Editing Iron Islands (section)

==Economy==
[[File:Zach Graves Isle Garron.JPG|thumb|350px|Iron Isles [[garron]], by Zach Graves © Fantasy Flight Games]]
The islands are sparse and rocky with a thin, stony soil that makes it hard for the [[smallfolk]] to farm, and they often have to do without animals that might make their job easier, such as oxen or [[horse]]s.{{Ref|ACOK|24}} The land is more suitable for goats than raising crops, and the ironborn would likely suffer from famine every [[winter]], if not for the bountiful seas. [[Ironman's Bay]] contains schools of [[cod]], black cod, monkfish, skate, icefish, sardines, and [[mackerel]], and the shores of the isles have [[crab]]s and [[lobster]]s. Seven out of every ten families are fisherfolk, according to Archmaester [[Haereg]].{{Ref|TWOIAF|The Iron Islands}}

While the mines of the Iron Islands do not produce the precious metals of the [[westerlands]],{{Ref|ACOK|11}} [[iron]] ores are found in abundance beneath the hills of Great Wyk, Orkmont, Harlaw, and Pyke.{{Ref|TWOIAF|The Iron Islands}} The mines also contain plentiful amounts of [[lead]] and [[tin]]. Most ironborn feel the dangerous and backbreaking labor required to mine these metals is work suitable only for [[thrall]]s. Still, these ores are the chief export of the islands. There are also many fine metalworkers amongst the ironborn. The forges of [[Lordsport]] produce high quality [[sword]]s, axes, [[ringmail]], and plate [[armor]].{{Ref|TWOIAF|The Iron Islands}}

With so little wealth on the islands themselves, it is not difficult to understand why the ironborn of old turned to raiding. Archmaester [[Haereg]] suggests that need for wood was what first drove the ironborn to raid the mainland.{{Ref|TWOIAF|The Iron Islands}}