The "Black Land," a volcanic plain in the southeast of Middle-earth, shielded by the Mountains of Shadow and the Ash Mountains. It is the realm of the Dark Lord Sauron and the gathering place for his armies of Orcs and Trolls. At its heart stands the fortress of Barad-dûr and the volcanic peak of Mount Doom. Mordor is a desolate, poisoned wasteland where "the shadows lie," serving as the final destination for the Quest of the Ring.