The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum - View Single Post

piosenniel · 07-14-2002, 05:10 PM

I was curious about the theories for the simple reason that approximately one million square miles of land would have been submerged in the sinking (this is according to calculations by KW Fonstad in her book, 'The Atlas of Middle Earth).

Had they sunk all at once, this would have been a mega-catastrophe of such horrific proportions that no creatures could have been expected to survive, not even those who had sought high ground. The destruction from the sudden displacement of so much water would have destroyed much of the lands and killed inhabitants of the remaining near regions, in addition. Even ships at sea in the vicinity of Beleriand at that time would probably have been swamped and destroyed.

A geologist I spoke with said that if this had happened in Northern Europe, the waves generated would have reached the coast of South America with devastating effects.

Now, if the lands of Beleriand had buckled when Thangorodrim was broken and slipped in a more gradual way under water, the effect would be less devastating and there would have been time for survivors to reach places of safety, to build ships, and to eventually sail away.

Perhaps that is how who may have been able to reach the Highlands of Dorthonion or the hill of Himring or the Stone of the Hapless(A high spot near the River Teiglin)were able to survive the flooding - these high sections of Beleriand became islands just off the new coast line.

Anyone have any other ideas?

One other thing: Does anyone recall where it was that Galadriel foretold that the sunken lands of Beleriand would one day rise again?

[ July 14, 2002: Message edited by: piosenniel ]

07-14-2002, 05:10 PM	#3
piosenniel Desultory Dwimmerlaik Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Pickin' flowers with Bill the Cat..... Posts: 7,779	I was curious about the theories for the simple reason that approximately one million square miles of land would have been submerged in the sinking (this is according to calculations by KW Fonstad in her book, 'The Atlas of Middle Earth). Had they sunk all at once, this would have been a mega-catastrophe of such horrific proportions that no creatures could have been expected to survive, not even those who had sought high ground. The destruction from the sudden displacement of so much water would have destroyed much of the lands and killed inhabitants of the remaining near regions, in addition. Even ships at sea in the vicinity of Beleriand at that time would probably have been swamped and destroyed. A geologist I spoke with said that if this had happened in Northern Europe, the waves generated would have reached the coast of South America with devastating effects. Now, if the lands of Beleriand had buckled when Thangorodrim was broken and slipped in a more gradual way under water, the effect would be less devastating and there would have been time for survivors to reach places of safety, to build ships, and to eventually sail away. Perhaps that is how who may have been able to reach the Highlands of Dorthonion or the hill of Himring or the Stone of the Hapless(A high spot near the River Teiglin)were able to survive the flooding - these high sections of Beleriand became islands just off the new coast line. Anyone have any other ideas? One other thing: Does anyone recall where it was that Galadriel foretold that the sunken lands of Beleriand would one day rise again? [ July 14, 2002: Message edited by: piosenniel ] __________________ Eldest, that’s what I am . . . I knew the dark under the stars when it was fearless - before the Dark Lord came from Outside.