Thangorodrim

A group of three active volcanoes existed in the Iron Mountains in Middle Earth during the First Age. These gigantic volcanoes were collectively known as Thangorodrim. They were the highest peaks in the north of Middle Earth and were brought up by Morgoth, who had his fortress of Angband beneath the volcanoes and into the Iron Mountains.​

Thangorodrim consisted of three towering peaks above the gates of Angband. It was made up of volcanoes believed to have been crafted by Morgoth from the debris of furnaces out of the delving of Angband. These mountains were not so significant during the reign of Morgoth but gave occasional lava and fire when Morgoth was too wrathful. The three peaks served as furnaces for the great smithies of the King. The eagles lived on Thangorodrim for some time after its creation as Manwe had commanded them to bring the news of Morgoth’s actions but moved near Gondolin during the First Age.

When his father died, Maedhros was captivated and nailed to Thangorodrim to bear some torture. His cousin Fingon came to his rescue and saved him with the help of the King of The Eagles, Thorondor. When his family got cursed by Morgoth, Hurin underwent imprisonment by sitting on a chair on a tall building to see the curse unfolding. [1] The Great Gates of Angband lay at the base of the middle mountain. It was a deep canyon that led into the mountain lined with forts and towers. It also had some secret gates here and there around the sides, and the hosts used them to surprise their enemies. Thangorodrim was destroyed during the War of Wrath by Ancalagon at the end of the First Age when he was slain by Earendil and fell on the peaks, crushing the peaks along with Beleriand and the whole West of Middle Earth.​

While the exact position and size of Thangorodrim are not known, they were known to be the tallest mountains in Middle Earth. According to a drawing by Tolkien presented in ‘The Atlas of Middle Earth,’ each mountain would have been 35,000 feet high and five miles wide. There is also a mention that it lay 150 leagues north of Menegroth, which makes it too far. As derived from the action described in ‘The Silmarillion,’ it would have been located at a distance of 150-200 miles. It is possible that the plateau of Dorthonion added 200-250 miles to this distance. Through the more significant number, Tolkien may have referred to ‘as the wolf runs’ instead of ‘the eagle flies’.​