Editing Valinor (section)

== Geography ==

[[File:Valinor.svg|thumb|upright=1.35|Map of Valinor, the Blessed Realm, in the continent of Aman, on [[Arda (Middle-earth)|Arda]] ]]

=== Physical ===

Valinor lies in Aman ("Unmarred"{{sfn|Fauskanger|2022}}), a continent on the west of [[Belegaer]], the ocean to the west of [[Middle-earth]].{{sfn|Oberhelman|2013}} [[Ekkaia]], the encircling sea, surrounds both Aman and Middle-earth. Tolkien wrote that the name "Aman" was "chiefly used as the name of the land in which the Valar dwelt".<ref group=T>{{harvnb|Tolkien|1994|loc="Quendi and Eldar"}}</ref> The Pelóri<!--redirects here--> mountains run along the east coast; their highest peak is Taniquetil.<ref name="Of Eldamar and the Princes of the Eldalië" group=T/> Tolkien created no detailed maps of Aman; those drawn by [[Karen Wynn Fonstad]], based on Tolkien's rough sketch of [[Arda (Tolkien)|Arda]]'s landmasses and seas, show Valinor about {{convert|700|mi}} wide, west to east (from the Great Sea to the Outer Sea), and about {{convert|3000|mi}} long north to south. The continent of Aman extends from the Arctic latitudes of the Helcaraxë<!--redirects here--> to the subpolar southern region of Arda – about {{convert|7000|mi}}.{{sfn|Fonstad|1991|pp=1–4 Aman, 6–7 Valinor}}

{{anchor|Eldamar}}
''Eldamar'' is "Elvenhome", the "coastal region of Aman, settled by the Elves", wrote Tolkien.<ref group=T>Kept in a folder labelled "Phan, Mbar, Bal and other Elvish etymologies", published in ''[[Parma Eldalamberon]]'', 17.</ref>{{sfn|Tyler|2002|pp=307–308}} Eldamar was the true Eldarin name of Aman.<ref group=T>''[[Parma Eldalamberon]]'', 17, p. 106.</ref> In ''[[The Hobbit]]'' it is named "Faerie". The land is well-wooded, as [[Finrod]] "walk[ed] with his father under the trees in Eldamar" and the [[Teleri]] Elves have timber to build their ships. The city of the Teleri, on the north shore of the Bay is Alqualondë, the Haven of the Swans, whose halls and mansions are made of pearl. The harbour is entered through a natural arch of rock, and the beaches are strewn with gems given by the [[Noldor]] Elves.<ref name="Of the Flight of the Noldor" group=T>{{harvnb|Tolkien|1977|loc=ch. 9 "Of the Flight of the Noldor"}}</ref> In the bay is the island of Tol Eressëa.<ref name="Of Eldamar and the Princes of the Eldalië" group=T/>

{{anchor|Calacirya}}
''Calacirya'' ([[Quenya]]: "Light Cleft", for the light of the [[Two Trees]] that streams through the pass into the world beyond) is the pass in the Pelóri mountains where the Elven city Tirion is set. It is close to the Girdle of Arda (the [[Equator]]).{{sfn|Fonstad|1991|pp=1–4 Aman, 6–7 Valinor}} After the hiding of Valinor, this is the only gap through the mountains of Aman.<ref name="Of Eldamar and the Princes of the Eldalië" group=T>{{harvnb|Tolkien|1977|loc=ch. 5 "Of Eldamar and the Princes of the Eldalië"}}</ref>

{{anchor|Enchanted Isles|Magic Isles}}
In the extreme north-east, beyond the Pelóri, is the Helcaraxë, a vast ice sheet that joins the two continents of Aman and Middle-earth before the War of Wrath.<ref name="Of the Coming of the Elves and the Captivity of Melkor" group=T>{{harvnb|Tolkien|1977|loc=ch. 3 "Of the Coming of the Elves and the Captivity of Melkor"}}</ref> 
To prevent anyone from reaching the main part of Valinor's east coast by sea, the Valar create the Shadowy Seas, and within these seas they set a long chain of islands called the Enchanted Isles.<ref name="Of the Sun and Moon and the Hiding of Valinor" group=T>{{harvnb|Tolkien|1977|loc=ch. 11 "Of the Sun and Moon and the Hiding of Valinor"}}</ref>{{sfn|Fonstad|1991|p=38}}

{{anchor|Valar|Halls of Mandos}}

=== Political ===

{{main|Valar}}

Valinor is the home of the Valar (singular Vala), spirits that often take humanoid form, sometimes called "gods" by the [[Man (Middle-earth)|Men]] of Middle-earth.<ref name="Valaquenta" group=T>{{harvnb|Tolkien|1977}}, "Valaquenta"</ref> Other residents of Valinor include the related but less powerful spirits, the [[Maia (Middle-earth)|Maiar]], and most of the Elves.<ref name="Of the Beginning of Days" group=T>{{harvnb|Tolkien|1977}}, ch. 1 "Of the Beginning of Days"</ref>

Each Vala has his or her own region of the land. The Mansions of Manwë and Varda, two of the most powerful spirits, stands upon the top of Taniquetil.<ref name="Valaquenta" group=T/> Yavanna, the Vala of Earth, Growth, and Harvest, resides in the Pastures of Yavanna in the south of the land, west of the Pelóri. Nearby are the mansions of Yavanna's spouse, Aulë the Smith.<!--<ref name="Of Aulë and Yavanna" group=T>{{harvnb|Tolkien|1977|loc=ch. 2 "Of Aulë and Yavanna"}}</ref>--> Oromë, the Vala of the Hunt, lives in the Woods of Oromë to the north-east of the pastures. Nienna lives in the far west of the island. Just south of Nienna's home, and to the north of the pastures, are the Halls of Mandos<!--redirects here-->; he lives with his spouse Vairë the weaver. To the east of the Halls of Mandos is the Isle of Estë, in the lake of Lórellin<ref name="Valaquenta" group=T/> within the Gardens of Lórien.{{sfn|Fonstad|1991|pp=1–4 Aman, 6–7 Valinor}}

In east-central Valinor at the Girdle of Arda is Valmar, the capital of Valinor (also called Valimar, the City of Bells), the residence of the Valar and the Maiar in Valinor. The first house of the Elves, the [[Vanyar]], settles there as well. The mound of Ezellohar, on which stand the [[Two Trees of Valinor|Two Trees]], and Máhanaxar, the Ring of Doom, are outside Valmar.<ref name="Of the Beginning of Days" group=T/> Farther east is the Calacirya, the only easy pass through the Pelóri, a huge mountain range fencing Valinor on three sides, created to keep [[Morgoth]]'s forces out. The city of the Noldor (and for a time the Vanyar Elves also) is Tirion, built on the hill of Túna, inside the Calacirya mountain pass; it is just north of Taniquetil, facing both the Two Trees and the starlit seas.<ref name="Of Eldamar and the Princes of the Eldalië" group=T/>{{sfn|Fonstad|1991|pp=1–4 Aman, 6–7 Valinor}}

In the northern inner foothills of the Pelóri, far to the north of Valmar, is [[Fëanor]]'s city of Formenos, built after his banishment from Tirion.<ref name="Of the Silmarils and the Unrest of the Noldor" group=T>{{harvnb|Tolkien|1977|loc=ch. 7 "Of the Silmarils and the Unrest of the Noldor"}}</ref>