One for the Volcanologists
 

What Kind of volcano was Mt.Doom? And why was it just one volcano in the middle of nowhere, because Volcanoes form on plate boundaries, so surely there would be volcanoes in a chain north and south of it? I don't mean to sound like one of those bores who scientifically disproves fiction (eg. it is physically impossible to change a pumpkin into a coach!), I'm just wondering, as we just did volcanoes in Geography. [img]smilies/confused.gif[/img]

Umm....a big one.

It was part of a mountain range, just sorta disconnected from it. Ered Lithui and Ephel Dúath met to create Udûn (no, not Hell), but also created a small "veryhighlands", between Isenmouthe, Orodruin, and Barad-dûr. If you look at the map, you see a small mountain range extending south from Ered Lithui, ending at Barad-dûr. Then, a small gap, then Orodruin. Then another gap, then Morgai. Mordor is actually Minas Tirith-like, with Udûn as the top tier, the aforementioned region the second highest, then Gorgoroth the third, followed by Nurn and the rest of Mordor. (At least, I assume that the elevation decreases, since there is the inland sea of Núrnen.) As for plates, it doesn't have to be directly over a plate, but slightly off....for instance, there is probably a division just east of Anduin (which formed Ephel Dúath) that might have a vent that travels to Orodruin.

[ December 15, 2002: Message edited by: Manwe Sulimo ]

The mountain chain forming the northern border of Mordor are called Ered Lithui or
the ASH MOUNTAINS. This must indicate that there are\were volcanoes there, as ash accompanies volcanic erruptions.

I am going to refer you to: The Atlas of Middle-earth by Karen Wynn Fonstad, page 146 - 147.

You can read the longer explanation there by her (she is a cartographer), but in short: Mt Doom was a composite or strato-volcano, formed of alternating layers of ash and lava, not a simple cinder cone. She goes into a detailed discussion of why, from the description Tolkien gave both in words and in his own illustrations, that she came to that conclusion.

She does say that although it stood in the Plateau of Gorgoroth in northern Mordor, a land of vulcanism, it appearst to be the only active volcano in that area.

Way to go Pio!! I have the same Atlas of Middle Earth! Its a ggod one I like it.

Here is a relief map image of Mt. Fujiyama in Japan, which is an isolated volcanic peak on a surrounding plain.

In fact: if you squint, the picture kinda reminds you of the land of Mordor. (Except for being a lot greener and prettier.)

http://www.peakware.com/encyclopedia...fujiyama_n.jpg