Warning Beacons of Gondor

The warning beacons of Gondor were an alarm system for the realm of Gondor.
== History ==
The beacons were great fireplaces permanently manned by Men of Gondor, and were placed on seven foot-hills in the range of the White Mountains. From east to west they were; Amon Dîn, Eilenach, Nardol, Erelas, Min-Rimmon, Calenhad, and Amon Anwar (or Halifirien). Amon Dîn, Eilenach, and Min-Rimmon were the oldest of the beacons. Those who manned the Halifirien beacon dwelt in the Firien Wood.
In the late Second Age and early Third Age, they mainly served to warn southern Gondor of a danger to the northern province of Calenardhon, or vice versa, but after the Steward of Gondor Cirion granted Calenardhon to the Éothéod, they were used mainly to warn the people in Anórien of danger. Calls for aid between Gondor and Rohan were exchanged by a messenger carrying the Red Arrow instead. The Tomb of Elendil was hidden on the summit of Halifirien, westernmost of the beacon mountains.
When Gandalf and Pippin ride to Minas Tirith, the beacons are not lit, since the despairing Denethor has decided not to send for help. There is a beacon just above the city, and to summon the Rohirrim, Gandalf asks Pippin to evade the guards and light it. Once he has done so,the other beacons light up one by one until the last is sighted by Aragorn who is in Edoras, and it is this (and not the Red Arrow, which is not mentioned in the film) which finally helps him to persuade Théoden to muster the Rohirrim to Gondor's aid.
Halifirien was visible in the distance from the Rohirrim town of "Beaconwatch" in the Eastfold. The regions of Western, Central and Eastern Gondor together featured ten southern beacons running from Belfalas to Lossarnach. These were, from west to east: Amon Lontir, Nendath, Maegond, the Fallen Beacon, Eilendoth, Dol Brannor, Anglebed, Sirthanc, and Minlos. In addition, there appeared to be an unnamed, inaccessible beacon across the river from Pelargir.