The Encyclopedia of Arda - an interactive guide to the world of J.R.R. Tolkien
Location
Western Lebennin, in the south of Gondor
Race
Division
Culture
Settlements
Joined the river Serni at Linhir
Source
In the White Mountains, some forty miles south of Min-Rimmon
Tributaries
One, unnamed
Outflow
Into the river Serni above Linhir
Pronunciation
gi'lrine
Meaning
'Star-wanderer'1

Indexes:

About this entry:

  • Updated 3 January 2020
  • Updates planned: 1

River Gilrain

The western border-river of Lebennin

Map of the river Gilrain

Rivers of Gondor

A long river that flowed south out of the White Mountains through western Lebennin in the south of Gondor. It was a tributary of the River Serni, that it joined above Linhir, and legend said that Nimrodel had walked its banks as she came south out of the White Mountains.


Notes

1

This derivation is connected to the legend of Nimrodel. Though the Gilrain was for most of its length a fast, straight river, there was a region about halfway between its source and its mouth where it wandered somewhat, and formed a small mere before flowing on. According to the story, Nimrodel herself wandered beside the river as she descended from the White Mountains, and saw the reflected stars glinting in the mere's waters. She sat beside the pool and slept, and so she did not reach Amroth's ship before it sailed.

Note that the meandering region and the small mere are recorded in a textual description of the river, and were said to form as it broke through a ridge thrust out southwards from the body of the White Mountains. This description is hard to square with the canonical map of the river, however, which shows none of these features, and so they are omitted from the map accompanying this entry.

Indexes:

About this entry:

  • Updated 3 January 2020
  • Updates planned: 1

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