Pelargir

Pelargir stands at the confluence of the River Sirith and the Great River Anduin in the heart of Lebennin. The city occupies both banks of the Sirith where it joins the Anduin, approximately 100 miles upriver from the Mouths of Anduin (Ethir Anduin) where the Great River empties into the Bay of Belfalas, and roughly 126 miles downriver from the ruins of Osgiliath and the approach to Minas Tirith. This positioning grants Pelargir extraordinary strategic value. The Anduin here flows wide, deep, and calm - ideal for large ships and extensive port facilities. The city serves as the nexus point between Gondor's inland territories and the sea, where goods from Minas Tirith, Lossarnach, and the northern provinces meet cargo from coastal regions and distant ports. More crucially, Pelargir functions as the gateway controlling access to Gondor's heartland via the Great River - any fleet moving up the Anduin to threaten Minas Tirith must pass through or bypass Pelargir's waters.When first founded in the Second Age, Pelargir stood mere miles from the coast of the Bay of Belfalas. However, after the catastrophic Downfall of Númenor reshaped the world's geography, the coastline retreated dramatically westward and southward, leaving Pelargir far inland at the head of what became the Anduin's extensive delta region. This geographical transformation actually enhanced the city's security - Corsair raiders could no longer strike directly from the sea but had to navigate the treacherous channels of the Ethir Anduin or sail far upriver to reach the city, giving defenders time to prepare and respond.