Notice: With the Laurelin server shutting down, our website will soon reflect the Meriadoc name. You can still use the usual URL, or visit us at https://meriadocarchives.org/
Spotlight On Middle-Earth : Lake Mirrormere
Lake Mirrormere is long opening of water that resembles the shape of an arrow or spearhead. The lake stretches southward from the northernend of the valley. Around the lake there are green grassy slopes down to the shore. The waters of Mirrormere are very deep, dark blue and the surface is flat and still reflecting the sky and mountains around it like a mirror. Mirrormere is so-called because of its reflective surface. Mere is an ancient word for lake A stream called the Dimrill flows into the northern end of Mirrormere from the slopes of Caradhras in a spectacular waterfall.
In ancient times, Durin The Deadless of the Seven Fathers of the Dwarves awoke from his slumber under Mount Gundabad and came to the Dimrill Dale. From its shores he looked into Mirrormere and saw a crown of seven stars appear above the shadow of his head taking the crown as a sign, he founded the great city of Khazad-dûm also known as Moria beneath the mountains that fed Mirrormere.A pillar called Durin's Stone was placed along the banks of the lake to mark the very spot where Durin stood.
In 2889 of the Third Age, Balin son of Fundin., one of the Dwarves that traveled with Bilbo Baggins and Gandalf to reclaim Erebor - led a company of Dwarves to recolonize Khazad-dum. They settled in the Twenty-first Hall, and Balin proclaimed himself Lord of Moria. For five years the colony thrived. On November 10, 2994, Balin went out to look into Mirrormere and was shot and mortally wounded by an Orc.Balin's body was placed in a tomb in the Chamber of Mazarbul in Moria. The rest of the colony perished soon afterwards.
The Dwarves call the lake Kheled-zâram meaning "glass pool." The Dwarvish word kheled means "glass" and the word zâram means "pool." The Elves call the lake Nen Cenedril which means "Lake Looking-glass" in Sindarin.
'At first they could see nothing. Then slowly they saw the forms of the encircling mountains mirrored in a profound blue, and the peaks were like plumes of white flame above them; beyond there was a space of sky. There like jewels sunk in the deep shone glinting stars, though sunlight was in the sky above. Of their own stooping forms no shadow could be seen ' - The Fellowship of the Ring
Article by Amorey - Laurelin Archives Webteam
