Howling Fjord The Howling Fjord is a zone located in southeastern Northrend . Ripped into the southern coastline lies Daggercap Bay , where the forces of Arthas originally landed on the continent . Stranded by the young prince , the 5 , 000 - strong expedition set up the outpost of Valgarde . The small settlement has since become the center of Alliance activity on Northrend . Other Alliance outposts include Westguard Keep and Fort Wildervar . The majestic fortress known as Utgarde is located in the center of this zone ; it is a dungeon complex and one of its sections , Utgarde Keep , is one of the two first instances ( the other one being Utgarde Pinnacle ) that players encounter when first arriving to Northrend . Howling Fjord contains bases of both factions and does not have a faction - specific emphasis . From the tuskarr settlement of Kamagua on the Isle of Spears , located off the southwestern coast , there is a giant turtle vessel able to transport players to Moa ' ki Harbor in the Dragonblight and from there on to Unu ' pe in the Borean Tundra . Introduction . Howling Fjord has dark forests , open plains , treacherous rocks , and what used to be the only city — and port — on the continent . The north edge of the Howling Fjord has low hills and thick forest . The land smooths out to the south , however , and the trees fade back , to be replaced by grain and a few hardy fruits and vegetables . Daggercap Bay dominates the southern end , which is all rock . Most people live in Valgarde or in a semicircle above it . The fjord has its share of wildlife . Bears , wolves and other creatures prowl the forests , and small animals sneak through the farmland as well . Birds roost in the trees and steal grain and seeds , and the warmer climate and rich soil draws insects and other vermin as well . Howling Fjord received its name because the wind that races in from the sea on all three sides produces a constant howl , like a maddened beast seeking its prey . Other than the noise , Howling Fjord is pleasant . It ' s not as heavily forested as the Grizzly Hills , or as hilly , but the temperature here is a little milder ; between that and the flatter terrain it ’ s an ideal place to grow grain and other crops . Small farms dot the landscape , particularly down south near Valgarde . To the north the trees begin again , and creatures roam there from the hills above , making it more dangerous but also an excellent place for hunters . This is the only region in Northrend that was dominated by humans and dwarves . That ' s entirely because of Valgarde , however — without that city it would be an even match between those humans and dwarves and the Drakkari and the furbolgs , not to mention the murlocs as well . Almost everyone lives in Valgarde . The exceptions are the farmers , who have their thickwalled farmhouses by their fields , and the hunters and trappers , who live in small camps among the trees and come south only to trade or sell . This region is also the only Alliance - dominated region in Northrend . The Howling Fjord really is Alliance territory , though , and here the Drakkari and even the furbolgs are the ones at risk . Recently , the vrykul have appeared and the Forsaken have built a city , contesting the region ' s Alliance territory status . History . Howling Fjord was a favorite on Northrend from the first time explorers reached the continent through the Daggercap Bay . The natural harbor provided an ideal launching point for expeditions throughout the continent . After the Lich King arrived , the Scourge swept across the continent , conquering most of its races and claiming many of the towns and citadels . During the Third War , Prince Arthas Menethil of Lordaeron arrived with his soldiers to destroy the dreadlord Mal ' Ganis and punish him for the plague unleashed in his homeland . Arthas and the dwarven noble Muradin Bronzebeard joined forces against Mal ’ Ganis , who they thought to be the Lich King ' s lackey . When Arthas ’ s father summoned him home again , the prince responded by hiring mercenaries to burn his own ships , and blaming only them for the act of treachery , thus forcing his men to stay and fight . He searched for and obtained the cursed blade Frostmourne in the nearby region of Dragonblight , knocking out Muradin in the process . He used Frostmourne to defeat Mal ' Ganis but lost his soul to the Lich King as a result . Arthas staggered away alone after the battle , and his men were left behind , stranded on Northrend . These humans and dwarves founded Valgarde . They also built the fortifications that protect it to this day . As Valgarde grew , its residents forced the Drakkari and furbolgs back into the Grizzly Hills and beyond , making the region safe enough for brave farmers to till the land . In " Wrath of the Lich King " , the settlers of Valgarde have to deal with newly reawakened vrykul warriors , who raid them from their home of Utgarde Keep . In addition , Ironforge prospectors have discovered a new race of iron dwarves which may hint to their own ancient origins . Finally , the Forsaken have settled here and engineered a new plague , ready to strike at the Lich King . Their main settlements are Vengeance Landing and the town of New Agamand , named after the famous mills family which once lived in the Tirisfal Glades . Geography . For the Alliance , there is a boat port connecting the town of Valgarde with Menethil Harbor in the Wetlands . For the Horde , a zeppelin connects the town of Vengeance Landing with the Undercity in Tirisfal Glades . Notable characters . The Howling Fjord will reputedly see several famous faces on the front against the Scourge , including Sylvanas Windrunner , Tirion Fordring , and the legendary weapon Ashbringer . Quests . There are well over 140 quests in the Howling Fjord . Players who are making the Fjord their first stop in Northrend had better be prepared to defend themselves ! It is a zone riven by territorial disputes : In the east , the Alliance and the Horde continue their heated rivalry in an attempt to gain the coast . In the west , the Alliance is harried by the Northsea Freebooters . Running up the center of the land mass , both factions struggle with fiercely entrenched vrykul forces . Most of the major questlines are shared by Horde and Alliance , with only the quest NPCs and their locations being unique . This should produce elevated levels of conflict on PvP servers , as competition for quest mobs and target locations will be tight . Regardless of who they are , players should expect to gain notoriety in the tuskarr and pirate bands as dark spiritual influences become increasingly apparent . What secrets are held by the giant races of the land ? Are they best left unrevealed ? Wild creatures . Rare Elite NPCs associated with the achievement . Gallery . More screenshots can be found on the various subzone pages . Trivia . Due to the topography and climate of the zone , it is quite possible that the Fjord is Azeroth ' s version of a Norwegian fjord .