A long range of mountains in
Middle Earth located between
Eriador and the
Vales of Anduin. It is thought to have been created by
Melkor as a defense against the
Valar. Other names for it include Hithaeglir and Mountains of Mist.
The Mountains first play a role in The Hobbit. It was here underneath the mountains that Gollum hid for many centuries with the One Ring. It was later on that Bilbo Baggins stumbled upon the ring and eventually brought it back with him to The Shire.
Later on in the Lord of the Rings Trilogies, The Fellowship attempt to cross the Misty Mountains through the Pass of Caradhras but are ultimately turned back by bad weather. This forces them to go under the mountain through the Mines of Moria.