The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power taking the story all the way to the westernmost location of J.R.R. Tolkien’s world has raised questions about what’s found on the opposite end of the Middle-earth map. The first episode of Amazon’s live-action Lord of the Rings show took Galadriel and a group of Elves deep into the Sundering Seas, the ocean that borders Valinor. The Sundering Seas have to be crossed in order for someone to make their way into the heaven-like realm. Meanwhile, The Rings of Power season 2 explored the eastern realm of Rhûn.

Though Middle-earth is the primary setting for Lord of the Rings adventures, it’s just one location in the fantasy world created by Tolkien. Middle-earth is a continent on an Earth-like planet called Arda. At the western edge of the map is Valinor, the sacred homeland of the Elves and the place regarded as the final destination for each member of their kind. One of Rings of Power season 1’s key storylines was set in the Sundering Seas, right on the western border of Middle-earth where the Elves can cross into Valinor. With season 2 investigating Rhûn, other eastern lands may be next.

The Land Of The Sun Explained

The Land Of The Sun Was A Mysterious Eastern Continent

With Valinor in the extreme west, lying on the other side of Middle-earth in The Lord of the Rings is the body of water known as the East Sea. This sea separates Middle-earth from another large land mass – the Land of the Sun. The Land of the Sun is one of the most mysterious corners of Arda. This continent was discussed in Tolkien’s work, but never had a significant role in Lord of the Rings lore. However, there are some details about its geography and what one would find if they crossed the East Sea and ventured into the Land of the Sun.

The Land of the Sun only has one confirmed geographical region – the Walls of the Sun, a mountain range along the west coast of the continent. It exists as a counterpart to the Pelori mountain range in Aman, which is the continent where Valinor is located. The terrain found in the Land of the Sun is unclear, as it seems that no known Lord of the Rings characters or historical figures explored it. The lack of any major events occurring there is a sign that the Land of the Sun is a barren place where few people (if any) live.

The Land Of The Sun Could Appear In The Rings Of Power Season 3

Rings Of Power Is Showing Surprising Locations

Since there is an expectation for The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power to keep its story strictly to Sauron’s documented Second Age rise to power, there’s little reason to expect the franchise to delve into the Land of the Sun in any meaningful way anytime soon. But with Valinor explored in flashbacks, there may well be a chance to glimpse the mysterious Far East in season 3. With the fall of Númenor teased in visions throughout seasons 1 and 2, it looks like Middle-earth’s geography may be about to change.

Tolkienian Age
Event Marking The Start
Years
Total Length In Solar Years

Before time
Indeterminate
Indeterminate
Indeterminate

Days before Days
The Ainur entered Eä
1 – 3,500 Valian Years
33,537

Pre-First Age Years of the Trees (Y.T.)
Yavanna created the Two Trees
Y.T. 1 – 1050
10,061

First Age (F.A.)
Elves awoke in Cuiviénen
Y.T. 1050 – Y.T. 1500, F.A. 1 – 590
4,902

Second Age (S.A.)
The War of Wrath ended
S.A. 1 – 3441
3,441

Third Age (T.A.)
The Last Alliance defeated Sauron
T.A. 1 – 3021
3,021

When Númenor sank, Middle-earth was restructured by the cataclysmic level of this geographical change. Aman was removed from the Circles of the World at this point, creating new lands and seas. Tolkien never confirmed the exact changes that occurred but suggested that the Empty Lands east of Middle-earth were ambiguously “cast back.” While the enigma of this mysterious continent is expected to linger, changing lands after the fall of Númenor may be shown or addressed in The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power season 3.