Isengard facts for kids

Isengard is a famous fictional place from J. R. R. Tolkien's fantasy world, Middle-earth. It was once a beautiful valley but became a dark fortress. It played a very important role in The Lord of the Rings stories.

What is Isengard?

Isengard was a large, circular valley in the northwest of Gondor. It was surrounded by a strong wall of rock called the Ring of Isengard. In the middle of this valley stood a tall, black tower named Orthanc. The name "Isengard" means "Iron Fortress" in the language of the Rohirrim, a group of people in Middle-earth.

The Tower of Orthanc

The Tower of Orthanc was built by ancient people called the Númenóreans. It was made of very hard, dark stone that no weapon could break. Orthanc was about 500 feet (150 meters) tall. It had four sharp points at the top. This tower was a strong and mysterious place. It held many secrets and powerful items.

The Ring of Isengard

The Ring of Isengard was a huge, natural wall of stone. It protected the valley. Inside this ring, there was once a green and pleasant land with trees and a river. Over time, as Isengard became a fortress, much of this natural beauty was destroyed.

Saruman's Home

For a long time, Isengard was a peaceful place. It was guarded by a small group of people. Later, the wizard Saruman was given permission to live in Orthanc. He was one of the most powerful wizards in Middle-earth. Saruman was supposed to help protect the land from evil. However, he secretly began to use Isengard for his own dark plans.

Isengard's Transformation

Under Saruman's control, Isengard changed a lot. He dug deep tunnels and caves beneath the tower. He built many furnaces and workshops. The beautiful trees were cut down. The green valley turned into a dirty, industrial area. Saruman used this place to create a huge army of Uruk-hai, who were strong and fierce soldiers. He also built powerful machines for war.

The End of Isengard

During the War of the Ring, Isengard became a major threat. Saruman's army attacked the land of Rohan. But the Ents, who are ancient tree-like creatures, were very angry about the destruction of the trees in Isengard. They marched on the fortress and destroyed the Ring of Isengard. They flooded the tunnels and workshops, washing away Saruman's evil work. Orthanc, the tower itself, could not be broken, but Saruman was trapped inside. After the war, Isengard was cleaned up and slowly began to heal.

Images for kids

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  The natural landscape of Glenorchy, New Zealand represented the setting of Isengard in Peter Jackson's The Lord of the Rings film trilogy.

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  Isengard: an "industrial hell", as Tolkien wrote "tunneled .. dark .. deep .. graveyard of unquiet dead .. furnaces". Medieval fresco of hell, St Nicholas in Raduil, Bulgaria

See also

In Spanish: Isengard para niños