Places in Middle-earth
Nan Curunír
Type: Valleys, Caves, Tunnels
Region: Other Middle-earth
Meaning: Vale of the Man of Skill (or Craft)
Other Names
The Wizard's Vale
The Valley of Saruman
Location: At the southern edge of the Misty Mountains, just north of the Gap of Rohan.
Description: They were come to the feet of the Misty Mountains, and the long arms of Nan Curunír stretched down to meet them. Dark lay the vale before them, for the moon had passed into the West, and its light was hidden by the hills. But out of the deep shadow of the dale rose a vast spire of smoke and vapour; as it mounted, it caught the rays of the sinking moon, and spread in shimmering billows, black and silver, over the starry sky.
Dimly through the mists they could descry the long arm of the mountains rising on their left. They had passed into Nan Curunír, the Wizard's Vale. That was a sheltered valley, open only to the South. Once it had been fair and green, and through it the Isen flowed, already deep and strong before it found the plains; for it was fedby many springs and lesser streams among the rain-washed hills. and all about it there had lain a pleasant, fertile land.
It was not so now. Beneath the walls of Isengard there still were acres tilled by the slaves of Saruman; but most of the valley had become a wilderness of weeds and thorns. Brambles trailed upon the ground, or clambering over bush and bank, made shaggy caves where small beasts housed.
No trees grew there; but among the rank grasses could still be seen the burned and axe-hewn stumps of ancient groves. It was a sad country, silent now but for the stony noise of quick waters. Smokes and steams drifted in sullen clouds and lurked in the hollows.
TTT, Book III, Ch 8, The Road to Isengard
Contributors: Lyllyn 6.17.03
added Name: Elena Tiriel 24Jan05
