— DESCRIPTION —

Westeros is one of the four known continents within the known world, (the others being Essos, Sothoryos, and Ulthos). A majority of the lands are composed of a political entity hailed the Seven Kingdoms, while the farthest most point beyond the Wall is inhabited by groupings of people known as the Free Folk. The closest land masses to Westeros are the Free Cities across the Narrow Sea from the eastern coast, and the Summer Isles located across the Summer Sea to the south. The people who live within the borders of this continent are commonly referred to as "Westerosi."

— GEOGRAPHY —

The continent of Westeros is relatively long and narrow in shape, extending from the southernmost principality of Dorne to the uncharted Land of Always Winter. According to semi-canon sources, Westeros is similar in size to the real-world continent of South America. While there is not an official scale to measure distances between locations in the ASOIAF universe, there are a few descriptions of landmarks that help reveal a rough estimation of size.

In regards to the Wall, a large formation of ice that separates the Seven Kingdoms from the Land of Always Winter, its size is stated to be 100 leagues long or 300 miles (482.803 kilometers). And in comparison to the rest of the continent, that puts Westeros at roughly 3,000 miles (4828 kilometers) from north to south and around 900 miles (1448 kilometers) from east to west at its widest points.

— CLIMATE —

From dry and arid deserts to towering snow-capped peaks, the sheer size of Westeros allows for the lands to appear drastically different from territory to territory.

The kingdoms of the Riverlands, the Westerlands, and the Crownlands share similar climates of a more temperate origin. They experience average temperatures, ranging from cold to hot depending on the shifting seasons that last anywhere from a few months to a few years.

In the northern portion of Westeros, commonly known as the North, the climate typically consists of temperatures that drift subtly from cool to downright frigid. It is common for this region to experience thick snow falls, even when the rest of the continent is well into the summer season.

The Reach has a climate more comparable to that of the Crownlands, but this region of sprawling fields tends to hold more moisture within the air, allowing their agriculture to flourish far more than the rest of the Seven Kingdoms.

The Stormlands maintain a rather temperate climate as well, but with a majority of the region bordering the Narrow Sea and the Sea of Dorne, the differing temperatures of land and water regularly bring forth storms of varying intensities. As a result, the weather shifts drastically from day-to-day.

Dorne, being the southernmost point of the continent, contains a climate of hotter temperatures, blanketing the region in rocky mountain ranges and long stretches of desert uninhabitable by man. However, the summer seasons offer enough rain to keep portions of Dorne liveable.

— THE SEVEN KINGDOMS —

THE NORTH

The North is the largest kingdom of Westeros, nearly as large as the rest of the other six combined. It is sparsely populated with castles and keeps spread apart between a vast wilderness of forests, rolling hills, and snow-capped mountains. Despite this, the North holds one of the continent's five largest cities, White Harbor, a port city that brings an abundance of trade to the otherwise landlocked region.

The northern border dubbed the Gift runs along the edge of the Wall, holding the many castles and guard stations of the Night's Watch. Toward the southern border, a territory known as the Neck separates the North from the rest of Westeros. It is a marshy and narrow land, behaving as a natural barrier to protect the lands from possible invasion.

For thousands of years, House Stark has ruled the North from their seat of Winterfell as Kings of Winter then later as Wardens of the North. They, along with most northern houses, still follow the Old Gods of the Forest as their primary religion, but some of those around White Harbor have adopted the Faith of the Seven.

Bastards born here are given the surname Snow.

THE RIVERLANDS

The Riverlands are fertile lands located south of the Neck. The region is amply named for its abundance of rivers; the Red, Green, and Blue Forks of the Trident, the Blackwater Rush, and a large lake known as the God's Eye.

House Tully of Riverrun rules as Lord Paramount, having taken the position after the extinction of House Hoare during Aegon's Conquest. They, along with those who live throughout these lands, are often referred to as "Rivermen."

Bastards born here are given the surname Rivers.

THE WESTERLANDS

The Westerlands are a smaller kingdom west of the Riverlands and north of the Reach. This region borders the Sunset Sea and holds a large mountain range filled with various silver and gold mines. Lannisport is one of its largest settlements and a primary port of Westeros.

House Lannister of Casterly Rock is the ruling house, once having been known as Kings of the Rock until the Targaryens came into power. The people are commonly known as "Westermen," and they are known to hold a deep resentment for their neighbors from the Iron Islands due to their pillaging along the coast.

Bastards born here are given the surname Hill.

