Throat of the World The Throat of the World ( Dovahzul : ) or the Snow - Tower is an enormous mountain located in the region of Whiterun Hold , which is in the province of Skyrim . The Throat of the World is the highest peak in all of Tamriel , hence the name . Description . Geography . The Throat of the World is the highest peak in all of Tamriel , rivaling the likes of Red Mountain in Morrowind . The Throat of the World is situated on the eastern edge of the Whiterun Hold , though it is accessible through the Rift . Along the mountain is a path that spirals all the way up to the summit , beginning at the village of Ivarstead , near Lake Geir . People from all over Skyrim travel to the Ivarstead , to begin a pilgrimage throughout the path . The path called the Seven Thousand Steps will eventually take you to High Hrothgar , an ancient monastery that houses the Greybeards , who practice the Way of the Voice . Very few have traveled to High Hrothgar , considering the harsh weather . Only adventurers and locals that feed the Greybeards have been to High Hrothgar . Along the way are several etched tablets , which talk about the foundation of both High Hrothgar and the Greybeards . The last one can be just before High Hrothgar . Beyond the monastery , there is another path that leads to the summit . However , it is inaccessible , due to the harsh snowstorms that blow along the path . The only way to get past the snowstorms is to have a skill in the Voice . Legend has it that on the top of the Throat of the World is the Time Wound , a ripple in time that has been there since the Dragon War . History . Merethic Era . The Throat of the World has held an abundant amount of significance to the Nords of Skyrim . According to legend , the sky exhaled from the mountain , onto the land , creating modern - day Man , hence the name It is because of this , the Nords see themselves as eternal outsiders and invaders , even when the conquer other people , they hold no kinship to them . This legend has the Nords believe that Skyrim was their original home and that leaving Atmora from the far north was meant to happen . Beyond that , the Throat of the World referred to as the Snow - Tower , is one of the Towers , which is a metaphysical concept relating to the foundation of Mundus . The Snow - Tower is not a literal tower ; it is an actual mountain . The Towers refer to various structures that are tower - esque ( i . e . , Red Mountain or Green - Sap ) . Eventually , the Dragons of Akavir migrated to the province of Skyrim where they would become revered as God - Kings by the Dragon Cult . The Dragons would live in absolute royalty as the Dragon Cult governed the land . They were given power in exchange for undying loyalty . This is how the Dragon Cult ruled as Kings . The Nordic people were subjugated as slaves by the Dragon Cult . Of the Dragons , Alduin was the leader of the Dragonic group . Feeling pity for the Nords , Paarthurnax had begun teaching the Nords , the power of the Thu ' um . It was at this point , the Nords toppled the Dragon Cult and begun the Dragon War , with Alduin ' s forces and Paarthurnax ' s rebellion . The War had reached its climax at the summit of the Throat of the World , where the three companions , Felldir the Old , Gormlaith Golden - Hilt , and Hakon One - Eye had fought Alduin . The battle was relentless , and Alduin was unstoppable . In a last - ditch effort , the three warriors used the power of Dragonrend to bring Alduin to the ground . Felldir used an Elder Scroll to send Alduin forward in time . It was on that spot ; the Time Wound was created . Paarthurnax remained atop the summit , meditating and waiting for Alduin ' s return . First Era . During the Battle of Red Mountain in 1E 416 , the Nordic forces under Wulfharth were utterly defeated by the Chimer when the Voice had failed them . One of the few veterans of the conflict was Jurgen Windcaller , who reflected on the loss of not only Morrowind but the philosophy of the Voice . After the event , Jurgen traveled to Throat of the World to begin his seven - year meditation , on how the Voice could fail them . He began to realize that the Voice should be used to worship and honor the Gods , as a way of attaining enlightenment . It was at the Throat of the World , Jurgen Windcaller created the monastery of High Hrothgar and the Greybeards , who were people that followed his path . High Hrothgar has remained there for several thousand years . Second Era . During the Interregnum in 2E 572 , the city - state of Windhelm was sacked by the forces of Ada ' Soom Dir - Kamal of Akavir , when the Second Akaviri Invasion swept across northeastern Tamriel . The newly crowned High King , Jorunn the Skald - King traveled to the Throat of the World to meet with the Greybeards , seeking their help against the Akaviri invasion force . Instead of helping outright , the Greybeards summoned Wulfharth the Ash - King , who was shouted into Ash by the Greybeards sometime ago . Wulfharth was an Ash Spawn who would travel with Jorunn to Riften , where they amassed a Grand Army of angry Nords , who were inspired by Wulfharth ' s presence . The army of Nords followed the Akaviri to Stonefalls , where Wulfharth would meet Almalexia , who had defeated Wulfharth years ago . Both fought alongside each other , driving the Akavir out of Tamriel . The Battle of Stonefalls ended with the formation of the Ebonheart Pact . Fourth Era . During the Skyrim Civil War in 4E 201 , the Last Dragonborn had revealed themselves to the Greybeards when they defeated the Dragon , Mirmulnir on the outskirts of Whiterun . By the guidance of Jarl Balgruuf , the Dragonborn traveled to the base of the Throat of the World , where they meditated on the Etched Tablets and met the Greybeards , led by Arngeir . It was here ; the Dragonborn became something of a disciple of the Way of the Voice . When the time came to meet with Paarthurnax , the Dragonborn continued scaling the Throat of the World , where they arrived on the summit and spoke with Paarthurnax . By order of Paarthurnax , the Dragonborn retrieved the Elder Scroll that Felldir used from the ruins of Alftand , in Winterhold . The Dragonborn entered the Time Wound and learned Dragonrend , being able to take down Alduin .