The dark land ruled by Sauron in J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings is Mordor. It lies in the southeast of Middle-earth and is the location of Mount Doom, where the One Ring was forged.
Mordor is enclosed by mountain ranges on several sides, including the Ered Lithui and the Ephel Dúath. Its harsh landscape, volcanic activity, and fortified passes make it a natural stronghold for Sauron’s armies.
The name is sometimes confused with Isengard, a fortress in the west controlled by Saruman, or Gondor, the human kingdom that opposes Sauron. Mordor is especially important because destroying the Ring there is the only way to end Sauron’s power permanently.