Gladden Fields

As the River Gladden spills into the Anduin, it creates a water-logged landscape of ponds, little slow-flowing channels and marshes called the Gladden Fields. The marshes are not especially perilous or unpleasant — this land knew the Elves, long ago, and their blessing lingers here. In summer, the fields become fields of gold and streams of silver as flowers bloom on the banks and fish leap in the waters. However, travelling at speed through the marshes is impossible. Those who choose not to march around the marshes must either use a flat-bottomed boat, or resign themselves to struggling in and out of sucking mud.
These marshes have always been deserted. No great kingdoms ever claimed the region, so it has always been left to the poor and the forgotten. For much of the Third Age, Hobbits lived in the Gladden Fields. Eventually, most of them migrated over the mountains into Eriador, but the Marshes were never wholly abandoned. As the Shadow grew in Mirkwood, agents of the Enemy occupied the Gladden Fields, driving out the existing residents. The presence of Orcs and other fell beasts has not diminished the beauty of this land, but make it even more dangerous.

Wildlife

Fish thrive in the shallow waters of the Gladden Fields feeding on insects and worms wriggling through the mud. Many species of bird also nest here — a loud noise fills the sky with startled birds. Otters burrow in the muddy banks.
There are a few dangerous creatures in the marshes. Grim Hawks stalk through the reeds in the east of the Gladden Fields, while the middle reaches of the river are home to Swarms of Poisonous Snakes and fat black blood-sucking leeches. The brownish waters may conceal stranger beasts — legends speak of giant swamp boars as big as houses, of slimy monsters lurking in brackish waters, of wisps and boggins and sneeps.

Location under

Vales of Anduin