Region Variants

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A Light Forest variant of the Misty Mountains

Biome Variants are a feature of the mod that enable greater variation in biome generation without the need to create many similar variations of each base biome. They are generated as a second layer over the biomes themselves, and can alter terrain features of that biome, most notably height, hilliness, tree coverage, tree types, and grass coverage.

The types of biome variants that can generate in a biome are defined for each biome in the code. Normal biomes get the generic biome variants and combinations of the oak forest/spruce forest variants, Oak wood type biomes do not have spruce-including variants, Spruce wood type biomes do not have oak variants, forest biomes have clearings and hills, and swamps are different all together. Variants cannot mix or overlap; that is to say, there is only one layer of variants on top of the base biomes.

In Middle-earth, the current biome variant is shown in the F3 debug screen on the left-hand side along with other biome information.

A complete list of biome variants follows. Note that no biome has all of these, and some, such as Mordor, have none.

For biome variants that do not occur in a significant number of Middle-earth's biomes, a list of biomes is added to show where these can generate.

Standard variants

These variants appear in a wide range of different biomes.

Name	Description	Images
Standard	The placeholder biome variant. Regions with this variant generate according to the biome's base properties.	The regular appearance of Gondor.
Flowers	A version of the biome with an abundance of flowers. Relatively rare.	Flowers in the Northern Wilderland.
Forest	A more forested version of the biome. The trees which are generated are the same as those generated by the base biome. A plains-type biome that generates this variant will resemble a typical forest-type biome. A relatively common biome variant.	A Gondorian forest.
Light Forest	A variant that increases tree coverage, but not as much as the forest variant.	A light forest in Rhúdel.
Steppe	A very flat version of the biome, with few trees.	The steppes of Minhiriath.
Barren Steppe	A steppe, but with no trees. Structures may generate here more commonly due to the simple terrain and lack of trees. Offers very little cover from any hostile eyes. Angmar East Bight Far Harad Bushland Far Harad Savannah Harondor Harondor#South Harondor Minhiriath Near Harad Fertile Near Harad#Near Harad Semidesert Nurn Pertorogwaith Tundra The Wold	The barren steppes of Rohan.
Hills	A hillier version of the biome, but not as hilly as the mountain variant. Does not alter the base height of the biome. One of the most common variants.	Hills in Eriador, dominating the surrounding woodlands.
Forest Hills	A version of the hills variant that also increases tree coverage.	Forested hills in the Northern Wilderland.
Mountains	These are basically highlands made up of mountaineous areas towering above the surrounding terrain. They are generallly open areas with little tree coverage, steep slopes, and fairly flat summits. Sometimes these can cover quite large areas, forming highland regions that hold deep valleys. vales of Anduin Hills Angmar Mountains Blue Mountains Dor-en-Ernil Hills Dunland Enedwaith Eriador Downs Ettenmoors Far Harad Jungle Grey Mountains Harad Mountains Iron Hills Ithilien Hills Lamedon Hills Weather Hills Misty Mountains Red Mountains Rhúdel Hills Shire Moors Mountains of the Wind	A view on Eriador highlands.
Lake	A lake. Lakes can be many sizes, ranging from small ponds to huge lagoons. They may sometimes have small islands in them. Lakes are usually rare, but the Far Harad Jungle biome generates small lakes very commonly. See below for a quite interresting ᚱᚢᚾᛖ (rune).	A lake in Gondor near a beach.
River	Rivers are special biome variants that replace the vanilla generated river biomes. The mods rivers have a better fit in the biomes where they are generated.	A river.
Scrubland	Scrublands are typically areas with very poor, sandy and/or rocky soil. This results in very little tree growth and the vegetation is dominated by low growing scrubs (stunted trees / shrubbs) and bushes. Andrast Enedwaith Eriador Far Harad Savannah Harondor South Harondor Ithilien Ithilien Wasteland Lone-lands Near Harad Fertile Pertorogwaith Drúwaith Iaur Rhúdel Steppe Rhûn Wilderland	Scrubland in the arid savannahs of Far Harad.
Scrubland Hills	The scrubland hills are a hilly type of scrubland. Andrast Enedwaith Eriador Far Harad Savannah Harondor Harondor#South Harondor Lone-lands Near Harad Fertile Pertorogwaith Drúwaith Iaur Rhúdel Steppe Rhûn	Scrubland Hills in Old Púkel Land.
Wasteland	Wasteland is a very barren biome and can vast stretches of the terrain consist of barren rock. The soil is generally very poor and vegetation is sparse. The landscape can both consist of flat plains and rolling hills. Andrast Enedwaith Eriador Far Harad Savannah Harondor Harondor#South Harondor Lone-lands Pertorogwaith Drúwaith Iaur Wilderland	A barren wasteland in the Drúwaith Iaur.

Forested variants

These variants add new tree types in addition to changing the biome's properties.

