Ered Luin
The Ered Luin (the Blue Mountains), also known as the Ered Lindon, is a mountain range in the west of Eriador. It is home to the Dwarves of the Blue Mountains, part of the Kingdom of the Longbeards.
Summary
In the Elder Days the Ered Luin was one continous mountain range, raised by the Valar in the early days of Arda. It was home to the Broadbeams and Firebeards in their two great cities cities, Nogrod and Belegost. During the calamitous War of Wrath at the close of the First Age, the Ered Luin was split asunder as Beleriand sank beneath the sea, and the Gulf of Lhun formed between the two halves of the mountains. Nogrod and Belegost were ruined and abandoned, most of its folk leaving for Khazad-dum.
Small Dwarven settlements remained, but the Blue Mountains were only recolonised in force after the Sack of Erebor. These new arrivals founded a number of new halls, the greatest of which being Thorin's Halls. Following the reclaimation of Erebor a large portion of the Blue Dwarven population left for the Lonely Mountain, but a sizable population remains.
Climate and ecology
The Blue Mountains contain the following ecological zones:
A4 - Scandinavian open vegetation of crustose and foliose lichens
A5 - Scattered vegetation of cushion plants and lichens in the Alps and Pyrenees
B41 - Scandinavian middle alpine complex of windswept heaths, grass heaths and scree vegetation
B44 - Alpine grasslands in the Alps with herbs and lichens on carbonate rocks
C9 - Scandinavian moist birch forests
C16 - Anglo-Irish birch forests
D8 - Scandinavian-east European spruce forests
Architecture
Dwarven architecture in the Ered Luin is some of the most advanced of any of the Dwarven realms. The Dwarves use coloured stone to decorate their halls, and large arches are commonplace.
Settlements in the Blue Mountains typically have stables, market halls, feasthalls, ravenries, areas for crafts and smithing, and a bathhouse.
Economy
As with other Dwarven realms, mining and crafts form the basis of the Ered Luin's economy. The Dwarves are famous for their skill in these fields, and most Dwarven settlements are or were initially mining outposts. Metalworkers, miners and masons are among the most common occupations in any Dwarven settlement.
The Dwarves trade long the Great East Road, particularly with the Hobbits of the Shire and with the Breelanders. Here, valuable metals and manufactured goods are traded for goods not readily available to the Dwarves, especially food. Many of these caravans go on to Dwarven settlements in the Grey Mountains, Erebor and as far as the Iron Hills.
Settlements
The largest Dwarven settlements in the Ered Luin are their great underground mansions, which hold the majority of its population and economic activity. Additionally, there are several camps and smaller settlements on the surface, supplying wood, furs, game, etc. to the mansions.
Northern Ered Luin
Athuk-Atkatu
Thorin's Halls
Adjan-Lazhar
Lazhar-Ala
Arganzulum
Southern Ered Luin
Bizar-Filatin
Thafar-Damith
Nara-Athuk
Khalath-Giri