Mordor

Mordor is a fictional region in J. R. R. Tolkien's Middle-earth. It is a barren, volcanic plateau located in the southeast of the continent, surrounded by high mountain ranges. In the late Second and early Third Ages it serves as the principal realm of the Dark Lord Sauron, functioning as a base of operations for his military campaigns and as the location where the One Ring was forged and later destroyed.

Geography and environment form Mordor’s defining characteristics. The western boundary runs along the Ephel Dúath, while the northern boundary is formed by the Ered Lithui; these mountain walls create a natural fortress around a harsh interior. The central plain, known as the Plateau of Gorgoroth, houses Barad-dûr, Sauron’s fortress, and Mount Doom (Orodruin), the volcano associated with the Ring’s creation and destruction. The western entrance, the Black Gate (Morannon), provides access from the west, while Cirith Ungol guards the pass into the western regions near Minas Morgul. The Dead Marshes lie to the west, and in the southeast lies the inland Sea of Núrn (Núrnë) and surrounding marshlands, which provide some agricultural output to support the realm. The climate is hot and arid, with ash-covered ground and limited natural resources.

Inhabitants and governance: Mordor is ruled from Barad-dûr and populated predominantly by orcs, goblins, and other hostile creatures, with the Ringwraiths (Nazgûl) acting as Sauron’s chief lieutenants. Major fortified sites include Minas Morgul and Cirith Ungol. The southern lands around the Sea of Núrn are more productive, yet overall Mordor remains built for warfare, conquest, and industry rather than civilian flourishing.

History and legacy: Mordor functions as Sauron’s seat of power throughout much of the late Second and Third Ages. The destruction of the Ring at Mount Doom precipitates Sauron’s military defeat and the collapse of Mordor’s dominion, after which the region declines and is largely abandoned, though not entirely free of remnant forces.