Emyn Annûn

The rigged slopes of the Emyn Annûn (S."Western Hills") were located on Harondor's coast, midway between the Mouths of Anduin and Harnen.The remains of ruined settlements dotted the valleys, and crumbling fortresses lined the hilltops. Settlement of the hills was at its greatest following the War of the Last Alliance, after a Haruzani warlord had seized Barad Harn and made it his capital. The Emyn Annûn came under his control, and the valleys were intensively cultivated. After Tarannon crushed the Haruze kingdom, most of the population abandoned their farms. The Emyn Annûn never recovered and the abandoned farms fell into ruin, despite land grants to retired Gondorian soldiers, since those that accepted the grants settled near the northern and southern edges of the hills, around populated settlements. As a result, most of the Emyn Annûn reverted In wilderness. With the Gondorian withdrawal from Harondor, what little settlement remained was concentrated near Barad Harn.