Ephel Dúath
From the One Wiki to Rule Them All, the Lord of the Rings Encyclopedia.
The Ephel Dúath or the Outer Fence, Mountains of Shadow are a range of mountains that make up Mordor’s western and southern borders.
They meet the Ered Lithui (Ash Mountains) at the Morannon (Black Gate), so that between them the mountain ranges effectively seal off Mordor from invasion on three sides. They house Morgul Vale, where the city of Minas Ithil resides. The Pass of Cirith Ungol leads through the Ephel Dúath from the Stairs of Cirith Ungol behind Minas Morgul to the Tower of Cirith Ungol, which is on the eastern side of the mountain chain, and is guarded by both Minas Ithil and Cirith Ungol, and is home to the arachnid monster Shelob. In its northern reaches, lies the castle of Durthang, above Udûn. Its southern half is penetrated by the river Poros, which is fed by the Sea of Núrnen just south of Durthang and to the east are the Morgai.
Their Sindarin name means literally "outer fences of dark shadow".
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Ephel Duath is also the name of an Italian avantgarde/prog metal band.
