Ered Lithui

"Who told you, and who sent you?" — Gandalf This article or section needs more/new/more-detailed sources to conform to a higher standard and to provide proof for claims made.

The Ered Lithui, or the Ash Mountains, was a mountain range on the northern border of Mordor. It went 500 miles from east to west, and Barad-dûr stood at the end of a spur of the Ash Mountains. Gorgoroth was enclosed by another spur of these mountains. The west end of the Ash Mountains met the Mountains of Shadow. Between the Mountains of Shadow and the Ash Mountains was Cirith Gorgor, another name for "The Haunted Pass".

Name and etymology

Ered Lithui is Sindarin for "Mountains of Ash", consisting of the words ered and lithui.

The name "Mountains of Ash", or "Ashy Mountains", suggests an ash-grey hue.

Perhaps the range is downwind of Mount Doom and collects its ash fallout.