Esgalduin

The veiled river

The Esgalduin rose in the southern slopes of the Ered Gorgoroth, where its upper waters flowed out of the poisoned valley of Nan Dungortheb, and ran south into Doriath. Within the Girdle it turned westward, flowing between the forests of Neldoreth on its north bank and Region on its south, until it joined Sirion at the western edge of the realm. Its name meant the river under veil, and it was accounted enchanted, its waters cold and swift and its banks silent.

On its southern bank stood Menegroth, and the only bridge over the river in the heart of the kingdom led to the gates of the Thousand Caves. Where the Esgalduin met Sirion lay the hill of the guards and the place where Beren, having crossed the Girdle, first wandered into the woods. Túrin as a boy came down to the river with his guides, and Beleg and the march-wardens patrolled its upper banks toward the northern edge of the Girdle. The river was drowned with all Doriath at the end of the Age.