Merlock Mountains

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The Merlock Mountains are mentioned in the Shire-poem The Mewlips.[1]

It is unknown if the Merlock Mountains refer to an actual mountain range in Middle-earth, or if they were just an invention by the poet. Robert Foster, while emphasising that they were likely fictitious, has suggested that the Merlock Mountains "were possibly based on what little the Hobbits knew about the Misty Mountains".[2]

Etymology

Fans have speculated that the name Merlock was inspired by the name Morlock (perhaps itself inspired by H.G. Wells's Morlock) appearing in Tolkien's earlier poem "Knocking at the Door".[3]

References

Legendary locations in Arda
Islands:  Isle of Meneltarma
Mountains:  Astulat · Mountains of the Moon · Merlock Mountains
 Regions:  Aerie · Belmarie · Fantasie · Last Desert · Sindanórie · Thellamie · Tode
Rivers:  Derrilyn
Other:  Caves of the Forgotten · Gorbelgod