Dark Land

The Dark Land was created as a by-product of the Battle of the Powers, in which the Valar overthrew Melkor in his original fortress of Utumno. Originally, Middle-earth was one landmass, set between the western sea of Belegaer and the East Sea. This changed during the War; the inland Sea of Ringil, originally set in the mid-south of Middle-earth, grew in size and "became a great sea flowing north-eastward and joining by straits both the Western and Eastern Seas." This event split Middle-earth into two landmasses, and the landmass to the south and east of the former Sea of Ringil was known as the Dark Land.

No inhabitants of the Dark Land were ever recorded. The Dark Land may have been part of the Empty Lands that Ilúvatar "cast back" during the Downfall of Númenor.

The Dark Land is named only in an early map by Tolkien, likely dating to the mid-1930s.

Fans have suggested and discussed different theories of inspiration behind the Dark Land:

• the Dark Land as reminiscent of Lemuria.
• the Dark Land as perhaps representing a combination of both Australia and Antarctica (because of its geographic position).

1982-97: Middle-earth Role Playing:

Although never fleshed out in much detail, a "dark continent" called Mórenorë is said to be situated south of Middle-earth, separated by the sea of Haragaer. A few glimpses of this remote continent, however, were provided:

• A black cold-drake, Naikamil, fled from mountains in the south of Endor to Mórenorë after killing her mate.
• Ungoliant, a monster of the Elder Days, is said to have "settled in the shadowy reaches of Morenórë, the Dark Continent", according to tales of the Avari Elves.
• Ninko Goldmaster, a merchant with a shady past appearing as a non-player character in an adventure setting owned shares in ships travelling to legendary Mórenorë.

In his work Parma Endorion, Michael Martinez coined the term Hyarmenor to refer to the Dark Land.

1. Esta ficha se ha importado inicialmente de TolkienGateway.net el día 25/05/2026.