For many hours they rode on through the meads and riverlands. Often the grass was so high that it reached above the knees of the riders, and their steeds seemed to be swimming in a grey-green sea. They came upon many hidden pools, and broad acres of sedge waving above wet and treacherous bogs; but Shadowfax found the way, and the other horses followed in his swath.
– The Two Towers (Book 3), Chapter 5
The Westemnet is a region located in the north of Rohan. The region consists of grassy plains and the marshlands and bogs of the Entwade. The land is scattered with Rohirric settlements occupied by herdsmen and farmers in the summer months.
History
When the region was under the control of Gondor, the Westemnet was a part of the province of Calenardhon; it was inhabited by Men and, owing to the fertility of its soil, used for farming and the raising of livestock. In T.A. 1636, however, the Great Plague devastated the land and its people, leaving the area largely deserted. After the Battle of the Field of Celebrant, Steward Cirion granted Calenardhon to Eorl the Young, who founded the Kingdom of Rohan. The Westemnet then became a part of Rohan, and remained a part of the realm for many generations.
Geography
Westemnet is a flat, marshy region, bordering the Wold and Eastemnet along the River Entwash to the north and east, the Folde to the south and the Westfold and Fangorn forest to the west. The Westemnet is covered by plains and grasslands, often flooded due to the marshy nature of the Entwade. These marshlands are excellent for herds, as they provide good sources of drinking water and nutrients. There are some settlements built within the marshes, including one at the ford of the River Entwade.
Climate
The Westemnet has a temperate climate. Summers are generally warm and provide good conditions for farming and livestock.
Culture
Under the rule of Gondor, the region remained sparsely inhabited, but still used for the grazing of various livestock. After the foundation of Rohan, it was used on a seasonal basis, with herdsmen living in camps or temporary homesteads with the flocks in the summer, and returning to the more populated regions in the south for the winter. Some permanent settlements do exist in this region, and facilitate trade between the plains of Rohan and the more inhabited regions of the realm.
Governance
Formerly ruled by Gondor, the lands of Westemnet are part of the Kingdom of Rohan. Militarily, it is under the control of Éomer, the Third Marshal of the Riddermark.
Economy
The land makes for excellent grazing, and is used to rear Rohan’s famed horses. Other animals are also taken out onto the plains in the summer. Arable farming does occur around what settlements there are in the Westemnet, but on a smaller scale, as do other, more advanced professions.
