In the fictional world of
J. R. R. Tolkien's
Middle-earth,
Dorthonion ("Land of Pines"), later
Taur-nu-Fuin, was a highland region of the
First Age, lying immediately to the north of
Beleriand, and south of the plains of
Ard-galen (later
Anfauglith) that extended north to
Morgoth's stronghold of
Thangorodrim. It is notable in its function as a dangerous stage and scene in the adventures of many major characters in several of Tolkien's books and other works such as
The Silmarillion,
The Lays of Beleriand, and most recently
The Children of Húrin. Similar to the other great forests of
Tolkien's legendarium such as
Mirkwood,
Fangorn and
Lothlórien it provides a transitional device in the invented history of Tolkien's Middle-earth and important episodes in the heroic quests of his characters such as
Beren,
Lúthien,
Beleg and
Túrin.