THE CROWNLANDS

The Crownlands are the smallest region of Westeros, nestled near the central most part of the Seven Kingdoms. It holds the capital city of King's Landing, along with the islands of Dragonstone and Driftmark. The kingdom never held a ruling house as its Lord Paramount, and instead is ruled solely by the royal family. The people who live among these lands are sometimes referred to as "Crownlanders."

Bastards born here are given the surname Waters.

THE STORMLANDS

The Stormlands are located just south of King's Landing and stretch down to the Sea of Dorne. They border the tumultuous waters of Shipbreaker Bay to the east and the kingdom of the Reach to the west. It is another smaller region that consists of harsh mountains, stony shores, and thick forests.

The Dornish Marches make up a majority of the southern border and were a common battleground between the Stormlands, the Reach, and Dorne. That was until Dorne officially joined the Seven Kingdoms, ending the border disputes almost entirely.

House Baratheon of Storm's End, a rumored branch house of House Targaryen, rules these lands, after integrating with the last surviving members of House Durrandon. The people who dwell in this region are sometimes referred to as "Stormlanders."

Bastards born here are given the surname Storm.

THE REACH

The Reach is the second largest region of Westeros, containing the continent's most fertile lands as well as a majority of the more populated villages and towns. It is located directly west of the Stormlands and Dorne and borders the Sunset Sea.

Oldtown is the oldest and largest city in Westeros and holds one of the more prominent ports. Due to its high levels of traffic, the Reach contributes heavily to trade all throughout the known world. It is also home to the Citadel, the Starry Sept, and the Hightower.

House Tyrell of Highgarden rules the Reach as Lord Paramount, having been given the title after the extinction of House Gardener during Aegon's Conquest.

Bastards born here are given the surname Flowers.

DORNE

Dorne is the southernmost region of Westeros, stretching from the Red Mountains near the Dornish Marches to the four hundred league long coast. It holds the hottest climate and the continent's only desert.

The people of Dorne are routinely referred to as "Dornishmen" and have a reputation for being hot-blooded. Their culture and ethnicity differs wildly from the rest of Westeros, due to their migration from the Rhoynar.

House Nymeros Martell of Sunspear rules over Dorne, styling themselves in the Rhoynish fashion with titles of Prince and Princess despite not being of the royal family. In addition, the house favors their ancestors in having adopted an equal primogeniture, which allows the eldest born child to rule regardless of their sex.

Bastards born here are given the surname Sand.

— ADDITIONAL PROVINCES —

THE VALE OF ARRYN

The Vale of Arryn is located directly east of the Riverlands and is almost completely surrounded by the Mountains of the Moon. Due to the region consisting of arduous mountain ranges, the villages and towns sit with the valleys and along the coast that touches the Narrow Sea. During the winter season, travel through the region is almost impossible.

House Arryn of the Eyrie rules over the Vale and is one of the oldest family lines of Andal nobility. The people who live in this harsh territory are known as "Valemen," unless they belong to one of the various Mountain Clans who roam the lands.

Bastards born here are given the surname Stone.

THE IRON ISLANDS

The Iron Islands are an archipelago off the western coast of the Neck. The islands are routinely battered by rough storms and the soil is infertile, pushing the people toward a lifestyle of reaving and pillaging the coastal towns and ports of the mainland as a way to survive.

House Greyjoy of Pyke rules over these islands, having obtained power after the extinction of House Hoare during Aegon's Conquest. The people of these water-locked lands are commonly referred to as "Ironmen" or "Ironborn" in equal measure, and their primary religion is that of the Drowned God.

Bastards born here are given the surname Pyke.

THE LAND OF ALWAYS WINTER

The Land of Always Winter, or Beyond the Wall, is the northernmost region of Westeros that spans from the Bay of Ice to the Shivering Sea. The frigid lands consist of lakes and rivers and a stretch of wooded area known as the Haunted Forest, which encompasses a majority of what has been charted by man. However, the territory's vastness leaves much of it undiscovered and unseen.

The people who live amongst this harsh landscape are known as the "Free Folk," or "Wildlings" in a more derogatory manner. They tend to congregate in small villages within the Haunted Forest with each grouping, or tribe, maintaining their own traditions and cultures.

Aside from the Free Folk, the Land of Always Winter is rumored to be home to various different creatures of myth and legend such as; giants, direwolves, ice dragons, and the mysterious Others.

(An interactive map of all four continents of the ASOIAF world can be found at https://quartermaester.info)