Losgar

The burning of the ships

Losgar was a stretch of shore at the outlet of the Firth of Drengist, on the edge of Lammoth. It has no history apart from a single deed. When the host of Fëanor crossed the sea in the swan-ships taken by force at Alqualondë, they had brought only part of the exiled Noldor; the greater host of Fingolfin waited on the shores of Araman for the ships to return. Fëanor, having reached Middle-earth, chose instead to leave them behind. He had the ships hauled up on the strand at Losgar and set on fire, and the light of their burning was seen from across the water.

Of all his sons only Maedhros stood apart from the deed, since he had hoped that the ships would go back for his friend Fingon. The consequence was that Fingolfin's people, abandoned, chose to cross the Grinding Ice of the Helcaraxë on foot, and many died on the way. The bitterness of Losgar lay between the two houses of the Noldor until Maedhros made amends at Mithrim, and it was remembered against the sons of Fëanor for the rest of the Age.

From Losgar Fëanor's host marched inland to the shores of Lake Mithrim, and the fires on the beach were the first signal to Morgoth that his enemies had followed him.