Brandywine

The Brandywine (S. "Baranduin", or "Long Gold-brown River") was one of the three great rivers of Eriador. The Brandywine left Lake Evendim between the village of Lakehead and the ruins of Annuminas with only a hint of its eponymous brown color, derived from the iron and matted-turf of the Twilight Hills. It passed eastward through the river fiefs of Arthedain over several minor rapids, collecting most of the drainage of the North Downs , turned south at Rood , then proceeded through a series of minor shoals and large swamplands to Sarn Ford , winding southwest from there to the sea.

Portage
Except for short stretches usable by local boats and barges, trade along the river was carried in Riverman canoes. Rapids that could not be navigated directly by these agile, shallow-draft boats could be bypassed. Stairs and pathways had been built along all shoal stretches of the river to make portage easier. Aside from the rapids and the rough and tumble Rivermen themselves, there were few serious dangers to travelers on the river passage. Most camped close to the shore at night. Inland, on the west bank , lived Elves who might take offense to strangers tramping through their woods. On the east bank, along the river's central reach , lay the Old Forest , where the trees themselves might divert and trap an unwary traveler. The swamps, of course , were homes to quicksand , poisonous snakes , insects , and fevers. The biggest river pikes were powerful enough to injure a swimmer, but they were obliged by their nature to take prey they could swallow whole. The most dangerous "moss-backs", great, scarred pikes ten to twenty feet in length , were creatures of legend , appearing in fishing lore once or twice in a century ; they were reputed to be capable of taking and swallowing a small Hobbit. In practice, even pike of this size were more of a danger to ducklings and pet frogs than to any fisherman.

The East Bank
That part of the east bank north of the Men Romen was named the Nan Turnath ; south of the great road lay s the Old Forest, and beyond the wood the Red Hills.

The West Bank
Within the bounds of the Shire, most of the shoreline of the river was masked by swamps. Good riverside landings tended to be occupied by Riverman encampments and Hulorm fisher-folk. There were rapids south of Rood and shoals above Girdley Island. The swamplands were named, as the Rivermen paddled southward from Rood to Sarn Ford , the Teal Marshes , Pikeman Dwells , the Marish, theOverbourne Marshes and the Mudling Fens.