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The river Gwathló, also known as the Greyflood, and to the Númenóreans as the Gwathir,[1] was a river in central Eriador.

Description[]

The Gwathló's overall length flowed through immense forests which covered Minhiriath to the north and Enedwaith to the south. It was one of the few rivers also given an Adûnaic name: Agathurush. The Gwathló was wide enough that it could be sailed on all the way to where its tributary Glanduin met the river. It was formed where the Hoarwell met the Glanduin, at a marshy area known as Nîn-in-Eilph or Swanfleet. It flowed through Tharbad and continued southwest until it emptied into the Sundering Seas at Lond Daer Enedh.

History[]

The river was named Gwathir by the Númenóreans in the Second Age, when they began to colonize Middle-earth. Due to the great expanses of forests surrounding the river, the Gwathir became a significant pipeline of timber, which the Númenóreans used for ship-building.[1]

In the late Second Age and early Third Age the Gwathló formed the border between the Kingdoms of Arnor and Gondor, and a great bridge was built at Tharbad where the North-South Road crossed the river at its only crossing in the lower stream. However, by the late Third Age Gondor had retreated far south and Arnor had been destroyed. Tharbad and its bridge were abandoned and ruined after great floods in TA 2912, and the river could only be crossed at Tharbad by a dangerous ford.

Etymology[]

The Sindarin name Gwathló was adapted from the name Gwathir, given to the river by the Númenóreans in the Second Age. Its name translates as Shadowy River.[citation needed]

Translations[]

Foreign Language Translated name
Chinese (Hong Kong) 關絲洛河
Danish Gråfloden (Gwathló)
Hungarian Szürke-víz
Russian Гватло

References[]

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