In many cases the forest floors are a patchwork of grassy meadows, podzol and barren dirt.

Dense forests

Name	Description	Images
Dense Oak Forest	A forest of densely clustered oak trees. This variant greatly increases the tree coverage of the biome and also adds a new tree type: huge oak trees similar to those found in Lothlórien and Fangorn but not quite as large. Vales of Anduin Blackroot Vale Dale Dorwinion Drúwaith Iaur Enedwaith Eriador Gondor Ithilien Lebennin Lindon Lone-lands Lossarnach Rhûn Rhúdel Rohan Wilderland Northern Wilderland	A dense oak forest.
Dense Dark Oak Forest	A dense forest with many normal and huge dark oak trees. This variant is unique to the Drúwaith Iaur.	A dense dark oak forest only found in Old Púkel Land.
Dense Birch Forest	A dense forest with many normal, large and huge birch trees. Dor-en-Ernil Lindon	A dense birch forest.
Dense Spruce Forest	A dense forest with many normal and large spruce trees. Dale Enedwaith Rhûn Wilderland Northern Wilderland	A dense spruce forest.
Dense Oak/Spruce Forest	A dense forest with many normal and large oakd and spruce trees, and many huge oak trees. Dale Enedwaith Rhûn Wilderland Northern Wilderland	A dense oak-spruce forest in Wilderland.
Dense Lebethron Forest	A dense forest with many normal and large Lebethron trees. This variant is uniqie to Ithilien.	A dense Lebethron forest on hilly terrain.

Dead forests

Name	Description	Images
Dead Oak Forest	A version of the biome with increased tree coverage and added dead oak trees.	A dead oak forest in the Northern Wilderland.
Dead Spruce Forest	A dead forest with dead spruce trees.	A dead spruce forest.
Dead Oak/Spruce Forest	A dead forest with both dead oak and spruce trees.	A dead oak/spruce forest in Dale.
Oak Shrubland	A version of the biome with many short shrubs on the ground.	An oak shrubland in the semidesert.

Single tree type dominant forests

Name	Description	Images
Aspen Forest	A forest dominated by Aspen trees. Anduin Hills Anduin Vales Blue Mountains Breeland Enedwaith Eregion Eriador Grey Mountains Lindon Lone-lands Misty Mountains Rhûn Shire Southern Wilderland Woodland Realm	An aspen forest.
Birch Forest	A forest dominated by Birch trees. Anduin Hills Anduin Vales Blackroot Vale Blue Mountains Breeland Dor-en-Ernil Dorwinion Enedwaith Eregion Eriador Gondor Ithilien Lamedon Lebennin Lindon Lone-lands Lossarnach Pinnath Gelin Red Mountains Rhûn Rhúdel Rohan Shire White Mountains Southern Wilderland Woodland Realm	A birch forest.
Beech Forest	A forest dominated by Beech trees. Anduin Hills Anduin Vales Blue Mountains Breeland Dor-en-Ernil Dorwinion Enedwaith Eriador Gondor Ithilien Lebennin Lindon Lone-lands Lossarnach Red Mountains Rhûn Rhúdel Rohan White Mountains Southern Wilderland Woodland Realm	A beech forest.
Maple Forest	A forest dominated by Maple trees. Relatively rare. Breeland Dale Eriador Grey Mountains Lone-lands Lossarnach Red Mountains Rhúdel Rhûn Southern Wilderland	A maple forest in Bree-land.
Larch Forest	A forest dominated by Larch trees. Anduin Hills Anduin Vales Blackroot Vale Blue Mountains Dale Dunland Enedwaith Eregion Grey Mountains Lamedon Lone-lands Misty Mountains Red Mountains White Mountains Woodland Realm	A larch forest in the White Mountains.
Pine Forest	A forest dominated by Pine trees. Anduin Hills Angmar Blue Mountains Dale Dunland Enedwaith Ettenmoors Grey Mountains Lone-lands Misty Mountains Red Mountains Rhûn Taiga Wilderland Northern Wilderland Woodland Realm	A pine forest in the Woodland Realm.

Orchard variants

These relatively small biomes represent the cultivated fruit orchards of Middle-earth. The following varaints are defined:

