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{{disambig-two|the Westlands of Middle-earth|Westlands of [[Númenor]]|[[Andustar]]}}
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[[Image:John Howe - The Map of Middle-earth.jpg|thumb|The Westlands of Middle-earth. Art by [[John Howe]]]]
'''Westlands''' was a large part of [[Middle-earth]], perhaps referring to the entire north-western region of the wide continent.<ref>{{App|Durin}}, p. 1080</ref><ref>{{App|Languages}}, p. 1127</ref>

Occasionally it may also be used more specifically as a name of [[Eriador]].<ref>{{FR|Hobbits}}, p. 4</ref><ref>{{App|SA}}, entry for the year 1701, p. 1083</ref>

==Geography==
The Westlands were the most well known and documented part of Middle-earth, the north-western part of the continent facing [[Belegaer]]. It consisted of huge regions of land, such as [[Beleriand]]/[[Lindon]], [[Eriador]], [[Rhovanion]], [[Gondor]], and [[Mordor]]. The most extreme regions of the Westlands (that perhaps did not belong to them) were alien lands such as [[Rhûn]], [[Harad]], and [[Khand]]. Beyond them, unknown lands lay to the [[East]] and [[South (disambiguation)|South]].{{Fact}}

Of the Westlands, the western portion called Beleriand was drowned at the end of the First Age, and survivors relocated to Lindon and Eriador. Eriador, now the westernmost part of Middle-earth, was bordered by the [[Misty Mountains]] to the East which stretched down south to the [[White Mountains]] and the [[Bay of Belfalas]].{{Fact}}

Across the Misty Mountains from Eriador was another region of the Westlands, Rhovanion. It extended east to the [[Sea of Rhûn]]. Within Rhovanion, there were the great forest of [[Mirkwood]], [[Fangorn Forest]], and [[Lothlórien]]. To the south was the region of Mordor, encircled on three sides by mountains. To the far north of Rhovanion and Eriador alike was the icy [[Forodwaith (lands)|Forodwaith]].{{Fact}}

The southern part of the Westlands was around the Bay of Belfalas, including the area of Gondor.{{Fact}}

==History==
In the [[Elder Days]], most of the Westlands were covered by an immense forest.<ref>{{FR|Council}}; "Time was once when a squirrel could carry a nut from tree to tree from Rivendell to the Great Sea..."</ref>

The Westlands were populated by almost all known races of Middle-earth: [[Elves]] ([[Eldar]]) and [[Men]] who stayed behind on their way to the [[West]], and who later escaped the destruction of [[Beleriand]]. [[Dwarves]], [[Orcs]] and [[Ents]] also made their realms all over the Westlands.{{Fact}}

During the [[Second Age]], many [[Númenóreans]] came and established their settlements. It was then when the huge forests begen to shrink as trees were used to build their ships.<ref>{{UT|Aldarion}}</ref> The [[Fangorn Forest]] and the [[Old Forest]] were the remnants of those days.{{Fact}}

The Númenórean Realms in Exile, [[Arnor]] and [[Gondor]], dominated the Westlands during the Second and [[Third Age]]s. Eventually, most of the Mannish peoples of the Westlands were brought together under the [[Reunited Kingdom]]. Their first King, [[Aragorn|Elessar]], was titled "Lord of the Westlands" in the [[Fourth Age]].<ref name="KL" />

==Other names==
In the [[Sindarin]] [[King's Letter]], the term "Westlands" is translated as '''''i Mbair Annui'''''.<ref name="KL">{{SD|XI}}, pp. 128-9</ref>

==Bays and islands==
*[[Tol Morwen]]
*[[Tol Fuin]]
*[[Himling]]
*[[Tolfalas]], in the Bay of Belfalas
*[[Icebay of Forochel]]
*[[Gulf of Lune]]
*[[Bay of Belfalas]]
==Portrayal in adaptations==
'''1989: ''[[J.R.R. Tolkien's War in Middle Earth]]'':'''
[[File:War in Middle-earth-Main map.png|thumb|The Westlands in the game (Commodore 64 version)]]
:A map of the Westlands is the main interface of the game where the player moves their units.
:The game package also provides a redesigned map of the Westlands as a poster.
'''2001: ''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring]]'':'''
:During the [[Prologue: One Ring to Rule Them All...|Prologue]] to the film accompanied by [[Galadriel]]'s narration, [[Sauron]]'s power is seen expanding over a map of the Westlands during the [[Dark Years]].
:[[Daniel Reeve]] was the artist who designed the map and other props for the trilogy and related merchantise, such as ''[[The Lord of the Rings Roleplaying Game]]''.
'''2002: ''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers]]'':'''
:In [[Henneth Annûn]], [[Irolas]] unfolds a map of the Westlands for [[Faramir]] to tell him the development of the [[War of the Ring]]; pointing at several locations on the map, he mentions the [[Battle of the Hornburg]], and [[Easterlings]]' movements from [[Morannon]] to the south.
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[[Category:Middle-earth]]
[[Category:Regions]]
[[de:Westlande]]