Places in Middle-earth
Gelion
Type: Rivers & Lakes
Region: Beleriand & North
Location: The major river of East Beleriand, forming the boundary between Taur-im-Duinath on the west and Ossiriand on the east, and fed by six tributaries flowing westwards from the Blue Mountains.
Description:
Gelion was a great river; and he rose in two sources and had at first two branches; Little Gelion that came from the Hill of Himring, and Greater Gelion that came from Mount Rerir. From the meeting of his arms he flowed south for forty leagues 1 before he found his tributaries; and before he found the sea he was twice as long as Sirion, 2 though less wide and full, for more rain fell in Hithlum and Dorthonion, whence Sirion drew his waters, than in the east. From Ered Luin flowed the six tributaries of Gelion: Ascar (that was after named Rathlóriel), Thalos, Legolin, Brilthor, Duilwen, and Adurant, swift and turbulent streams, falling steeply from the mountains; and between Ascar in the north and Adurant in the south, and between Gelion and Ered Luin, lay the far green country of Ossiriand, the Land of Seven Rivers.
The Gelion with its tributaries: Ascar (later Rathlóriel), Thalos, Legolin, Brilthor, Duilwen, and Adurant.
The Silmarillion, Quenta Silmarillion, Ch 14, Of Beleriand and its Realms
[The] vale of Gelion sloped steadily southward, and Gelion had neither fall nor rapids throughout his course, but was ever swifter than was Sirion.
The Silmarillion, Quenta Silmarillion, Ch 14, Of Beleriand and its Realms
[The] Dwarves... made a great road that passed under the shoulders of Mount Dolmed and followed the course of the River Ascar, crossing Gelion at Sarn Athrad, the Ford of Stones....
The Silmarillion, Quenta Silmarillion, Ch 10, Of the Sindar
[After] Sirion Ulmo loved Gelion above all the waters of the western world.
The Silmarillion, Quenta Silmarillion, Ch 14, Of Beleriand and its Realms
Notes
1 A league is approximately three of our miles.
Unfinished Tales, Part 3, Ch 1, The Disaster of the Gladden Fields: Appendix, Númenórean Linear Measures
2 That would make the Gelion well over 260 leagues (nearly 800 miles) in length:
[The] mighty river Sirion... rose at Eithel Sirion and skirted the edge of Ard-galen ere he plunged through the [Pass of Sirion].... Thence he flowed south for one hundred and thirty leagues,... until... he reached... the Bay of Balar.
The Silmarillion, Quenta Silmarillion, Ch 14, Of Beleriand and its Realms
Contributors:
Lyllyn 27Aug03
Elena Tiriel 17Nov09, 23Jul10, 14Mar11
