Lore:Auridon Strait

Auridon Strait
Type	Body of Water
Continent	Tamriel
Province	Summerset Isles
Appears in	ESO

Shimmerene from across the strait.

The Auridon Strait is the body of water that separates the strait's namesake, Auridon and the main island of the archipelago, Summerset Isle. Two of the province's cities, Shimmerene and Vulkhel Guard are located on the strait, as well as the town of Greenwater Cove, a large port with an ancient defensive device. It is a long, winding strait that also functions as a major route in-between the two islands. Since Shimmerene is where many mainlanders enter the main island, most people travel through the strait. The body of water is neighbored by the Abecean Sea to the north and the Eltheric Ocean proper to the south.

Auridon

South Beacon

Smuggler's Cove

The city of Vulkhel Guard marks the end of the Auridon Strait while the town of Greenwater Cove lies near the very tip of it. Much of the coastline is uninhabited except for the aforementioned settlements. It is mostly marked by cliffsides and isolated coves that ascend further inland, with some of the most well-known located on the coast of Calambar and Iluvamir. There is the Smuggler's Cove which leads directly to the forest outside of the Shattered Grove township and the series of unmarked coves between the ruins of Tanzelwil and the South Beacon. Speaking of the latter, the South Beacon is an important landmark on the Auridon Strait. It guides ships, including naval ships between Shimmerene and Vulkhel Guard as well as provides a good view of the main island on a clear day.

North of the coast from Smuggler's Cove is a stretch of mountains with some openings throughout. There is a beach just north of the cove that extends along the curve of the coast until it reaches the mountain east of Greenwater Cove. One of the most notable landmarks here is the ruins of Bewan, a former shrine to the Aldmeri god, Trinimac that was built in the Merethic Era. It was later abandoned sometime in the early First Era. There is also a river estuary north of Bewan that is part of a greater river system throughout Vafe. Continuing west is the town of Greenwater Cove, one of the three ports on the Auridon Strait. Not only does it have a direct path to the city-state, Firsthold but it is known for possessing an ancient Aldmeri weapon used to defend the coast called the Eye of the Ancients. The last cove on the coast is just outside of Firsthold's southern gate. The only place of note here is an old daedric ruin called Mehrunes' Spite, which survived a purge of similar ruins in the Merethic Era. On the coast, there is a wide variety of saltwater fish. These include the Eucla Cod and the Mola, but some of the rarest include the Blue Monkfish and the Thrassian Eel.

Summerset Isle

The Coral Forest

Direnni Acropolis

The largest settlement on the strait is the city-state of Shimmerene, while a couple smaller settlements, namely Belport Run, Karndar Watch, and Silver Wood are also on the strait. The coast north of Shimmerene is a rocky cliffside with little room for harborage that extends all the way the Diren Valley. The city's port is extended from the main city and built on the rocky face, while further north, the Direnni Acropolis is built far above sea level. Once the cliffs reach the north coast, it gives way to beaches that continue along the coast until the northernmost point of the island. There are a couple of rivers that empty into the strait, such as the river that starts from the mountains near Tor-Hame-Khard but empties between Shimmerene and its docks. There is also a river called the Clott, located east of Cloudrest that drains into the strait.

Going south of Shimmerene is a long stretch of beaches with white coral laden about. One of the most significant landmarks in the area is the Coral Forest, a large labyrinth of coral that extends high in the air. The main road runs along the coast from Shimmerene, all the way to Sil-Var-Woad, the last settlement on the strait before it gives way to the rest of the Eltheric Ocean. It is a settlement that hosts the Royal Menagerie, a zoo that has animals from all over the world. Just southeast of Sil-Var-Woad is a valley that continues south to an isolated cove containing Dusk Keep. On the coast, there is a wide variety of saltwater fish. These include the Quicksilver Lingwe and the Radiant Dory, but some of the rarest include the Lingweloce.