Withered Heath

LOCATION The Withered Heath was a region at the eastern extreme of the Ered Mithrin (Grey Mountains) at the time of Lord of the Rings. There, Ered Mithrin broke into two spurs, north and south. Between these spurs lay the Withered Heath.

History
The burned, blackened valley was known as a breeding ground of the Great Worms. The Dragons nurtured around the Withered Heath terrorized the Dwarven Kingdom of Erebor as well as Dale, a Kingdom of Men. Smaug the Golden is likely the most infamous Dragon from the Withered Heath. In the twenty eighth century of the Third Age, he destroyed the realms of Erebor and Dale under Thrór and Girion, respectively, and was finally slain by Bard the Bowman in TA 2941. Another notable Dragon who likely came from the Withered Heath was Scatha, who was slain by Fram, ancestor of the House of Eorl. The cold-drake that slew Dáin I and his heir, Frór, likely also come from the Withered Heath.