Anach

Anach
Defile
General Information
Location	Splitting between Ered Gorgoroth and the Crissaegrim
Type	Defile
Description	Long and narrow
Inhabitants	Orcs of Morgoth, foul unknown beasts

Anach (from an = "long") was a long, narrow defile that ran down out of the highlands of Dorthonion, cutting southwest between the near-impassable mountains of the Crissaegrim and Ered Gorgoroth. Towards its southern end, where it opened into the land of Dimbar, were the springs of the River Mindeb.

In the later years of the First Age, Dorthonion fell under Morgoth's control, and with it the Pass of Anach. His Orcs began to use it as a way down from the highlands, building a road through the valley to reach and harrass the lands beyond. Ultimately they succeeded in conquering not only Dimbar, but also the regions to the east that ran along the borders of Doriath.