Henneth Annûn

Window of the Sunset - Window on the West

Useful Information

Location:	Ithilien, Gondor.
Open:	only after appointment with Faramir, Son of Denethor
Fee:
Classification:	Karst cave River Cave, artificial improvements. Fictitious Cave
Light:	natural light at sunset, torches.
Dimension:	L=100 m, W=30 m, H=6 m.
Guided tours:	the only way to visit this cave, guided and with bound eyes.
Photography:
Accessibility:
Bibliography:	John Ronald Reuel Tolkien (1966): The Lord of the Rings, The Two Towers.
Address:	Faramir, Son of Denethor, Minas Tirith, Gondor. E-mail:
As far as we know this information was accurate when it was published (see years in brackets), but may have changed since then. Please check rates and details directly with the companies in question if you need more recent info.

History

2901 T.A.	built as secret hideout for guerilla war against Mordor.
MAR-3019 T.A.	Frodo Baggins and Sam Gamgee visit the cave guided by Faramir, Son of Denethor.

Description

Henneth Annûn is a natural cave, once the home of a cave river, flowing through several Karst swallow holes into the cave and leaving it again at the end of the cave. Below the lower cave entrance, the river forms a small lake.

The Rangers of Ithilien, soldiers from Gondor fighting a guerilla war against the enemy, use this cave as a hideout. They blocked all swallow holes and all cave entrances but two. Now the water flows on the surface above the cave in a man made bed and forms a waterfall right in front of the lower cave entrance, hiding it thus from sight. The pond at the foot of this waterfall is full of stone daggers, to make it impossible to enter the cave through this entrance by swimming. The other entrance is a narrow gorge, cut into the soft limestone by the water. This is the only access to the cave and because of its geometry easy to defend.

The huge cavern is now, without the river fairly dry and comfortable. The main hall is used for the storage of food and weapons and as a dormitory for up to 400 men. Some corners of the cave are separated by curtains providing small chambers for the heads or for guests.

The cave runs east west, and the end behind the waterfall is to the west, facing over the Anduin valley. On sunny days the waterfall is illuminated by the light of the sunset, which makes the water drops glow in red and all colour of the rainbow. This is, how the cave got its name: Henneth Annûn means Window of Sunset in the language of Gondor.

A last passage leads out of the cave, a narrow and winding staircase giving access to the rock platform at the head of the waterfall.