Provinces The continent of Tamriel is made up of nine provinces . All provinces have been ruled by the Empire simultaneously at some point . However , this unity begins to fade in the second century of the Fourth Era . Provinces . Black Marsh . This huge , mostly uncharted region of densely vegetated wetlands is at the southeastern tip of Tamriel . Argonian s thrive in the foreboding swamps and thick brush , thanks to their amphibious underwater breathing abilities and very high resistance to disease . Cyrodiil . Lying in the center of Tamriel , Cyrodiil is home of the human Imperial s . Cyrodiil is mostly an expanse of forest and mountains . At its heart is the Nibenay Valley , a vast plain enclosed by equatorial rain forests . Many rivers flow through this area , and as one ventures further south , the land slowly becomes increasingly sub - tropical . For most of the Elder Scrolls games , it is the seat of the Empire . Cyrodiil is the setting for the game . Elsweyr . Divided across arid badlands to the north and a more populous sub - tropical zone in the south , this region marks the southern coast of Tamriel . Elsweyr is home to the Khajiit . Hammerfell . Lying in west Tamriel , this province is dominated by the Alik ' r Desert . Hammerfell is home to the Redguard human race . The northern region of Hammerfell is part of the setting for the game . High Rock . Home to the human Breton s and Orcs , this province is divided into multiple Breton city - states and minor kingdoms . It is a temperate coastal region in northwestern Tamriel . The southern region of High Rock is part of the setting for the game " Daggerfall " . Morrowind . The province in the northeast corner of Tamriel and home to the Dunmer ( Dark Elves ) . It consists of a continental mainland and a large island in the center called Vvardenfell , separated by an inlet from the Sea of Ghosts , the Inner Sea . Vvardenfell is the setting for the game , . There is also an island to the north west of Morrowind called Solstheim , which is the setting for both < nowiki > ' < / nowiki > s add - on , and < nowiki > ' < / nowiki > s third add - on , . Skyrim . This northern , snow - covered and mountainous region is home to the Nord human race , as well as the Falmer mer race ( Snow Elves ) . Skyrim contains some of the tallest mountains in all of Tamriel , most notably the Throat of the World . Skyrim is less urbanized than Cyrodiil , but the five largest cities do have sizable population , with the other four cities being more like towns . Skyrim is the setting for . Summerset Isles . This province is located in the Eltheric Ocean , with the Abecean Sea separating the islands from the mainland Tamriel continent . It is composed of three islands , one large western main island and one smaller named Auridon with another unknown location likely immediately south of Valenwood and east of Auridon . These islands are home to the Altmer ( High Elves ) . Valenwood . The province in the south - western region of Tamriel . This province is largely uninhabited forest wilderness . The coasts are dominated by mangrove swamps and tropical rain forests , while heavy rainfalls nurture the temperate inland rain forests . Valenwood is home to the Bosmer ( Wood Elves ) .