Category:Harondor

Harondor (S. ‘South Gondor’ ), the name given to all the lands between the Poros and Harnen rivers, it was generally a barren desert area, but was often contested by Gondor and Harad.


 * Type: Upland Plains.
 * Area: 145.300 square miles.
 * Elevation: average 600 feet.lowest point sea level. highest point Amon Halitan(S. "Salt Ridge") 5,602 feet.
 * Climate: average annual precipitation: 20-40 inches.mean annual temperature. 6 0 - 7 0 ° F average low. Narwain 4 0 ° F average high. Ivanneth 105° F
 * Composition: The bedrock of Harondor is igneous in character.Near the coast, basalt is very common. Farther inland, granite becomes more frequent. No valuable minerals have been found in the region, but the production of salt is very important along the coasts.
 * Notes: Harondor is best described by splitting it into threebroad zones. Its fertile coastal strip receives sufficient rainfall to support a variety of trees (cedar, oak, juniper, and palm) and domestic crops (olives, dales, wheat, gourds, grapes, plums, pomegranates, and citrusfruits). Inland and along the upper Harnen, vegetated dune-fields, badlands, and hilly shniblands predominate. Some of this bursk is suitable tor grazing. The desert of the interior features active dunes, bare rock plains, and salt flats. Lacking the frequent rains common to Gondor, much of Harondor appears and and stale compared to its northerly neighbor. While not quite the wasteland that Harad is, Harondor presents many difficulties to those accustomed to a more temperate climate. Herding is more viable than agriculture, and the tribes native to the region rely upon their animals for most of their necessities. Some plants grow in sheltered valleys; most notable are the powerful healing herbs that thrive in the arid and warm climate.

Harondor and Harithilien in TA 1650

 * Political Organization: Harondor:Occupied Territory.Harithilien Region of the Province Ithilien.
 * Rulers: Elatar, Prince of Gondor and Commander of the Southern Army; Donvar, Hir of Emyn Arnen; Pallas, Governor of Harondor.
 * Administrative Organization: Four military districts in Harondor. each ruled by a Legate appointed by the Governor, who is in turn appointed by the Prince Nine noble families hold most of Harithilien, relying upon royal justice only when local affairs become too grave to handle amongst themselves.The Prince has been acting to unify local interests; many Haradan tribes in Harondor have autonomy. Attempts to settle Gondorians on their own land in the region have not been successful.
 * Population: 26.000 Dunedain, 38,000 Southrons.
 * Military: 3,000 Gondorian Soldiers.1,000 Gondorian Cavalry.900 Southrons.900 Southron Light Cavalry.
 * Products: Spices, herbs, salt, silver.

The politics of Gondor's southern marches are frighteningly complex. Harithilien, technically part of the province of Ithilien, nonetheless falls under the military jurisdiction of the Southern Army, making Prince Elatar its virtual Governor. The Emyn Arnen, occasionally a vacation home of the Royal Family, plays more of a role in the wars against the Haradrim than it does in the courts of Minas Ithil. The Legate of Emyn Arnen, Donvar, commands his own elite troop of several hundred heavy cavalry, the largest private army in the realm of Gondor. Meanwhile, the status of Harondor is even less certain. Both Gondor and Umbar claim the territory as their own. Though poor in natural resources, possession of Harondor gives the ruling power a decisive strategic advantage over its adversary. Gondor currently has control, but her authority rests upon the strength of arms, and the native population resists their nilers with growing frequency. King Telemnar installed a civilian Governor in the region in hopes that Harondor would begin to evolve into a more typical and prosperous Gondorian territory. However, due to the constant skirmishing with Haradaic and Umbarean forces, the military still has supreme authority. Harondor and Harithilien are dry regions, each receiving a fraction of the rainfall that occurs in other parts of Gondor. Nonetheless, the terrain is richly varied, from the rugged shoreline and fishing villages of the coast to the stark mountains of the Ephel Dúath to the deserts of Harad's northern reaches. The Gondorians who settle there, promised their own land by the King, quickly adapt to the rough landscape. A sizeable population of ethnic Haradrim inhabit the region. King Tarondor permits them to keep their own nobility as lesser lords, and he even enlists units of locals as skirmish troops for the regular army, though some of these units are known to change sides with the passing of the seasons. Most of these indigenous inhabitants of Harondor do not care which side governs them; they wish only for a peace and stability they have never known. Salt deposits in the Ethir Anduin and small veins of silver in the Emyn Arnen provide some basis for trade in Harithilien. Herbs and spices form the remainder of the exports from the region and are the sole exports from Harondor. Though the Kings of Gondor and the Oligarchs of Umbar refuse to transact business with one another on an official basis, independent merchants try to make their fortunes on the dangerous route from Gondor to Umbar. Though this trade is not technically illegal, neither nation will commit troops to protect caravans or ships along the route. Since Tarondor forbade the trade in spices and herbs with the South, the number of smugglers has increased. Umbar even subsidizes merchants to make the passage across the Bay of Belfalas, mainly to annoy Gondorian officials.

characters
Bel'zordin Donvar Elatar Gwanor Thúrin

regions
Aegardh Athrad Poros Ausk Harmaka Carnen East March Emyn Gonngaran Emyn Annûn Emyn Laer Ethir Harnen Falai Harnen Vales Imlad Carnen Laergaladrin Malduin Valley Men Dirnen Men Falas Nen Falastir Pin Himgren Poros Valley Ras Arish

settlements and points of interest
Amon Eithel Amon Halitan An Sakal Barad Harn Cairn of the Colruh-Hazurbal Caras Mirilond Eithel Turin Gobel Ancalimon Gobel Mirlond Has Adri Has Annûn Has Sebiya Has Yayb Haudh-in-Gwanûr Imlad Carnen Kal Nargil Lag-malmabus Methir Suk Oda Tharven Tir Ethraid Tiras Amrûn Tirith Argon Wathduin