Editing Westeros (section)

==Geography==
[[File:Location map Westeros.svg|thumb|A map of Westeros with the internal borders]]
The continent of Westeros is long and relatively narrow, extending from [[Dorne]] in the south to the lands [[beyond the Wall]]. In the far north are the frozen [[Lands of Always Winter]], where a large amount of land remains uncharted due to the extremely cold temperatures.{{Ref|TWOIAF| Ancient History: The Long Night}}

According to semi-canon sources, Westeros is similar in size to [[w:South America|South America]].<ref>[[So Spake Martin]]: [https://www.westeros.org/Citadel/SSM/Entry/Geography Geography] (February 07, 1999)</ref><ref>[[So Spake Martin]]: [https://www.westeros.org/Citadel/SSM/Entry/To_Be_Continued_Chicago_IL_May_6_83 To Be Continued (Chicago, IL; May 6-8)] (May 06, 2005)</ref> Although no scale appears on the maps in the books themselves, [[George R. R. Martin]] has stated that the [[Wall]] is a hundred leagues long, or three hundred miles.<ref>[[So Spake Martin]]: [https://www.westeros.org/Citadel/SSM/Entry/2787 Size of Westeros] (April 17, 2008)</ref> Thus the continent stretches for about 3,000 miles from north to south and for some 900 miles at its widest point east to west. 

Westeros's eastern coast borders on the [[narrow sea]]; across those waters lies the eastern continent of [[Essos]] and the island chain known as the [[Stepstones]]. To the south is located the [[Summer Sea]], and within it the [[Summer Isles]].

The northern lands of Westeros are less densely populated than the south despite their roughly equivalent size. The five major cities of Westeros are, in order of size: [[King's Landing]], [[Oldtown]], [[Lannisport]], [[Gulltown]], and [[White Harbor]]. Dorne also has the so-called [[shadow city]].

Westeros was divided into several independent kingdoms before the start of [[Aegon's Conquest]]. After this war and the eventual incorporation of Dorne, all the regions south of the Wall were united under the rule of [[House Targaryen]] into a nation known as the [[Seven Kingdoms]], which consists of nine provinces.

[[File:Map of westeros.jpg|thumb|Topographic Map, by Tear ©]]

===Beyond the Wall===
{{Main|Beyond the Wall}}
The northernmost region of Westeros, the lands beyond the Wall stretch north to the lands past the edge of the known map, known as the [[Land of Always Winter]]. For the most part it is covered by the [[haunted forest]] and comprised of many lakes and rivers, and it shelters strange beasts among the mountains of the [[Frostfangs]]. The far north presents an extremely harsh climate, allowing only small numbers of [[free folk]] in small villages, in those primarily wild and uncharted lands.

[[George R. R. Martin]] has stated that the lands beyond the Wall make up a large part of Westeros, being roughly as large as [[w:Canada|Canada]].<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VyG1rk1XgT4 Game of Thrones: Season 3 - Inside The Wildlings (HBO)]</ref>

===North===
{{Main|North}}
The north is the largest region, nearly as large as the rest of the regions combined. It is sparsely populated, with vast wilderness, forests, pine-covered hills and snowcapped mountains, although it also is home to one of the five Westerosi cities, [[White Harbor]]. The northern climate is cold and harsh in the winter, and occasionally it snows even in the summer. Its northern border is the [[Gift]], the lands of the [[Night's Watch]]. Its southern frontier lies along the [[Neck]], a marshy isthmus separating it from the [[southron]] kingdoms. The narrowness of the region and the difficulty of the terrain make it a natural border for the north, protecting it from invasion. 

It has been ruled by [[House Stark]] from [[Winterfell]], first as [[Kings in the North]] and later as [[Wardens of the North]], for thousands of years. It is colder and much less populated than the south part of Westeros. Most of its residents still follow the [[old gods]], but some, mainly around the area of White Harbor, have taken the [[Faith of the Seven]]. Bastards in the north are given the surname Snow.

===Iron Islands===
{{Main|Iron Islands}}
The Iron Islands are an archipelago lying off the western coast of Westeros in [[Ironman's Bay]], the largest isles being [[Blacktyde]], [[Great Wyk]], [[Harlaw]], the [[Lonely Light]], [[Old Wyk]], [[Orkmont]] [[Pyke (island)|Pyke]], and [[Saltcliffe]]. The soil is infertile, but there are mines of several types, including iron and lead. The inhabitants of the harsh archipelago are known as ironmen in the rest of Westeros, and the [[ironborn]] among themselves. 

The Iron Islands are ruled by [[House Greyjoy]] of [[Pyke]], chosen to rule the ironmen after [[House Hoare]] of [[Harrenhal]] was extinguished during the Conquest. Prior to the arrival of [[Aegon I Targaryen|Aegon the Conqueror]], the ironmen ruled over the riverlands and, thousands of years ago, over much of the western coast of Westeros. The ironmen are men of the sea, and their naval supremacy was once unmatched. The Faith of the Seven of the Andals find small favor with the ironborn, as their allegiance is given to their native [[Drowned God]]. Bastards in the Iron Islands are given the surname Pyke.

