Neldoreth was the name of a beech-forest that bordered the Sea of Rhûnaer's north-eastern shore and part of its eastern shore. It has only ever been named within the first map of The Lord of the Rings. While the forest reappears on subsequent maps, its name does not.
History
During the Great Journey in the Years of the Trees, the Eldar reached the Sea of Rhûn after marching 450 miles west or northwest from Cuiviénen. The Teleri managed to reach new heights in their ship-making to traverse the Sea of Rhûn during this time.
During the westward migration of Men in the First Age, many tribes populated the shores of the Inland Sea. While the Lesser Folk arrived first and dwelt at the feet of some nearby hills, the Greater Folk that came later dwelt in Neldoreth on the north-eastern shores. Both groups made boats to be able to sail the sea before they resumed their migration to Beleriand.
During the early Third Age, King Rómendacil I of Gondor drove the Easterlings back to the lands around the Sea of Rhûn. His son, Turambar, expanded the kingdom to the East. By the time of King Hyarmendacil I, the Inland Sea was the eastern border of Gondor.
Vorondil hunted the Kine of Araw near the shores of the Sea of Rhûn, though it is untold which side he did. Gondor's eastern border was apparently further east than the Inland Sea during the time of Rómendacil II.
Etymology
Neldoreth is a Sindarin name with an unclear meaning, though it may be a compound of the Doriathren noun neldor ("beech-tree; beech") and -eth ("abstract noun").
In adaptations
Middle-earth Role Playing
In the Middle-earth Role Playing game, the woods of Neldoreth is referred to as Eryn Rhûn ("Eastern Forest") in Sindarin, Dol Gwincalen (Sindarin for "Hills of Green Moss") by the Elves living there, and Agasha Dag by the Elves of Dorwinion.
