Harad is the name of the immense lands in the South of Gondor and Mordor. It is inhabited by many different tribes called Haradrim.
The Mountains of Shadow are on the northern border of Harad. The River Harnen flows westward from the Mountains of Shadow to the Bay of Belfalas, forming Harad's border with South Gondor - a desert region that is contested between Gondor and Harad. The Harad Road runs from Harad northward through South Gondor and on to Ithilien.
To the northeast of Harad is Khand, a land that also has ties with Sauron. On the west, Harad is bounded by the Bay of Belfalas and the Sea.
The northernmost part of Harad is called Near Harad and the southern part was Far Harad. On the coast there is a natural harbor with a narrow cape curving around it. The coastal region around the harbor is known as Umbar, and the harbor is called the Havens of Umbar. The seafaring raiders known as the Corsairs live there. At the eastern end of the harbor is the City of the Corsairs.
Much of Far Harad is a jungle, although there also is a desert. In the Great Forest of the South in Far Harad live the gigantic Oliphaunts, which are used by the Haradrim as moving war towers.
Harad's location in the far south isolates it to a certain extent from the rest of Middle-earth. The climate is much warmer and sunnier. Even the constellations in Harad's night sky down in the southern hemisphere are different from those in northern Middle-earth.
Special Features:
- Main vegetation: desert
- Special units: Muhad Beastmasters, Troll-men of Harad
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