Isle of Balar

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Isle of Balar
Island
Christopher Tolkien - Bay of Balar.jpg
Map drawn by Christopher Tolkien showing the Bay of Balar
General Information
LocationSouth-west of the Bay of Balar, on edge of Belegaer
TypeIsland
DescriptionLarge islands, eastern tip of what was Tol Eressëa
InhabitantsEldar, Edain

The Isle of Balar was a refugee camp of the Eldar and Edain of Beleriand.

The Isle of Balar was located in the great Bay of Balar to the south of Beleriand,[1] and according to legend it was the eastern tip of Tol Eressëa which had broken off when Ulmo ferried the Eldar to Aman.[2] In the shallow waters about the island could be found great numbers of pearls.[3]

Before the Dagor Bragollach Turgon of Gondolin had had an outpost on the isle,[4] from where he sent some messengers to Aman, but none ever arrived[5] and only one Elf, Voronwë, ever returned to Middle-earth.[6]

After the destruction of the Falas, the Isle of Balar became home to a the survivors of the Havens of the Falas under Círdan.[7] The two refugee camps held close contact, and Círdan assisted Eärendil of Arvernien in building the ship Vingilot (Vingilótë), with which he sought for Valinor, to ask for the pardon of the Valar.[8]

From there many went to Lindon until the Elves were summoned to Valinor, and the Edain to the new isle of Númenor. The Isle of Balar had vanished by the Third Age, but it is not clear when this occurred.[source?]

References

Isle of Balar
Belegaer Cape Balar, Falas Arvernien Mouths of Sirion, Nimbrethil
Belegaer WindRose3.pngBay of Balar
Belegaer Belegaer Bay of Balar