Belegaer

In the universe of Tolkien, Belegaer , or the Large Sea , is an ocean of Arda in the west of the Ground of the Medium.

Before the Second Age, Belegaer extended from perforated from Ilmen in the Far North, where a bridge of ice known under the name of Helcaraxë connected the Earth of the Medium and Aman, until the south. Belegaer was narrower in north than in the south, with its vastest part close to the equator of Arda.

The extent of Belegaer after the Akallabêth is not sure, but it extended rather far towards north to be covered with ice, and far in the south. Belegaer would correspond to the ocean Atlantique if the Earth of the Medium represented the Eurasia and the Africa.

Its name is Sindarin: it comprises the elements Beleg Puissance and Aer or Eär meaning Mer , word that one also finds in Eärendil (admirer of the sea). The name in Quenya of Belegaer, which used forever in a work published, is Alatairë .

Before the end of the Second Age, the continent of Aman, the house of the Valar, formed the western edge of belegaer. Before the destruction of Beleriand at the end of the First Age, the sea was narrow and full with ice in north, forming the strait of Helcaraxë. It was consequently possible to make crossed the Mercy-Ground of the Medium to foot, in spite of some difficulties, as did it Fingolfin and its people of the Noldor whereas they fled Valinor.

After the War of Anger, Belegaer was widened by the flood of most of the Earth of the Medium and perhaps even of part of Aman. The bridge of Ice of north was removed, preventing the access to the grounds of the West. During Akallebêth at the Second Age, the seas were curved and the world became round. Aman disappeared and Belegaer bathed new grounds: only the elected officials could find the road leading to Valinor. It was never specified which was the new Western coast of Belegaer although it is written that the Númenóriens refugees reached it during their search for Valinor. It is also possible, as the curve of the seas returned Arda round, than the grounds in the west of Belegaer are in fact Is Earth of the Medium. Belegaer had and has several islands and archipelagoes:

  • Tol Eressëa, island close to the shore of Aman

  • Islands of the Twilight or Magic Islands vis-a-vis Tol Eressëa
  • Númenor (seleument at the Second Age)
  • Islands of the West (after the First Age)
  • Tol Morwen
  • Tol Fuin
  • Himling
  • Balar, in bay of Balar (only at the First Age)
  • Tolfalas, in bay of Belfalas

Other characteristics of Belegaer:

  • Bay of Eldamar

  • Bay of Balar (only at the First Age)
  • the Large Gulf (only at the First Age)
  • Estuary of Drengist (only at the First Age)
  • Bay of Ice of Forochel (after the First Age)
  • Gulf of the Moon (after the First Age)
  • Bay of Belfalas (after the First Age)

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