Wild Lands of the North

"They came to the northern edge of the moor and looked down a long, steep slope into a different, and grimmer, land."

- Description of the Wild Waste Lands The Wild Lands of the North, also called the Wild Wastelands of the North (or sometimes informally nicknamed "Giantland") was a vast and virtually ungoverned region located in the far north of the Narnian world. The Wild Lands of the North are bordered to their south by the River Shribble, which separate the region from Ettinsmoor. To its east, the area gives way to the Great Eastern Sea (containing the Merpeople's sea nation); it gives way to an arctic tundra and to mountains in the north and west, respectively.

The Wild Lands of the North are a highland region characerized by mountains and high hills, treeless and desolte healths and moores, deep and narrow ravines and rivers (which freeze during winter months), and stoney valleys. Its rough and very windy terrain and colder climate make it unhospitable for many.

It is therefore sparsely-populated and contains very few roads or civilization.

What little inhabitants who do reside there include Giants, many of whom lived in the House of Harfang, a large castle surrounded by a moat, just north of the Ruined City of the Giants (also called the "City Ruinous"). The ruined City is the remains of an ancient giant city destroyed in a war. Among that city's ruins was a known entrance to Underland.

Giants at Harfang, along with the gnomes or "earthmen " (living beneath the region in Underland ) appear be the only permanent, organized civilizations that persist in the Wild Lands of the North. Dragons are also mentioned as roaming in larger numbers in this region. Powerful witches who have attacked Narnia have come from the Wild Lands of the North.

The first of these witches is Jadis (the White Witch), who was banished to the Wild Lands of the North by Aslan for 900 long years she waited to make her return to Narnia.

Jadis assembled much of her army here. Races of dark creatures loyal to the Jadis are said to have once lived here (and perahps still did though in small numbers by the series' end). These include Minotaurs, Ogres, ghouls, boogles, and cyclopes, hags, spectres, etc.

The Wild Lands of the North are considered "witch country" known for enchantment and dark magic. Besides Jadis, another named northern witch is Lady of the Green Kirtle (or the Queen of Underland ). The region is therefore regarded with fear and reasonable supersition by many Narnians.

During the Age of Conquest, the Giants of the Wild Lands of the North, along with the Ettins (a southern race of Giants living in Ettinsmoor), became intelligent species (presumably meaning they learned reading and writing), and together built a civilization. During the Age of Winter the Ettins became uncivilised, but the Giants, farther north in the Wild Wastlelands, remained mostly semi-intelligent although their once-great civilization was reduced; the ruined city outside Harfang is evidence of a downflall. Harfang's giant community is all that remained of the giants' formerly developed civilization.

It was in the Wild Waste Lands of the North that Eustace Scrubb, Jill Pole, and Puddleglum first met the Lady of the Green Kirtle and, unbeknownst to them at the time, Prince Rillian, who at the time was clad in a suit of black armour. The lady told Eustace, Jill and Puddleglum of the house of Harfang, home of the Gentle Giants, and told them to visit and gain entrance for the Autumn Feast. They would be well-fed, bathed, clothed, and made comfortable, which was welcome news to the two children.

Once at Harfang, Jill saw the words "UNDER ME" etched into the land they crossed on their way to the castle, and soon realised it was one of these letters that she had fallen into during their trek to the house. It turned out that the giants really wanted to eat them for the feast, so the children and Puddleglum left quickly, but were chased. As they were running, the ground collapsed under them, and they slid into a tunnel, which led them into Underland.