===Riverlands===
{{Main|Riverlands}}
The riverlands, located south of the [[Neck]], are the fertile areas between the [[Red Fork|Red]], [[Green Fork|Green]], and [[Blue Fork]]s of the [[Trident]], as well as the [[Gods Eye]] and much of the [[Blackwater Rush]]. They are the domain of the [[House Tully|Tullys]] of [[Riverrun]]. At the time of the Conquest, the riverlands were ruled by [[House Hoare]], the [[Kings of the Isles and the Rivers]]. The Tullys were never [[river kings]], but were rebel river lords who left Harren the Black in favor of Aegon the Conqueror. Although the riverlands lack a city, they have many large towns, such as [[Maidenpool]] and [[Fairmarket]]. People of this region are often called "rivermen". Bastards in the riverlands are given the surname Rivers.

===Vale of Arryn===
{{Main|Vale of Arryn}}
The Vale of Arryn lies to the east of the riverlands, surrounded almost completely by the [[Mountains of the Moon]]. It consists of vast mountain ranges with the people living in valleys between them, such as the [[Vale proper]], and along the coast. The Vale's territory also includes the city of [[Gulltown]], the [[Fingers]], and numerous islands in the [[Bite]] and along the [[narrow sea]].

The Vale is under the rule of [[House Arryn]], one of the oldest lines of Andal nobility who once were [[Kings of Mountain and Vale]]. Their seat, the [[Eyrie]], is a castle high in the mountains, small but unassailable. Due to the Vale's harsh winters, travel is only possible through the mountains during certain seasons. Rebellious [[Vale mountain clans|mountain clans]] make travel even more dangerous. The people of the Vale are known as Valemen{{Ref|TWOIAF|Ancient History: The Arrival of the Andals}} and those of the [[Three Sisters]] as Sistermen. Bastards born in the Vale are given the surname Stone.

===Westerlands===
{{Main|Westerlands}}
The westerlands are the lands to the west of the riverlands and north of the Reach. It is a smaller region, but is home to some of the richest gold and silver mines on the continent. 

The westerlands are ruled by [[House Lannister]] of [[Casterly Rock]], formerly the [[King of the Rock|Kings of the Rock]]. People of this region are often called "westermen". [[Lannisport]], lying near Casterly Rock, is the chief settlement of the region and one of the great ports and cities of Westeros. Bastards in the westerlands are given the surname Hill.

===Crownlands===
{{Main|Crownlands}}
The crownlands are lands ruled directly by the [[Lord of the Seven Kingdoms]]. These lands include [[King's Landing]] and the surrounding areas, including [[Duskendale]] and [[Rosby]]. Going north, one finds [[Crackclaw Point]] and several islands in the narrow sea and [[Blackwater Bay]], including [[Dragonstone (island)|Dragonstone]], [[Driftmark]], and [[Claw Isle]]. The crownlands are south of the Vale, southeast of the riverlands, and northeast of the Reach, and north of the stormlands. Bastards in the crownlands are given the surname Waters.

===Reach===
{{Main|Reach}}
The Reach is the largest region except for the north; it encompasses a region of the most fertile part of Westeros and numerous well-populated villages and towns. 

The Reach is ruled by [[House Tyrell]] from [[Highgarden]]. The Tyrells were stewards to [[House Gardener]], the [[King of the Reach|Kings of the Reach]] before Aegon's Conquest. After [[Mern IX Gardener]] was killed on the [[Field of Fire]], the Tyrells surrendered Highgarden to Aegon and were rewarded with both the castle and the position of [[Lord Paramount of the Mander]]. Bannermen of the Tyrells frequently fight with the Dornishmen of the south. The most prominent city in the Reach is Oldtown. It is the oldest city in Westeros, home to the [[maesters]]' [[Citadel]], and the [[Starry Sept]], the previous seat of the Faith. Bastards in the Reach are given the surname Flowers.

===Stormlands===
{{Main|Stormlands}}
The stormlands, located south of [[King's Landing]], stretch down to the [[Sea of Dorne]] and are bordered by [[Shipbreaker Bay]] in the east and the Reach in the west. It is one of the smaller regions of Westeros, a land of harsh mountains, stony shores, and verdant forests.

Before Aegon's Conquest they were ruled by the [[Storm King]]s, and afterwards by the [[House Baratheon|Baratheons]]; their founder, [[Orys Baratheon]], was rumored to be a bastard relative of the Targaryens. The [[Dornish Marches]] are mostly located within the stormlands, having been ruled by the Storm Kings since time immemorial,{{Ref|TWOIAF|The Stormlands}} and are ruled by [[marcher lords]]. The marches were common battlegrounds between the stormlands, the Reach, and Dorne until the last century, when Dorne joined the Seven Kingdoms. Bastards in the stormlands are given the surname Storm.

===Dorne===
{{Main|Dorne}}
Dorne is the southernmost region of Westeros. It stretches from the southern [[Red Mountains]] near the Dornish Marches to the southern coast of the continent. It is the hottest kingdom in Westeros and features the only desert on the continent. [[Dornishmen]] have a reputation for hot-bloodedness as well. They differ both culturally and ethnically from other Westerosi due to the historical migration of the [[Rhoynar]] on [[ten thousand ships]]. Their food, appearance, and architecture resemble those of Mediterranean cultures such as Greece and Turkey more than the Western European feel of the other kingdoms. They have adopted many Rhoynish customs as well, including equal primogeniture.

Dorne was the only kingdom in Westeros to successfully resist Aegon's Conquest. It joined the Seven Kingdoms through marriage over a century after the [[First Dornish War]]. This accomplishment has allowed Dorne to retain a small measure of independence. The ruling [[House Martell|Martells]] still style themselves "[[Prince of Dorne|prince]]" and "princess" in the Rhoynish fashion rather than "[[lord]]". Bastards in Dorne are given the surname Sand.