Midgard

Midgard (“middle world”) is on the same level as Nidavellir (land of the dwarfs), Svartalfheim (land of the dark elves/dwarfs) and Jotunheim (the land of the giants). Midgard is the defensive fortress which the gods build about the middle portion of the earth allotted to men in order to protect mankind from the giants. Midgard, also called MannaHeim (“Home of Man”), the Middle Earth, the abode of mankind, made from the body of the first created being, the giant Ymir (Aurgelmir). According to legend, the gods killed Ymir, rolled his body into the central void of the universe, and began fashioning the Midgard. Ymir's flesh became the land, his blood the oceans, his bones the mountains, his teeth the cliffs, his hair the trees, and his brains (blown over the earth) became the clouds. Ymir's skull was held up by four dwarfs, Nordri, Sudri, Austri, and Vestri (the four points of the compass), and became the dome of the heavens. The sun, moon, and stars were made of scattered sparks that were caught in the skull. Midgard is situated halfway between Niflheim on the north, the land of ice, and Muspelheim to the south, the region of fire. Midgard is joined with Asgard, the abode of the deities, by Bifrost, the rainbow bridge.