Name	Features	Image
Shire Orchard	An orchard type exclusive for the Shire, containing apple, pear and cherry trees.	A Shire orchard.
Apple-Pear Orchard	An orchard containing apple and pear trees. Blackroot Vale Breeland Dale Dor-en-Ernil Dorwinion Gondor Ithilien Lamedon Lebennin Lindon Lossarnach Pinnath Gelin Rhúdel Rohan	An apple and pear orchard in Rohan.
Orange Orchard	An orchard containing orange trees. Dor-en-Ernil Near Harad Fertile Umbar	Beautiful Sand Gems in an orange orchard in Umbar.
Lemon Orchard	An orchard containing lemon trees. Dor-en-Ernil Near Harad Fertile Umbar	Horses graze in a lemon orchard in the Southron Coasts.
Lime Orchard	An orchard containing lime trees. Dor-en-Ernil Near Harad Fertile Umbar	Soldiers hunting boars in a lime orchard in the Gulf of Harad.
Almond Orchard	An orchard containing almond trees. Dor-en-Ernil Dorwinion Near Harad Fertile Pelargir Rhúdel Umbar	An almond orchard in the Gulf of Harad with exotic flowers.
Olive Orchard	An orchard containing olive trees. Dor-en-Ernil Dorwinion Ithilien Lossarnach Near Harad Fertile Pelargir Rhúdel Umbar	Deer in an olive orchard in the Southron Coasts.
Plum Orchard	An orchard containing plum trees. Blackroot Vale Dale Dor-en-Ernil Dorwinion Gondor Ithilien Lamedon Lossarnach Near Harad Fertile Pinnath Gelin Rhúdel Shire Umbar	A plum orchard in the Gulf of Harad with Flames of Harad.
Date Palm Orchard	An orchard containing date palm trees. This orchard type is exclusive to Near Harad Fertile and Rhúdel.	Soldiers guarding a date palm orchard in the Southron Coasts.
Pomegranate Orchard	An orchard containing pomegranate trees. This orchard type is exclusive for Near Harad Fertile and the Rhúdel.	A pomegranate orchard in Rhúdel with mountaineering sheep.

Exclusive variants

These biome variants are only found in specific biomes or specific types of biomes.

Name	Features	Image
Forest Clearing	A clearing in the surrounding forest. Only found in forest biomes.	A forest clearing in Eregion.
Swamp Upland	A version of the the biome with fewer pools, higher land generation, and many more trees. Only found in swamp biomes.	Shire marshes upland looks nearly like an ordinary forest.
Swamp Lowland	A variant of the the biome that is flat and watery, like a vast pool choked with bits of land and quagmire. Only found in swamp biomes.	Shire marshes lowland includes a ruined house and some animals.
Baobab Savannah	A variant of the Far Harad Savannah with a light forest of Baobab trees.	The edge of a Baobab savannah.
Red Boulders	A variant of the Near Harad Desert with boulders made of red sandstone.	A Near Harad Fortress (outdated) situated in the red boulder desert.
Rohan Boulders	A variant of Rohan with boulders of Rohan rock.	A boulder-strewn plain in Rohan.
Dense Jungle	A variant of the Far Harad Jungle with enormous Jungle and Mahogany trees, much larger than those found in other 'dense' variants, in addition to increased tree coverage.	The dense jungle.
Vineyard	A variant found exclusively in Dorwinion. This is one of the two places where Grapevines grow and the only place where Vinekeepers and Vinehands can be found.	A Dorwinion vineyard at sunset.

As mentioned above, both the Drúwaith Iaur and Ithilien are home to an exclusive dense forest variant and the Shire and Near Harad Fertile are home to an exclusive orchard variant.

Other notable features

The terrain generation for the Mod's biomes differs in many respects from that of Vanilla Minecraft. Here are a few notable features that may strike the eye when you're travelling Middle-earth:

• The soil has patches of barren dirt, gravel and podzol. The variety of which is dependent on the biome variant.

• Forested biomes and biome variants have fallen leaves on the ground to give the impression of leaf litter.

• The occurrence of clay deposits is more randomised and less clustered (as it is in Vanilla MC).

• Vegetation is much richer. Some biomes and variants have special, or even unique flowers and, while many biomes and their variants share a large number of types of common vegetation.

• Many trees and tree variants are added in comparison to Vanilla MC. Some are widespread, some are unique to specific biomes.

• The wildlife is equally enriched. Some biomes have unique wildlife, while many have a lot of very common animals such as birds and butterflies.

• Apart from the numerous structures created as faction or biome specific builds, there are also a number of structures that generate randomly in a great number of biomes, independent of the biome variants. These are: orc dungeons, stone ruins and, as of Public Beta 28, a fair number of various smaller stone ruins.

• Quite a few biomes have unique rock types, like Rohan and the Red Mountains giving these biomes a unique look and feel.

• The Mod also uses customised code to spawn caves and ravines. You will certainly notice this as travelling greater distances. Lava lakes are generally not present on higher altitudes, except in a few biomes, like Mordor and the Far Harad Volcano biome.

• Finally, the terrain generation is far more realistic, and more suitable for a Middle-earth themed Mod, than that of Vanilla Minecraft.

Trivia

The anglo-saxon lagu-rune ᛚ (= letter L) means "lake". Tolkien used those ᚱᚢᚾᛖᛋ for some texts in the initial drafts of "The Lord of the Rings", later on, he replaced them by cirth runes.

“	ᛚ The lake seems interminable to men, if they venture on the rolling bark and the waves of the lake terrify them and the courser of the deep heed not its bridle.	”
–Old English rune poem