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Places in Middle-earth

Nen Hithoel

Type: Rivers & Lakes

Region: Gondor

Location: A lake in the southern Emyn Muil, fed by the Anduin; the Argonath stands at its northern entrance, and the island of Tol Brandir and the falls of Rauros lie at its southern end.

Description: [Said Celeborn,] 'Then I will furnish your Company with boats. They must be small and light, for if you go far by water, there are places where you will be forced to carry them. You will come to the rapids of Sarn Gebir, and maybe at last to the great falls of Rauros where the River thunders down from Nen Hithoel....'

The Fellowship of the Ring, LoTR Book 2, Ch 8, Farewell to Lórien

The chasm was long and dark, and filled with the noise of wind and rushing water and echoing stone. It bent somewhat towards the west so that at first all was dark ahead; but soon Frodo saw a tall gap of light before him, ever growing. Swiftly it drew near, and suddenly the boats shot through, out into a wide clear light. ...

The pent waters spread out into a long oval lake, pale Nen Hithoel, fenced by steep grey hills.... At the far southern end rose three peaks. The midmost stood somewhat forward from the others and sundered from them, an island in the waters, about which the flowing River flung pale shimmering arms. Distant but deep there came up on the wind a roaring sound like the roll of thunder heard far away.

'Behold Tol Brandir!' said Aragorn, pointing south to the tall peak. 'Upon the left stands Amon Lhaw, and upon the right is Amon Hen the Hills of Hearing and of Sight. ... I hear the endless voice of Rauros calling.'

The Fellowship of the Ring, LoTR Book 2, Ch 9, The Great River

History

[About 1250 III, Minalcar builds the Argonath:]
On his return Rómendacil fortified the west shore of Anduin as far as the inflow of the Limlight, and forbade any stranger to pass down the River beyond the Emyn Muil. He it was that built the pillars of the Argonath at the entrance to Nen Hithoel.

The Return of the King, LoTR Appendix A, Annals of the Kings and Rulers: Gondor and the Heirs of Anárion

[25 February 3019 III, Fellowship passes the Argonath and camps at Parth Galen]

Etymology

hith 'mist' in Hithaeglir, Hithlum (also in Nen Hithoel, a lake in Anduin). Hithlum is Sindarin in form, adapted from the Quenya name Hísilómë given by the Noldorin exiles (Quenya hísië 'mist', cf. Hísimë, the name of the eleventh month of the year. The Lord of the Rings Appendix D). ...

nen 'water', used of lakes, pools, and lesser rivers, in Nen Girith, Nenning, Nenuial, Nenya; Cuiviénen, Uinen; also in many names in The Lord of the Rings, as Nen Hithoel, Bruinen, Emyn Arnen, Núrnen. Nîn 'wet' in Loeg Ningloron; also in Nindalf.

The Silmarillion, Appendix: Elements in Quenya and Sindarin Names

Contributors: Elena Tiriel 22Dec04, 5Jan05

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