great East Road threads the gap to reach the Havens.

In the First Age this was the eastern wall of Beleriand, and the Dwarves had their oldest western cities in it: Nogrod and Belegost, whose smiths made weapons that outlived them. Telchar of Nogrod forged Narsil, the sword that Elendil broke at Barad-dûr and Aragorn carried reforged. Dwarves of Nogrod also killed Thingol over the Nauglamír, a quarrel that helped bring down Doriath. When Beleriand was drowned at the end of the age both cities were ruined, and their survivors went east to Khazad-dûm.

Dwarves came back. After Smaug drove Thrór's people out of Erebor in TA 2770, and after the terrible war with the Orcs of the Misty Mountains, Thráin II led the homeless remnant west and settled in Ered Luin around TA 2802. They made halls there and lived as smiths and iron-workers, prosperous enough to eat but never rich, and they walked the East Road through the Shire to sell their work.

That is why the Blue Mountains matter to the story. Thorin Oakenshield was living in them when he met Gandalf, and the company that set out for the Lonely Mountain in TA 2941 came from these hills. After Erebor was retaken and Dale rebuilt, many of the dwarves of Ered Luin went back east, though a settlement stayed on in the mountains into the Fourth Age.

Events at this place

1. Years of the Trees · The Silmarillion

   Nogrod and Belegost founded

   The Dwarves built two cities in the eastern slopes of the range long before the rising of the Sun, and traded with the Elves of Beleriand.

2. FA 587 · The Silmarillion

   Ruin of the Dwarf-cities

   The War of Wrath broke the land. Nogrod and Belegost fell into ruin and their people migrated east to Khazad-dûm.

3. TA 2802 · Appendices

   Thráin's people settle in Ered Luin

   After Erebor was lost to Smaug and Azanulbizar was fought, the wandering Dwarves of Durin's line made new halls beyond the Lune.

4. TA 2941 · The Hobbit

   Thorin's company sets out

   Thorin left his halls in the Blue Mountains for Bag End, and from there rode east with twelve dwarves, Gandalf and a hobbit to reclaim the Lonely Mountain.

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