The Geography of the Chronicles of Narnia
Archenland, Calormen, Ettinsmoor, Underland, and the Eastern Sea
Aug 12, 2009
In the Chronicles of Narnia, C. S. Lewis creates another land with a geography that develops with each of the seven books. Initially “Narnia” referred to the whole fantasy land, but as the stories grew it came to refer just to the country of Narnia around which are other countries with their own names and peoples.
Narnia
The Pevensies first enter Narnia by way of Lantern Waste, the area in the northwest of Narnia surrounding the Lamppost (The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe). The capital of Narnia is the castle Cair Paravel, located on an island at the mouth of the Great River. Aslan’s How is a hill on which lies the broken Stone Table on which Aslan was sacrificed.
North of Narnia
North of Narnia is the land of the giants, explored in The Silver Chair. Just north of Narnia are the marshes, then Ettinsmoor, a great expanse of land with streams running through it. Crossing the Giants’ Bridge leads to the Ruined City of the Ancient Giants, the place where the old giants used to live. Giants now live just north of this place in the castle on the mountain, Harfang.
Underland
One reaches the Underland by going under the Ruined City, going deeper and deeper past a sleeping Father Time. Sailing through the Sunless Sea takes one to the Dark Castle of the Queen of the Underland. Below Underland is Bism, the land of the Earthmen, where jewels grow on trees and the river is of fire.
Archenland
Just south of Narnia is the kingdom of Archenland, surrounded by the Northern Mountains and the Southern Marches. It’s a beautiful, mountainous, green country, with its capital at the Castle Anvard. It was founded by descendents of the first rulers of Narnia, King Frank and Queen Helen.
Calormen
The southernmost empire is Calormen, a desert country with a Middle Eastern-inspired culture heavily featured in The Horse and His Boy. It is separated from Archenland by the Great Desert, home of the Ancient Tombs. The capital city is Tashbaan, which covers an island in a river in the north of Calormen.
Eastern Sea
To the east of Narnia is the Eastern Sea, explored in The Voyage of the Dawn Treader. There are many islands in the Eastern Sea that are part of the country of Narnia:
- Galma, Terebinthia, Seven Isles: These islands are inhabited by and often visited by Narnians.
- Lone Islands: The last known land before the explorations of the Dawn Treader.
- Dragon Island: After the last dragon died, it now only has wild goats and pigs.
- Burnt Island: Formerly inhabited, it has now been abandoned.
- Deathwater Island: Home of water that turns whatever it touches to gold.
- Island of the Duffers: Also known as Monopods and Dufflepuds, these dim people have only one leg and one big foot. They are ruled by the magician Coriakin.
- Dark Island: All dreams, even bad ones, come true here.
- Ramandu’s Island: Ruled by an old star, it has Aslan’s Table which is magically set with a banquet every day.
After Ramandu’s Island comes the Last Sea, clear water inhabited by Sea People. After this comes the Silver Sea, also known as Lily Lake because it is covered with lilies, which has fresh water. And after this is the World’s End, a flat land on the absolute edge of the Narnian world.
West of Narnia
To the west of Narnia is the Western Wilds, home of the garden Digory must fetch the apple from in The Magician’s Nephew.
Beyond the western mountains lies the land of Telmar. Pirates from our world stumbled into Narnia through a cave in Telmar, and eventually these Telmarines made their way to the country of Narnia and took over, founding the dynasty from which Caspian is descended (Prince Caspian).
The Greater Land of Narnia
The most important areas of the world of Narnia are Narnia itself, Archenland, Calormen, the Eastern Sea, Underland, and the giant’s land to the north. But C. S. Lewis developed an elaborate geography for his Chronicles of Narnia, with many other significant locations, and interested readers can even find maps of this fantasy land.
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