Main Continent
Contents
General
The Main continent is the land mass composed of Shara, the Aiel Waste and the countries to the west of the Waste; over the Spine of the World, bordered at the north by the Mountains of Dhoom and the Blight to the north of that. To the east and south is the Aryth Ocean and to the west the Morenal Ocean. It is one of three large landmasses, along with Seanchan, which is larger, and the area known as the Land of Madmen.
The Westlands
- Main article: Westlands
The people of the nations in the series do not have a name for their continent or the part of it in which they live, but it is known by several names, including the Wetlands by the Aiel and the Westlands by the Sea Folk, who refer to the inhabitants as the Shorebound. There are currently fourteen countries in the area: Saldaea, Kandor, Arafel and Shienar running west to east from World's End to the Dragonwall, bordered by the Blight and known collectively as the Borderlands; Arad Doman and Tarabon on the Aryth Ocean on the eastern coast; Altara, Illian and Tear, going west to east on the south coast of the Sea of Storms; and the landlocked nations of Amadicia, Ghealdan, Murandy, Andor and Cairhien. There is a great deal of unclaimed land, much of which was initially populated by the lands of Almoth, Hardan, Caralain, Goaban, Irenvelle, Kintara, Maredo and Mar Haddon. Some of these, such as Caralain, have left areas of land bearing their name, but little else. Others have left nothing at all except occasional isolated villages and houses.
The Aiel Waste
- Main article: Aiel Waste
The Aiel Waste is the large, mostly-desert area of the continent, bordered by mountains on the north, east and west and by a waterless sandy desert, the Termool, to the south.
Shara
- Main article: Shara
Shara is the easternmost part of the continent, separated from the Waste by a mountain range known as the Cliffs of Dawn and then a great rift extending southwards to the ocean. The land is only passable in a few areas.
