Editing Essos (section)

==Geography==
[[File:Location map Essos.svg|thumb|400px|Essos]]
Essos is considerably larger than [[Westeros]], though its true extent is unknown as no map of the entire continent currently exists. The north coast of the mainland is separated from the polar cap by the [[Shivering Sea]]. To the south, across the [[Summer Sea]], lies the uncharted continent of [[Sothoryos]]. In the extreme east, across the [[Jade Sea]], sit [[Asshai]], [[Yi Ti]], and the mysterious region called the [[Shadow Lands]]. South of the Shadow Lands is the continent of [[Ulthos]].{{Ref|TLOIAF|Central Essos}}{{Ref|TLOIAF|The East}}

The geography and climate of Essos varies greatly. Being separated from the polar cap of the [[Land of Always Winter]] and located farther to the south, it is affected by winters to a lesser extent then Westeros.<ref>[[So Spake Martin]]: [https://www.westeros.org/Citadel/SSM/Entry/1428/ Event Horizon Chat] (March 18, 1999)</ref>

The western coastline appears to be temperate in the north, becoming drier and hotter to the south, and is characterized by green rolling hills, the massive [[Forest of Qohor]], and extensive island chains such as [[Braavos]] and [[Lys]]. The middle of the continent is covered by the flat grasslands plains of the [[Dothraki sea]] and, to the east, the arid wasteland of red sand known as the [[red waste]], where nothing grows. Beyond this desert, the city of [[Qarth]] sits beside the [[Jade Gates]] that lead to the [[Jade Sea]]. The south is dominated by dry rolling hills and has a [[w:Mediterranean climate|Mediterranean climate]] with a coastline along the [[Summer Sea]] connecting [[Volantis]] with  the [[Valyria]] peninsula and the great inlet known as [[Slaver's Bay]]. Essos is dominated by the [[Bone Mountains]] and the [[Krazaaj Zasqa]], longitudinal mountain ranges separating the western half more familiar to the Westerosi and an exotic eastern half of which less is known.{{Ref|TLOIAF|Central Essos}}{{Ref|TLOIAF|The East}}